The Channel O Awards celebrate 10 years of existence and the nominees were announced at an afternoon party in Sandton on Tuesday. The event only takes place on November 30 and will be held at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto.
This ensures time for voting by fans from all over the continent.
South African music fans will be pleased to know that we are well represented. This does not mean we are ensured wins as the Channel O footprint in other countries is far bigger than South Africa.
Mafikizolo’s comeback album, Reunited, is recognised in two categories – for their track Khona – Most Gifted Video of the Year and Most Gifted Dance Video.
Let’s just pause here for a small bitch session. This Most Gifted this and Most Gifted that is really twee. It’s so spoken word circa 2003 when everyone and its dog wanted to be a poet and most were just awful at it. If it was in 1993 it would have been Most Narly Video of the Year. But it’s 2013 so why don’t they change it to #Video of the Year LOL because it makes just as much sense.
Anyway, back to the South African nominations.
Our much loved rapper, AKA has two nominations for his song Jealousy in Most Gifted Video of the Year and Most Gifted Hip Hop Video. He is also in Kenya’s Xtatic video for the song Hit Em Up with Priddy Ugly. The song is nominated in Most Gifted Video of the Year as well as Most Gifted Duo, Group or Featuring.
In Most Gifted Newcomer the gorgeous and talented Moneoa and Idols winner, Khaya Mthethwa represent South Africa.
South Africa has three nominations in Most Gifted Hip Hop – with AKA, Reason and finally, Ifani featuring Blacksuga.
Their fellow South African hip hoppers Teargas did not make that category but are in Most Gifted Duo, Group or Featuring along with Micasa. They unfortunately are up against Naeto C featuring D’Banj and that massive hit Tony Montana.
Danny K is nominated in Most Gifted R&B Video for Brown Eyes. The video is a dubious copy of Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines which is kinda what Robin Thicke did with Marvin Gaye’s song, Got To Give It Up.
Most Gifted Afro Pop has The Soil Featuring Zakwe for Inkomo and The Muffinz Umsebenzi Wendoda.
The massive DJ Ganyani hit, Xigubu gets the nod in Most Gifted Dance Video.
Obviously in Most Gifted Kwaito the South Africans dominate. What is weird is they hardly win in that category. This year it’s the turn of the Durban boys – L’vovo Derrango featuring Professor for Palesa, Professor featuring Oskido and Character for Mafingerprints and DJ Tira featuring Big Nuz and Joocy for Summertime. Kabelo is there for Impilo and EES for Woza December.
In Most Gifted African South the nominees are Oskido, Black Coffee featuring Zakes Bantwini, DJ Dimplez featuring L-Tido and Ananti, Paul G featuring Fabulous and Khuli Chana.