Salax Awards Will Go On With Or Without Tops Stars
Could it be that some singers are withdrawing from the nomination list because they are scared of losing to those they consider inferior?”
A local music industry project that first introduced awards for superstars is embroiled in row with singers – many of who have pulled out. The organizers have vowed that cancelling the awards like it happened for last three years, will not be repeated.
Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, who initiated the awards several years ago has remained steadfast in the face of negative media reviews branding Salax Awards as poorly organized.
The superstars any event organizer cannot afford to miss like award-winning duo Charly & Nina, Knowless, Bruce Melody and Social Mula – threw in the towel. Odda Pacy, the singer behind the controversial “IBYA-TSI” single is also out.
U.S-based international acts The Ben and Meddy – both of who have big hits, are not on the nomination list.
Some said in social media posts that they had other engagements which conflicted with the Salax calendar. Others said they were not ready for ‘personal reasons’ (ku mpamvu zanjye bwite).
Initiator ‘Emma Claudine’ as she is commonly known, is not giving media interviews – preferring to direct requests to Ahupa Digital Services, which she says is the company that has taken over the Salax Awards brand.
It all began when the organisers released a nomination list placing singers in categories. Many of the singers, some of who believe they had to be at number one, fired back angrily in social media posts.
Some did not like the fact that they had been placed in same category with other singers they consider below their standards, according local reports.
But in a Facebook post on February 6, Emma Claude is clearly taking no punches this time.
“Does it mean the awards are poorly organized when some singers do not want to appear on Salax Awards nomination list,” she wrote. “I was listening to a journalist on [radio] saying…‘there is something wrong’… But I wonder… ‘what is really wrong?’…”
She added: “…Could it be that some singers are withdrawing from the nomination list because they are scared of losing to those they consider inferior?”
Ahupa Digital Services which secured a 5-year management contract for Salax Awards shows no sign it is panicking publicly. Original brand owners Ikirezi Group apparently were unable to secure sponsors.
“There is no change on how the awards had been planned,” Isiaka Mulemba, a partner and spokesperson of Ahupa Digital Services told The Chronicles. “The music industry is far bigger than a few singers who do not want to be part of Salax Awards. It will not deter us from organizing future editions.”
The cash packages have increases for awards. The top name will go away with Rwf1m – which was half in previous edition of 2016. The winners in categories will walk away with Rwf 100, 000.
The 2019 Salax Awards 7th Edition will take place on March 29, sponsored by Chinese satellite TV provider StarTimes.
However, no venue has been decided yet.
Here is the complete list of nominees:
Best culture and traditional artiste
Clarisse Karasira
Jules Sentore
Sophia Nzayisenga
Deo Munyakazi
Mani Martin
Best Gospel Artiste
Israel Mbonyi
Serge Iyamuremye
Aime Uwimana
Patient Bizimana
Gentil Bigizi
Upcoming artiste
Sintex
Buravan
Alyn Sano
Marina
Andy Bumuntu
Best Group
Just Family
The Same
Active
Tresor
Yemba Voice
Best AfrobeatArtiste
MC Tino
Danny Vumbi
Davis D
Uncle Austin
Mico The Best
Best R&B Artiste
Bruce Melodie
Yvery
Buravan
King James
Social Mula
Best Hip-hop Artiste
Bull Dogg
Jay C
Riderman
Khalfan
Ama G The Black
Best Female Artiste
Asinah Erra
Young Grace
Marina
Queen Cha
Alyn Sano
Best Male Artiste
Bruce Melodie
Israel Mbonyi
King James
Buravan
Riderman.
