It is one of the greatest platforms for urban African artists (at least the sub-Saharan part of it), and while it's about the videos rather than the music, it's also, as always, a quick recap of some of the best tracks from the past year (and for people coming new to urban African music, an easy introduction).
This year’s hosts, South African presenter Dineo Moeketsi and Nigerian musician and Producer Banky W
Nigeria and South Africa usually dominate; they did so to a considerable degree last year that to some it felt like a two-country award. There are fab music vidz being made in all the other countries, but the fact is that for the kind of music whose videos this event is set up to award, SA and Nigeria are the powerhouses, and they dominate again this year.
Anyway, what you have are great vidz and tracks spread across 14 categories, Most Gifted Male Video, Most Gifted Female Video, Most Gifted newcomer, Most Gifted Dance Video, etc. BUT, no matter how carefully you draw up your nomination list, you are going to raise some eyebrows, and two things in particular raised ours:
1. The glaring omission of 3 of the best music videos released this year (and by "best" we mean the most impressive marriages of music and moving images). They are, in no particular order:
Siji - Ijo (Nigeria)
Buraka Som Sistema - Hangover (Angola/Portugal)
Spoek Mathambo - Control (South Africa)
O.K., we'd accept the argument that Buraka Som Sistema is not a wholly Angolan outfit, but how to explain the omission of the other two?
2. Cabo Snoop (Angola) is in the running for Most Gifted Male video for Windeck, and he really, really deserves to win that award. But his omission from the Most Gifted Video of the Year list means it's now possible for the Most Gifted Male video to not even be in contention for the "main" prize. This strikes us as bizarre, to say the least.
Now that we've got that off our chest, here are all the videos that made the Most Gifted Video of the Year, Most Gifted Male Video and Most Gifted Female Video lists. Public voting is closed, and who wins or loses will be academic once the event is broadcast tomorrow night. Nonetheless we've decided to put them all together on one page for you to decide who you think deserves to walk away with the grand prize whether they're in contention of not (our picks at the bottom of this post).
Khuli Chana - No More Hunger (South Africa)
Samklef ft. Wizkid, D'Prince & Ice Prince - Molowo Noni (Nigeria)
Zakes Bantwini - Wasting My Time (South Africa)
STL - Lookie Lookie (Kenya)
D'Banj ft. Snoop Dogg - Mr. Endowed (Remix) (D'Banj will receive a Special Recognition award for incredible amount of influence he's had on the urban African music landscape. Past recipients include K’naan and the late Brenda Fassie.)
AKA - Victory Lap (South Africa)
2Face - Only Me (Nigeria)
Liquideep - Settle For Less (South Africa)
Navio - Keep Moving (Uganda)
Lira - Phakade (South Africa)
Professor ft. Speedy - Lento (South Africa)
Waje ft. Muna - So Inspired (Nigeria)
Lizha James - Gotta Move On (Mozambique)
Tiwa Savage - Kele Kele (Nigeria)
To check which of the above actually made it onto the Most Gifted Video of the Year list, click HERE)
These are the best tracks from the rest of the nominations:
DJ Cleo - Bhampa Side To Side
Black Coffee ft. Hugh Masekela - We Are One
Oskido presents Black Motion/ Jah Rich - Banane Mavoko
Jozi - Electric Avenue
Ay ft. Ms Triniti - Good Look
Samklef ft. Wizkid, D’Prince & Ice Prince - Molowo Noni
Ice Prince/ Brymo - Oleku
TIA nominations for Most Gifted Video award
We've already told you which 3 vids we think are the best of 2011, but of the nominated videos (from whichever category), we believe the Most Gifted Video award should go to one of these two:
2Face - Only Me
Cabo Snoop - Windeck
What do you think?
The award show which will be broadcast LIVE on Channel O (DStv 320) on Friday, 11 November 2011 at 21:00 CAT.
