VICTORIA MUSIC AWARDS

[doc]

I have been curious about this so called Victoria music awards. Very heavy online campaign especially on facebook by nominees seeking votes from fans. So I did a quick search on google and here is the information I come up with.

You can actually vote on the website for your favorite artist..

www.victoriaawards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

[Admin]

Doc:

Thanks for providing the link. I have also noticed the furious solicitation on Facebook. I think it’s a great event as it promotes ‘healthy’ competition amongst Kenya’s crème de la crème of vernacular music.

For those who have not made it to the website yet, pasted below is some information stating the purpose of the awards ……. Good stuff !



Victoria Awards plans to annually bring together the cream of Kenyan entertainment industry to the first ever vernacular/native African music awards in the continent and show the world the best of African culture and musical talent.The name Victoria Awards is derived from Lake Victoria that unifies the three East African states.Success of the awards in Kenya will see it grow into Uganda,Tanzania and the entire African Continent,therefore giving it the ultimate African appeal as the name suggests.Victoria award's long term goal is to transform vernacular music to international standards to enable the awards effectively compete other awards in the African continent such as Channel O and MAMA awards. -

[Admin]

Victoria Music Awards

op musicians and fans will tomorrow gather at the lakeside city to witness the crowning of stars during glittering inaugural awards ceremony, writes DAVID ODONGO

Kisumu City will on Friday host the inaugural Victoria Music Awards. After weeks of submitting entries for the awards, folk music singers will gather in Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground from 6pm for what has been touted as the biggest vernacular music awards.

Dubbed Vima, the ceremony will bring together the crËme de la crËme of Kenya’s entertainment industry in an annual event aimed at celebrating outstanding talent in vernacular music.

The initiative is the first of its kind in the continent and will also showcase the best of African culture.

"Although some music genres such as Benga, Mugithi and Taarab have been in existence since time immemorial, they have often existed at the periphery of the fast-growing entertainment industry," explained Vima CEO, Gabriel Omolo adding: "This is set to change following the awards ceremony that will fete outstanding vernacular singers," added Omolo.

Vima chairman, Pakajkumar Patel says: "We have awards recognising all types of music from rap, kapuka to genge and Victoria Music Awards will be dedicated to honouring talent in vernacular music."

He described Vima’s long term goal as elevating Kenyan vernacular music to international standards.

Among the nominees for Best Female Artiste is Emmy Kosgei who during the promulgation of Constitution got the First Lady dancing to her hit, Taunet Nelel. Others include celebrated singer Suzanna Owiyo and well as gospel queen, Betty Bayo.

Nominated in five categories Betty is looking to trounce Emmy and Suzanna Owiyo to emerge best female vernacular artiste.

Veteran benga musician JB Maina tops the nomination list with six nods. He is most famous especially among the younger market for redoing the hit song, Mwanamke with dancehall star Wyre.

Said JB Maina: "I am looking forward to the gala. My music comes from deep within me. My songs, my lyrics speak to me first just as they speak to my audience. I am happy to have been nominated and given a chance, please vote for me and respect vernacular music, it is not inferior," he explained.

The ever-fresh JB is also expected to belt out his tunes live at the gala ceremony backed by his five man band. Slotted in the same category, King of Mugiithi Mike Rua and John De Mathew will all battle for the Best Male Artiste award.

From Western Kenya, it will be a battle between ohangla, benga and rhumba. A Boy Landlord, Odhiambo Tusker and Osogo Winyo taking on Johnny Junior and his mentor the late Musa Juma to clamour for Western Artiste of the Year.

Aluoch Pamba and Lady Maureen will also perform. With the demise of Limpopo bandleader Musa Juma, his wife is expected to represent him at the gala and keep her fingers crossed that her husband’s legacy can be immortalised through his music and perhaps a Vima Award.

Suzanna Owiyo, one of the most successful vernacular artistes, whose music has appeal to a diverse audience locally and internationally, said: "Victoria Awards has been a long-time coming. I fully support the initiative and I hope vernacular artistes will finally get the recognition they deserve."

Stamping her approval, Owiyo said: "Other awards have recognised the type of music we do, but they usually bundle it all under one category. This is definitely a step in the right direction," Owiyo, who has also won Kora and Kisima awards, said. She was also crowned the Best Female Artiste in the 2007 Pearl of Africa Award.

Though not popular among the youth, traditional vernacular music boasts a massive following in the country, with genres such as Benga, Mugithi, Taarab and Ohangla being popular among revelers.

Very popular

The genre has also produced a number of stars and many have reaped big from album sales and live performances. Some of the celebrated vernacular singers include Mike Rua, Ken wa Maria, Micah Maritim, Tony Nyadundo, Princess Jully, De Mathew and Sukuma Bin Ongaro.

These artistes are, however, largely ignored in major corporate events despite them commanding a huge following.

Commenting on the awards, Music Copyright Society of Kenya CEO Maurice Okoth said: "VIMA is a joyful and uplifting celebration of culture and music. Vima will foster a spirit of harmony and creative exchange that takes their music to a new level."

Some of the categories in the awards will include Breakthrough Awards that will target newcomers in the field as well as middle level achievers, the Artistes’ Artiste Award, which will recognise inspirational work, and the Vima Music Manager Award that will honour outstanding music managers.

The latter will also be the ultimate accolade in the awards. "The diversity and talent of vernacular musicians is our inspiration to bring closer home an award that will encourage and nurture their music," said Vima chairman, Pakajkumar Patel.

He further described the project as a long-term goal that will eventually compete with other awards in the African continent.

Regional event

The name Victoria Awards is derived from Lake Victoria, the water body that links the three East African states. Vima organisers hope its success in Kenya will see it grow into Uganda, Tanzania and the entire African continent.

Production houses, record companies and individual recording artistes were allowed to enter recordings and music videos released between August 2009 and 2011 which they consider worthy of recognition.

Entry period closed on November 15.

[Admin]

The event was held yesterday. We will post the full results here in the coming hours

[doc]

I'm not sure who won what, but Johnny Junior seems to have scooped something. Here is what he writes on his facebook page. Quite sobber minded, especially when he recognizes"the legends who came before him.....


I dont know how to start it friends, it with great honor as a humbly accepted this great and prestigious awards you given to me for the first time in my music carrier.

The true honor I give to my family, for giving me courage to move on with my God given gifts, Bana B-V this is your achievement for your hard work keep it up guys as we say it in B-V 'jakinda emakeyo' .
My ever faithful fans w...ho have seen the great potential in me, given me support to unleash it and to see my dream come true. you took a lot of your time spend a lot of your money and voted the best overwhelmingly, You sweet fans are my priority in this field and these awards I dedicate it to you, thank you.
My friends I call them my chief campaigners on this ever very loyal friends who always want the best in me, you stood with me through out the voting process to ensure that we win these and we did it together, may God bless you for me.

To the Victoria music awards this was long overdue but you people made it to be what we all have been waiting for. Recognizing that vernacular music has a place in the Kenyan music industry is an excellent thing, thank you and we shall give your our full cooperation in the coming future events.

In such like event we can not fail to mention with respect the legends who came before us, opened our eyes in our vernacular music industry and to give them their honor they deserve on this, some are with us and some have gone back to be with the father, the likes of George Ramogi, DO Misiani, Okatch Biggy, my music teacher Otieno Jagwasi, Prince Jully, my mentor Musa Juma wuod Usonga, and the rest may your soul rest in peace, also Osito Kale we can not afford to forget in this for he has brought a lot of talent up in this industry. We owe you this awards forever we shall give you the respect you deserve for you live in our hearts.

To our media industry thank you for your continued support and we urge u to continue with that heart for we need you most in this. Also helps us to fight out this deadly virus called piracy which kills us and intends to leave us poor and retched.

My colleagues in this industry lets continue with the hard work to entertain our people with integrity and dignity. And more so lets love one another and unite as one for unity is strength.

Brothers and sisters thank you so much once again for the great honor we love you and God bless you.

[Admin]

Doc: Nice to see you back. I am a little perturbed that the Victoria awards website has not been updated with the names of the winners ? What’s up with that ?

[douglas]

The results... From the Daily Nation on Friday, December 23, 2011 (Zuqka page 10):

Benga artiste Johnny Junior topped the
list of winners at the first annual edition of
the Victoria Music Awards (VIMA) held in
Kisumu last week.
Nominated in two categories, Johnny
bagged the Best Male Vernacular Artiste
and Best Song, Nyanza awards, while his
mentor, Musa Juma, posthumously won in
two categories, too; Best Vernacular Song
and Best Band (Limpopo International).
Betty Bayo won in the gospel category.
Mwanake, the now famous remix of JB Maina’s
featuring Wyre, won Best Collaboration
and Best Artiste, Central.
The hotly contested category for Best
Vernacular Video went to up and coming
ohangla musician Onyango Alemo, while
Suzanna Owiyo edged out Sauti Sol, Jimmi
Gait and Rufftone to walk away with the
Urban Vernacular Artiste of the Year award.
The TV category surprisingly went to KBC’s
Dunda Kikwetu while Ramogi bagged the
Vernacular Radio award.
“By having all vernacular musicians under
one umbrella, we are making a statement
that we can coexist and celebrate our culture
with music, peacefully,” Vima chairman
Pakajkumar Patel said.
VIMA WINNERS LIST IN FULL:
1.Best Vernacular Radio Station: Radio
Ramogi
2. Best Vernacular TV Show: Dunda Kikwetu
(KBC)
3.Best Vernacular Music Video: Onyango
Alemo (Piny osiko to ok sikie)
4.Best Artiste/Song, Coast: Nyota Ndogo
5.Best Artiste/Song, Eastern: Ken wa Maria
6.Best Artiste Song, Central: JB Maina
7.Best Artiste/Song, Rift Valley: Mica Martim
8.Best Song, Nyanza: Johnny Junior
(Sweetheart)
9.Best Artiste, Nyanza: Osogo Winyo
10.Best Song/Artiste, Western: Pastor
Joseph Shisia
11.Best Band: Limpopo International
12.Best Gospel Artiste/Song: Betty Bayo
13.Best Urban Artiste: Suzanna Owiyo
14.Overall Song of the Year: Musa Juma
(Lake Victoria)
15.Best collaboration: JB Maina
16.Overall Vernacular Artiste: Johnny Junior

[Admin]

Douglas, thanks for posting the list of winners !Looks like JJ and Limpopo had a great evening !