Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
2 November 2009
Gaborone — That was the atmosphere on the night of the P750, 000, Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) awards at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC), if one was to sweep under the carpet a few irritations on the night. The nominees were glamorous in their outfits, ready to make it a moment of their lives.
The GICC hall was also glittering with spectacular decor by Sweet Baint, the company hired to do the production, while Botswana Television (Btv) beamed the action live to many households, paying the BOMU P200, 000 for the broadcast rights.
The big winners were undoubtedly little known Traditional Dance Group, Barwakgodumo, who became the only group to bag more than one gong on the evening.
They stole two of the most coveted titles - the Best Music Album and the Best Traditional Music Album, albeit amid murmurs of disapproval from the attending revellers, while another newcomer, Gabo Thotobolo, won in the Best Newcomer in one of the categories voted for by Mascom subscribers.
Another gospel artist, Tshepo Lesole won the Best Male Artist ahead of Vee.
For the first time, Btv version of idols, My Star, produced a BOMU award winner this time as their 2008 My Star winner, Tebogo Tlhagadikgora won in the Best R&B category.
There will be few disappointments for new comers at Eric Ramco Records, which had about three nominations for the gongs in Rap and Traditional Music. Morubele, the all-female super group, which took the nation by storm with their debut album, missed the gong. But Rapper K-Boss would at least be happy he shone on stage. The eventual winner, Eureka The Cover Boy, did not.
Dikakapa may be gunning for the coveted African Music Award, the Kora, but they also played second fiddle in the BOMU awards, watching as Barwakgodumo Traditional Group stole two huge gongs. Vomit and Deben Natale might have ruled the local music scene with hit albums, Thobane, and Jaro over the last 12 months, but they also got nothing.
Kwaito Kwasa girl, Slizer, now the best selling Local Artist, redeemed herself with the Best Female artist award, after missing out to Vee in the Kwaito Kwasa category, but Helen Dikobe, arguably one of the best musicians in the last 12 months, drove home empty-handed, after being nominated for three awards in Best House, Song of the Year, and Best Female categories.
The rest of the winners were as follows:
Song of the Year- Ntsa e Jele Ntsanyana - Banjo Mosele, Album of the Year- Mmamakgona Tsa Bangwe by Barwakgodumo. Best Rock 'n' Roll - Metal Orizon. Best Reggae - Ras Jesus. Best Ragga - One Muscle. Best Folk - Ndingo Johwa, Best Afro Jazz- Malombo, Best Dikhwaere - Matona, Best Afro Pop - Eugene, Best R&B -Tebogo, Tlhagadikgora, Best Disco - Mercy M, Best Hip-Hop - Eureka, Best Contemporary Gospel - Tot, Best Traditional Gospel - Phempheretlhe, Best Newcomer - Gabo, Best Music Producer - BK Proctor, Best House - DJ Sid, Best Kwaito - 507, Best Kwasa-kwasa - Chris Manto7, Best Traditional - Barwakgodumo, Best Female - Slizer, Best Male - Tshepo Lesole, Best Video - Lister Boleseng, Best DVD - Culture Spears, Best DVD live - Earnest Seakgosing.
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