Channel O Music Video Awards: a vast improvement from last year

Last night saw music lovers from across the continent congregate at Carnival City to celebrate our music, as well as honour and recognise those that make the music we enjoy so much. I decided to go to the Channel O Music Video Awards after a very beautiful lady invited me to accompany her late in the afternoon. Remembering last year's edition of the awards that were held at the City Hall in the Johannesburg CBD, there was a huge improvement in terms of organisation, the quality of the show and many other trimmings that made the occasion a success this time around.

The registration was pretty easy and the pre-cocktail event enjoyable, setting a tone for a fun night. The whole event went smoothly, with great performances from artists like PRO(kid) and Les (collaborating together on Les' Tippy Toes song, and joined by Bongani Fassie towards the end of the song - PRO had chatted briefly to me about their rehearsal as we made our way to the arena) ; the face-masked Bleksem, featuring Crazy Boy, aka KB Ngakane doing his thing like his appearance on the original song (and was their dancer hot or what, she can mowhat a great way to open the show); a Namibian female MC called Zero, who resembles Pebbles in appearance and reminded me of old-school female rappers like Queen Penn and MC Lyte; and many more.

The only downpoints to the awards was the fact that like last year South Africa didn't win any awards, but the Best African Southern video award which was won by Freshlyground. (I mean c'mon, Namibia took the Best Kwaito category again). Liza James beat KB and other contenders for the Best Female Video crown and the top accolade of Video Of The Year was awarded to Nigerian twin brothers dubbed P-Squared (see picture above - red jackets). What I like about other African countries though in these awards, is that they really show their geniune excitement and enjoy the moment when they win. It was no different yesterday as they shouted and danced and sang.

Nonhle Tema, compeering with KB looked ravishing with her 3 dress changes. I spoke to her after the show and she asked me which outfit I liked the most, and because she looked fantastic in all of them, I said all. Presenters of the awards included Channel O presenters Chuma, Tania, Nzinga and Lungile Radu, whom the women are crazy about. Evertime he stepped into the stage, the screams from the ladies would shutter the house down [lucky man that]. There were a few other people I chatted to that attended, including fashion designer Ephymol, some entertainment industry peeps I know, etc. It was really a fun night. Let's hope next year will be even better. Thanks for the company and great conversations Minki, had a stupendous time :-).

Photos by Thabo Moloto