By Salim Segawa
This morning, the Club Music Video Awards nominee list was released after the judges sorted out what they thought were the videos that needed attention. Big artistes like the trio neighbors Chameleone, Bebe Cool and Bobi Wine might now be wondering why they didn’t get any nomination on the inaugural Club Music Video Awards. But hey, keep calm; you have won so many accolades ‘naamwe!’
Well, when Jasmine Dowitala, one of the judges who happens to be affiliated to MTV (Senior Producer) related Uganda’s music videos to be more of Caribbean in one of her articles, many artistes who fell short under that statement knew that their videos had not even made it to the top 20 videos or even top ten, something which seems to be true. Okay, straight to why I am writing… here is my question, did Club Music Video Awards Breach Their Own Terms and Condition? Yes. Why? Read my philosophy below…
When they first announced this highly anticipated event which will happen in September, the organizers of Club Music Video Awards issued the ‘Terms and Conditions’ that guided the submission of the videos, one of which was ‘only videos released between the period of April 2012 and March 2013’ were to be considered for vetting. This condition blocked some of the artistes or managers to submit their/their artistes’ music videos. This is where I ask again, why is Naava’s ‘Nterrede’ and Maurice Kirya’s ‘Work it out’ on the nomination list? Was it because these videos’ concepts are far apart from one of the Judge’s ideologies about Uganda Music videos? Think about it…
Meanwhile, allow me to explain my line of reasoning to why I think Club Music Video Awards Breached their Terms and Conditions. “Nteredde” one of Naava’s sensational songs, its video was released on January 6th 2012, according to her YouTube account “Naavag” and well, as we all know, Maurice Kirya’s “Work It Out” was released mid last month! This is how the Club Music Video Awards Breached the Terms and Conditions that regulated the submission of the videos.
I’m not saying this because my favorite artiste is not on the list, but I feel that the truth should be known so that next time the organizer keep their word(s) on the Terms and Conditions come next year.
In spite of this, I do not hate, I salute Club Pilsner for organizing an event that will broadcast Uganda’s hidden talent to the whole world. But as long as there is no transparency in any activity where the artistes and fans engage for a good cause, our hidden talent will not be given the attention, chance and motivation they need to hatch from the local egg.
May The Winner Win, Come September. OkBye!
