11/11/2024
Awards Must Improve On Nomination And Voting Systems
…As MBC Entertainers of The Year Stand A Chance To Do Better
Organizers of different awards such as music in the country must be commended for taking a bold step to recognize and honour talents as well as celebrate achievements of individual players and the creative industries, as a whole.
Personally, I do not take this noble investment and gesture for granted because awards go a long way to motivate creatives to even do better.
Again, it is inspiring for countries like Malawi to honour its citizens for different achievements and contributions because this shows commitment towards promoting excellence.
Really, government should directly support or create a conducive environment for different initiatives such as music awards in order to promote and .
However, for a long time, I have observed controversies surrounding awards, particularly those to do with . Almost every year, there is a scandal or misunderstanding which forces some nominees to pull out last minute or dismiss the awards as bogus. And most of the bickerings fault poor nomination and voting systems as bone of contention.
This is something which threatens the reputation of otherwise good awards and the nominees.
Two days ago, a big scandal happened in this year’s Maso Music Awards where some influential artists faulted nomination procedure in certain categories, hence pulling out of the race or recommending fellow artists.
For example, Rapper Duncan Zgambo AKA Gwamba has censured his nomination in the category of Best Male Artist of the Year, suggesting that the nomination should go to FADA Motionist , one of the fast-growing artists. Big up Gwambizo for your honest assessment of the category that it deserves someone like Fada Moti.
Likewise, two Afro Pop female artists Temwah and Emmie Deebo Emmie Deebo of Akometsi pulled out of the competition in the category of Best Female Artist of the Year.
The two suggested that the revered nomination and award should go to the 70-year-old music sensation JETU of Chakhwaza fame. They argued that the elderly artist dedicated herself this year thus she deserves recognition.
Wait a minute, I see something great which a lot of people, including the organizers of Maso Music Awards, are missing here.
A big artist like Gwamba or Temwah nominating a fellow artist is a golden buzzer for sure. This cannot be taken lightly. Artist’s endorsement of fellow artist is not something easy. I remember in the past big artists and other influential figures were being given opportunity to vote for media personalities (thus include DJs and Journalists) in awards like UMP. And their votes were carrying some vital power, maybe times 10 the ordinary votes.
Critically looking at the current issue of nominations and voting systems in the country, it leaves a lot to be desired. These days awards organizers and artists simply rely on their large following on social media to get easy nominations and votes. That’s why some quarters fault the awards as being bogus.
I totally, agree with this observation because some artists simply use their social media influence to buy votes, not necessarily earn them. There is overwhelming evidence which indicates that overreliance on social media-based nominations and voting is producing fake artistic offsprings.
Picture this scenario: a musician who got millions in royalties but appear no where near nominations? Where are you getting the basis? You can do better, don’t be lazy in diversifying the systems of getting nominees and votes.
As a learned arts journalist, I know the business side of awards and that social media has simplified things which help people to cut operation costs. But let us stick to what is necessary, standard, transparent and accountable. Don’t compromise on quality because doing so is a mockery to the discipline of art!
The point I am trying to drive home is that organizers of awards in the country should work with bodies like the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA), which at least, has a system which tracks the relevance and contributions of artists in the country. For example, the royalties which COSOMA administer to different creatives (artists) show the evidence of artists’ impact and contributions to the creative industries. This is in sharp contract with social-media generated nominates and votes which recognize even those whose who buy the awards.
Awards should also utilize the votes of industry captains and other influential figures whose votes should carry vital power.
Otherwise, it does not look professional for musicians whose impact and influence on royalties is unquestionable should win awards. Where do you get the justification? Social Media votes only? My foot!
Additionally, in my view, awards should accompany a monetary value as a consolation. Not just conferring of some trophies made of wood or metal.
Back to Jetu’s endorsement, I personally back her to be in her own class which deserves an honorary award in the special category of Elderly Performer of the Year. I mean, Jetu has defied the odds.
And putting her in the same category with the youthful and energetic female artists like Theresa Phondo, Tuno, Lady Aika, Kellie Divine Njuchi, Keturah, Temwa and Emmie Deebo is doing great injustice to the elderly artist. Yes, awards do not recognize people out of sympathy. But forcing Jetu to compete with energetic youthful artists is unsound. You feel me?
Last but not least, the current challenges that have rocked the Maso Music Awards should, therefore, serve as an eye opener to the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s (MBC) MBC Digital Entertainers of the Year to set good standards.
I have a strong feeling that MBC is too smart to honour mediocrity because people look at the re-introduction of Entertainers of the Year as hope to the lost glory of legitimate awards and standards in Malawi.
Captions: Fada Moti and Jetu have been endorsed by fellow artists.
Howard Mlozi
