ALTHOUGH the Metro FM Music Awards were held at the ICC Arena in Durban last Saturday, they are still in the news today. There are artists who have lost and then shoot at others who have won.
One of them, Afro pop singer Naledi Aphiwe, who booed Ladysmith Black Mambazo after losing to Best African Pop. He mocked the Mambazos by saying that he was congratulating them for being voted in by an old woman who was sleeping in a cemetery and then asked what the Mambazos are. Naledi has been heavily criticized for disrespecting celebrities who have won five Grammy awards and are around the world.
Despite this, Nhlamulo “Nota” Baloyi, who has contributions and experience in the country’s music, said that he sympathizes with Naledi Aphiwe because he worked hard, campaigning in many places but ended up not seeing her perform.
And the pianist and 3 Step singer, Zee Nxumalo, cried a lot for losing in seven matches. Speaking on the Podcast and Chill with MacG, Zee said he has a headache because of losing at the awards. People sympathized with Zee saying that he deserved to walk away with the award for Best Artist of the Year, which was an award taken by his colleague Ciza.
A pianist and former Kaya FM and YFM broadcaster, Sol Phenduka, said Ciza should not have won because he was famous for one song called Isaac. And MacGyver “MacG” Mukwevho told Ciza that he bought this medal that was helped by his father Thembinkosi Nciza of TS Records fame that had Zahara. Sol said that the awards are still losing dignity and credibility because the artists who should have been nominated, are not nominated, but they are nominated and have disappeared that year. He said that the Metros were respected and it was nice to be elected, but now they are frustrated because they were defeated in the right way.
Nota said the medals were bought. “Do you understand me? These awards are bought. Ricky Rick told you about that kids.” At the 2017 Metro FM Music Awards, the late rapper Riky Rick, accepting his award, revealed that radio stations are being hacked and that’s why bad songs are being played. He said that good music is on the internet because there are people who catch artists on the radio. “90% of the music you hear on the radio is crap.” Unfortunately, his speech was cut short.
Speaking on the Music Pulse Podcast, Nota said that the purchase of the awards is saddening him because Mabala Noise buried the rapper he managed Kwesta in Metro because he used the money he received from the Ministry of Water in 2017. He said Kwesta’s song Nah it was defeated by Nasty C saying Hell Naw. Nota said that Kwesta’s song was a hit all over the world and was also played in stadiums.
His colleague Sifiso “Mafitsotso” Ndlovu said what has hurt many artists is that it is not done like before when fans actually voted and not verbally. He said that it is important for artists to unite people and even give R20 000 to people to vote for them before persuading relatives and fans to vote. Continuing, Mafitsotso said that this is the way to win awards. He said no one buys medals, but the vote speaks.
He said there are artists who should not have been nominated in certain categories because they were not eligible. He even made an example of a singer who won Best Styled Artist. However, he regretted this speech after being criticized.
Comedian Mpho Pops said Zee was killed by fans who voted for him. He said that there were others who supported him wholeheartedly but did not vote for him because they thought that there were people who would vote for him. “Even if he is my favorite, I won’t vote because I hope others will vote for him. We always tell ourselves that a certain artist will win because of popularity but it just doesn’t happen,” said Mpho on People Need Comedy.
Londie London of fame inReal Housewives of Durban he said Zee was hurt by being nominated in many constituencies because his votes were clear. “If he had been nominated in three races, he could have won,” said Londie London on the Read The Room Podcast.
Efforts to get a comment from the SABC spokesperson, Mmoni Ngubane, were unsuccessful by press time.