Red carpet: Getting it right

NOTHING says “spectacle” quite like a live televised event, there is no room for error, no redos or blunders – the production is what it is.

It is with this in mind that last weekend’s MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) lived up to all the hype and more. There was glitz and glamour, faulty mic work and lip sync acts, the shade throwing and spectacular live performances.

The 2015 MAMAs had it all.

And even as the end credits started rolling, more magic happened.

Memes and jokes of host Anthony Anderson forgetting his humour back in the US and Cassper Nyovest’s beau Boity choosing the most inappropriate time to stick up for her man. You name it! And quite naturally Twitter went into overdrive, threatening to “break the Internet”. Yes, Boity chose the wrong time to pull off “a Kanye West”, but her explanation since then seems to hold water.

Whether or not she was trying to correct her co-host Bebe, who thought Cassper Nyovest had been nominated in the Best Collaboration category, only she and her God knows, but next time she should simply stick to the script. There was also the humorous opening act by a Durban crew, Neyo’s almost outdated act, right up to Jhene Aiko’s sultry and soulful show-stopper.

However, the biggest talking points of the night were the awards themselves. By Sunday morning the scorecard read Nigeria and South Africa 12; the rest of Africa three.

Once again South Africa and Nigeria had the lion’s share of winners, only missing out on the Best Francophone, Lusophone and Best Live Performance awards, which went to Cote d’Ivoire’s DJ Arafat, Angola’s Avry and Tanzania’s Diamond Platinumz, respectively.

Of those 12, South Africa only got three while Nigeria had eight and they shared one (Best Collaboration), which features South Africans AKA, Da Les and JR, and Nigerian Burna Boy.

On the “important” awards, Nigeria and South Africa were neck and neck.

Nigeria took Best Female (Yemi Aledi), Best Male (Davido) and Best Group (P-Square); while South Africa took home Best Hip-Hop (Casper Nyovest), Best Pop and Alternate (Jeremy Loops) and Personality of the Year (Trevor Noah).

It is funny that most Zimbabweans and some of our Southern African counterparts find it hard to grasp how these two countries seem to have the continent in the palm of their hands.

Whether it is Big Brother Africa, awards shows or any African show – Nigeria and South Africa always seem to either have the numbers or come out on top. Well, it is simple! Of the 5,6 million DStv subscribers, a huge chunk of those come from the two countries and since both BBA and MAMAs are voter based, naturally acts from Nigeria and South Africa would come out tops.

As for the locals, Professor Jonathan Moyo summed it up in this tweet: “Yes the talent is there.

But no industry. No proper studios, equipment, songwriters, no producers, distributors etc.”

Before Zimbabweans can begin to cry foul that South African and Nigerian acts were unfairly awarded, the country should put its house in order. While talent is there in abundance, it is in the marketing department that Zimbabwe still lags behind for “talent can only take you so far”.

Our studios are not doing enough to market their acts locally, regionally and internationally.

The artistes are no victims either, as they just sit there and do nothing.

If a mildly talented artiste named Thabani Ndlovu from Mufakose managed to create a brand called Buffalo Souljah, creating an international label called United Nations of Africa (UNA), then Zimbabwean artistes can do it!

Today he calls himself the king of “African dancehall”, and who can dispute that when he has fame, hits and accolades to match.

His assertion that Zimbabwean taste in music is too selective and leaning towards the United States goes a long way into explaining the lack of a Zimbabwean flavour during the 2015 MAMAs. Who do we expect to support our Zimbabweans artistes on the continental stage, when we do not support at home?

As for our other regional friends who also complained bitterly that their countries were cheated too, I wonder if they even voted those acts they cry over being cheated on.

I also wonder how many local acts they have in the playlists of their iPods and cell-phones. Food for thought!