2 Face Idibia carries the day at the MAMAs 2010
<b>Mowzey Radio & Weasel</b><br>They might be musical superstars at home but pitted against the talent at the third MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel (MAMA) last Saturday in Nigeria, it was clear that the talented duo of Mowzey Radio and Weasel, Uganda’s sole nominee(s), still have some ground
By Sebidde Kiryowa in Lagos, Nigeria
Mowzey Radio & Weasel
They might be musical superstars at home but pitted against the talent at the third MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel (MAMA) last Saturday in Nigeria, it was clear that the talented duo of Mowzey Radio and Weasel, Uganda’s sole nominee(s), still have some ground to cover.
Nominated in the Best Group, as a new group both on the local music scene and the MAMA platform, they were clearly but understandably disadvantaged, competing against the more established popular Nigerian duo of P-Square, who went ahead to win and receive the award (in absentia – they addressed the awards via video link).
Yet, Mowzey & Weasel deserve every praise for appearing here at all in only their third year of singing. Perhaps as put by Mowzey, if they could come so far after such a short time, what will happen if they stay as long as P-Square have? Other nominees were Kenyan duo P-Unit and Tear Gas from South Africa.
The awards were given out at a glitzy star-studded live audience recording at the Eko Expo Hall, Kuramo Waters on Victoria Island in Lagos and broadcast on MTV base (DStv Channel 322) this Saturday, December 18 at 9:00pm. There will be a repeat on Sunday December 19 at 10:00am and 4:00pm.
The Nigerian factor
Nigerian superstar 2 Face Idibia won top honours as Artiste of the Year and Best Male, on a night that was dominated by Nigerian artistes.
With a total of five awards under their arms (the largest for a single country), it was apparent that Nigerian music was growing in significance on the continent.
Other Nigerian winners were P-Square and emerging talents like rapper Sasha (Best Female) and Mo Cheddah (Brand New Act). Nominees included Wande Coal (Best Anglophone and Best Male), Nneka (Best Female), D’Banj (Song of the year for Fall In Love ), Banky W (Song of the Year).
South Africa and DR Congo (whose music ruled the continent in the 1980s and 1990s respectively), still put up a fight with three and two awards respectively.
New categories
The awards this year added another award – Performance Award, for the truly vivacious performers of the night. This brought the total number of awards to 13. This one was deservedly scooped by South Africa’s Big Nuz, who put on a show-stopping performance only rivalled by DR Congo’s Fally Ipupa. The former won both the Best Francophone Artiste and Best Video awards.
The American stars
Like at previous awards, there was a lot of excitement surrounding the American international music stars at the awards. Rapper Eve was the show’s host and she did a brilliant job especially pronouncing the artistes’ names and fraternising with them. She also performed.
Then there was Miami-based rapper Rick Ross. The Teflon boss kicked off the awards with his performance of his chart-topping Blowing Money Fast to a deafening uproar.
Rap legend Chuck D of the1980s and early 1990s group, Public Announcement, showed what time it was with his Fight The Power, which featured a lot of young African talent as did the auto-tune master T-Pain. Eminem who won the Best International was not present but accepted his award via video link.
Performances and celebrities
Most of the artistes including Mowzey& Weasel performed as part of a group where they contributed their talents to a common.
The star-studded queue of presenters also made the show colourful. Actress Genevieve Nnaji and singer D’Banj who are rumoured to be an item, were especially exciting as they joked about their affair as were Miss Nigeria 2010 and supermodel Oluchi. The awards which started out with a red carpet cocktail party for VIP guests at the hotel poolside kicked off in earnest at 9:40pm and ended past midnight; it was time well spent. They were wrapped up with an exclusive after-party, where guests fraternised with the various stars.
Mowzey Radio & Weasel
They might be musical superstars at home but pitted against the talent at the third MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel (MAMA) last Saturday in Nigeria, it was clear that the talented duo of Mowzey Radio and Weasel, Uganda’s sole nominee(s), still have some ground to cover.
Nominated in the Best Group, as a new group both on the local music scene and the MAMA platform, they were clearly but understandably disadvantaged, competing against the more established popular Nigerian duo of P-Square, who went ahead to win and receive the award (in absentia – they addressed the awards via video link).
Yet, Mowzey & Weasel deserve every praise for appearing here at all in only their third year of singing. Perhaps as put by Mowzey, if they could come so far after such a short time, what will happen if they stay as long as P-Square have? Other nominees were Kenyan duo P-Unit and Tear Gas from South Africa.
The awards were given out at a glitzy star-studded live audience recording at the Eko Expo Hall, Kuramo Waters on Victoria Island in Lagos and broadcast on MTV base (DStv Channel 322) this Saturday, December 18 at 9:00pm. There will be a repeat on Sunday December 19 at 10:00am and 4:00pm.
The Nigerian factor
Nigerian superstar 2 Face Idibia won top honours as Artiste of the Year and Best Male, on a night that was dominated by Nigerian artistes.
With a total of five awards under their arms (the largest for a single country), it was apparent that Nigerian music was growing in significance on the continent.
Other Nigerian winners were P-Square and emerging talents like rapper Sasha (Best Female) and Mo Cheddah (Brand New Act). Nominees included Wande Coal (Best Anglophone and Best Male), Nneka (Best Female), D’Banj (Song of the year for Fall In Love ), Banky W (Song of the Year).
South Africa and DR Congo (whose music ruled the continent in the 1980s and 1990s respectively), still put up a fight with three and two awards respectively.
New categories
The awards this year added another award – Performance Award, for the truly vivacious performers of the night. This brought the total number of awards to 13. This one was deservedly scooped by South Africa’s Big Nuz, who put on a show-stopping performance only rivalled by DR Congo’s Fally Ipupa. The former won both the Best Francophone Artiste and Best Video awards.
The American stars
Like at previous awards, there was a lot of excitement surrounding the American international music stars at the awards. Rapper Eve was the show’s host and she did a brilliant job especially pronouncing the artistes’ names and fraternising with them. She also performed.
Then there was Miami-based rapper Rick Ross. The Teflon boss kicked off the awards with his performance of his chart-topping Blowing Money Fast to a deafening uproar.
Rap legend Chuck D of the1980s and early 1990s group, Public Announcement, showed what time it was with his Fight The Power, which featured a lot of young African talent as did the auto-tune master T-Pain. Eminem who won the Best International was not present but accepted his award via video link.
Performances and celebrities
Most of the artistes including Mowzey& Weasel performed as part of a group where they contributed their talents to a common.
The star-studded queue of presenters also made the show colourful. Actress Genevieve Nnaji and singer D’Banj who are rumoured to be an item, were especially exciting as they joked about their affair as were Miss Nigeria 2010 and supermodel Oluchi. The awards which started out with a red carpet cocktail party for VIP guests at the hotel poolside kicked off in earnest at 9:40pm and ended past midnight; it was time well spent. They were wrapped up with an exclusive after-party, where guests fraternised with the various stars.