Where the PAM awards faulted
Oct 09, 2003
A new chapter was opened last Saturday after the launch of the Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards. Finally, the often-trashed Ugandan artist will at the end of every year receive something in recognition for his or her efforts
By Joseph Batte
A new chapter was opened last Saturday after the launch of the Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards. Finally, the often-trashed Ugandan artist will at the end of every year receive something in recognition for his or her efforts.
However, much as the music awards were an important milestone in local entertainment industry, a lot was left to be desired.
Since these were premiere music awards in the country the focus should have been squarely on music – popular, gospel, classical, traditional, and cultural – since the 60s not the co – temporary music released on the local scene in the last four years or thereabouts.
The first blunder was the manner in which the best artist was picked. The organisers decided to design their own format of picking the best artist in each category via SMS messages. In so doing, the selection was made by fans who were mostly born yesterday, whose knowledge of the theory of music is almost zero.
I don’t dispute Paul Kafeero’s award as best Kadongokamu artist of the year, but in the same vein an award should have gone to Fred Sebatta for being the best contemporary Kadongokamu artist.
Kadongokamu music had stagnated in that old play-it-anyhow, three – major keys-Dominant, Sub-dominant and Dominant7-format, but his intelligent approach to song writing and arrangement saw the release of artistic statements like Dolly w’omwana, Gologosa and Nnalwewuba.
In fact Sebatta with the help of producers like Steve Jean, took Kadongokamu to another level – the 21st Century.
Furthermore, if Philly Lutaaya could be posthumously nominated, why not Christopher Sebadduka, the late maverick folkie and grandfather of Kadongokamu, who sang Nantongo and Federo.
Percussion Discussion are one of my favourite bands. But to be picked as the best cultural group in place of Nandujja and her Planets or Tebifanana Abifuna was down right stupid. Are Percussion Discussion more cultural when they blend modern instruments like an electric bass guitar with wind instruments like the saxophone and West African talking drums than Nandujja and Tebifanana who play only traditional music?
That Sophie Gombya and her hubby would score top notches with Ngugumuka ekiro and walk off with Best Contemporary Single was scandalous. That single could not stand a chance against one of Misach Semakula’s Ebituwasiza Abakazi.
Could the duo stand a chance against Kabuye Semboga’s Ebisaanyi, Afrigo Band’s Jim, Obangaina or any string of hits in the armpits of Ronald Mayinja?
Titi has emerged as one of the best female artists and composers. Was it an oversight to overlook Joanita Kawalya of Afrigo or Mariam Ndagire who have stayed in the game longer and boast a string of hits than her?
Classical composers like Wassanyi Serukenya (Simumanyi) Edmund Batte/Byangwa (Beewaayo) Fred Ibanda, producers like Toney Sengo and Travis Kazibwe could have got their moments as well.
Life Time Achievement Awards are not nominated by the public. They are just picked by a panel of judges in recognition of invaluable contribution to pop music.
In light of this example, does it mean that since Elly Wamala was nominated this year for an award, he is still eligible for the same award next year?
All said, Welcome on board PAM Awards. But please put right these anomalies or else prepare yourselves to battle splinter music awards festivals from disgruntled musicians who walked away empty handed at Munyonyo.
A new chapter was opened last Saturday after the launch of the Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards. Finally, the often-trashed Ugandan artist will at the end of every year receive something in recognition for his or her efforts.
However, much as the music awards were an important milestone in local entertainment industry, a lot was left to be desired.
Since these were premiere music awards in the country the focus should have been squarely on music – popular, gospel, classical, traditional, and cultural – since the 60s not the co – temporary music released on the local scene in the last four years or thereabouts.
The first blunder was the manner in which the best artist was picked. The organisers decided to design their own format of picking the best artist in each category via SMS messages. In so doing, the selection was made by fans who were mostly born yesterday, whose knowledge of the theory of music is almost zero.
I don’t dispute Paul Kafeero’s award as best Kadongokamu artist of the year, but in the same vein an award should have gone to Fred Sebatta for being the best contemporary Kadongokamu artist.
Kadongokamu music had stagnated in that old play-it-anyhow, three – major keys-Dominant, Sub-dominant and Dominant7-format, but his intelligent approach to song writing and arrangement saw the release of artistic statements like Dolly w’omwana, Gologosa and Nnalwewuba.
In fact Sebatta with the help of producers like Steve Jean, took Kadongokamu to another level – the 21st Century.
Furthermore, if Philly Lutaaya could be posthumously nominated, why not Christopher Sebadduka, the late maverick folkie and grandfather of Kadongokamu, who sang Nantongo and Federo.
Percussion Discussion are one of my favourite bands. But to be picked as the best cultural group in place of Nandujja and her Planets or Tebifanana Abifuna was down right stupid. Are Percussion Discussion more cultural when they blend modern instruments like an electric bass guitar with wind instruments like the saxophone and West African talking drums than Nandujja and Tebifanana who play only traditional music?
That Sophie Gombya and her hubby would score top notches with Ngugumuka ekiro and walk off with Best Contemporary Single was scandalous. That single could not stand a chance against one of Misach Semakula’s Ebituwasiza Abakazi.
Could the duo stand a chance against Kabuye Semboga’s Ebisaanyi, Afrigo Band’s Jim, Obangaina or any string of hits in the armpits of Ronald Mayinja?
Titi has emerged as one of the best female artists and composers. Was it an oversight to overlook Joanita Kawalya of Afrigo or Mariam Ndagire who have stayed in the game longer and boast a string of hits than her?
Classical composers like Wassanyi Serukenya (Simumanyi) Edmund Batte/Byangwa (Beewaayo) Fred Ibanda, producers like Toney Sengo and Travis Kazibwe could have got their moments as well.
Life Time Achievement Awards are not nominated by the public. They are just picked by a panel of judges in recognition of invaluable contribution to pop music.
In light of this example, does it mean that since Elly Wamala was nominated this year for an award, he is still eligible for the same award next year?
All said, Welcome on board PAM Awards. But please put right these anomalies or else prepare yourselves to battle splinter music awards festivals from disgruntled musicians who walked away empty handed at Munyonyo.