We couldn’t be any happier that the MTV Africa Music Awards (Mamas) are back in South Africa and will be hosted in Durban on July 18. This will be the second time that we get to host the prestigious showcase and here’s hoping that things go much smoother this time around.
The City of Durban has obviously stepped up its game when it comes to big events such as this and thanks to its proximity to the Indian Ocean and the palm trees that go along with it, the vibe there is nothing short of party central. It worked last year, and will definitely work this time around.
The Durban International Convention Centre is a perfect venue for the showcase as it meets the international standards that VIMN has for award shows like the European Music Awards or the BETs. Ask Khloe Kardashian, she had a fabulous time here last year.
As with any annual awards ceremony, the focus is on those artists who rocked our airwaves during the past 12 months. So although the nominees are yet to be announced, the usual suspects will battle it out.
In South Africa the run will obviously continue from where the South African Music Awards left off so we will see AKA, K.O and Cassper Nyovest again try to outdo each other. After this there will be the Channel Os and then a new wave will be eligible to enter, so this Mama race is that last lap that these rappers will be running. The official nominations for the Mamas will be revealed on June 11.
Of interest in this year’s event is the fact that a new award will be added to the list, called Artist of the Decade. As might be expected, this award will be given to the one artist who has obviously made hits over the past 10 years and it will go in line with MTV Base and VIMN’s 10th anniversary in Africa. Names like D’Banj, HHP and Oskido come to mind, but we will have to wait and see.
In the event that you don’t make it to the Mamas, do not despair; MTV Base (DStv channel 322) and MTV (channel 130) will broadcast them live so you can watch them in the comfort of your home and air your views online on social media.
We are hoping the host of the show is going to be a great choice because while Marlon Wayans did well last year, he needed a co-host off which to bounce his material. It would be great to have both an international name (for international viewers’ sake) and a local one (it is an African showcase) double up and give us something unforgettable.
The sound, too, was an issue last year and it seems even the Samas and the Metros have had the same issues of late. Please, someone help us because we can’t have another sound fail like we did while Trey Songz was performing. It’s just unacceptable.
The integration of entertainment on the night is key to uniting musicians and with South Africa getting a bad rap over the xenophobic attacks, this is the one big show where positive messages can be disseminated.
If these few basic requirements are met, we are in for an unforgettable awards ceremony to celebrate the finest artists on the continent.
l Find out more on the MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal on www.mtvbase.com, http://mama.mtv. com or #MTVMAMA2015 on Twitter.