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irenedonati · 6 years ago

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AFRIMAs: I was there.

I went to the Afrima, invited, not as a professional, but as a music fan.

I am a music lover, I have been into music since I was a child. I am a trained piano player and singer. Music is my biggest love. I am always an enthusiast of working with talents, share ideas, see them growing and encourage their journey.

I had the great honor in the past to work in situations were superstars were involved. From Justin Timberlake to Shakira, from Sean Paul to Craig David.I have seen in concert people like Prince, Beyonce, John Legend, James Brown, Mos Def, Jay Z, Cold Play, Oasis, Earth Wind and Fire, Lauryn Hill, Oasis, U2, Florence and the Machine and thousands more.

I was so lucky to be in the production of an opening ceremony, so I am aware of the implications involved in a massive production. However, I was at the Afrima purely as a music lover, so my opinion is expressed as a music lover who got quite disappointed but also very confused.

I’m not judging, I am more seeking for answers.

Why did all that happen?

It is something that has happened many times to me in the past 5. years in Ghana: to go to events and see artists not showing up, showing up late, not been able to pronounce a decent acceptance speech: for me, any time this happens, they have missed an opportunity.

Every platform is an opportunity, especially when you are young, upcoming, not experienced ( having one good song doesn’t make you seasoned or “arrived” ).

The size of the platform doesn't make it more or less relevant. A smaller platform is an opportunity even to make mistakes that will help you to get to the bigger ones. A big platform gives you the opportunity to spread your message loud and clear to a bigger audience.

The definition of big or small doesn't depend on the amount of money you are making out of it: wake up.

I love artists in general because I see their talent, their hopes, their vulnerabilities, and their struggle: I see them. However, in many occasions, I find myself very puzzled when is about their management and the choices they make, which I saw becoming more harmful than helpful.

Now, there might be reasons why some artists decided not to show up to an African award televised in 54 countries. Maybe they think the Afrima organization is terrible. Maybe they think Afrima is using them. Maybe they don’t like awards. Maybe they were sick or busy.

If the issue is with Afrima, which is what a friend in the industry suggested, they are still missing a significant point: to show up and accept the award is not for the organization, it’s for the people who voted for you. The people who took their phones and sent an SMS to support you, they deserve you to show up.

As I said, there might be reasons not to show up: you are not in the country, you are performing somewhere else, and you can’t pull out because you are a professional, you are sick, you have a personal emergency. If that’s the case you send someone, and not just someone: you send somebody who can pronounce one word after the other and give an acceptance speech that offers something to the people who voted for you.

Sarkodie is in DC, and he sent Dj Mensah: it's acceptable, fans know he's Sark's Dj, he could have made a better speech, but he was there. I was sitting with Simi’s team: she couldn’t be around, but if she would have won an award there was the highest level of management in her team ready to go on stage.

Tiwa is in London; she sends a cute video. Maybe she couldn’t care less, perhaps she could have been there, and she was just lazy, but at least she observed the etiquette. Etiquette is essential, etiquette pays in the long term, etiquette is what your management has to teach you if you are a lazy young artist and you don’t understand the importance of it.

I distinctly remember when Worlasi told his fans they shouldn’t spend money on SMS for the VGMA: “WorlArmy abeg make you no use your credit vote gimme 4 VGMA.Ago organise some shows this year save the credit money buy tickets.THANK YOU.” He meant: I am not showing up anyway, save your money for my concert, a smart way to say “I don’t believe in this award.” He used a platform to talk about something I am sure was dear to him: the doubts around the legitimacy of some specific music awards. He was bold, consistent with his brand, and in direct communication with the most important people he has: his fans. I had many conversations with Worlasi about management and other issues, and sometimes we agree to disagree, but he is aware about the impact of every word he says and he uses it to deliver his message.

Now if you are a young upcoming artist and you can’t find the way to do any of the above, then you owe an explanation to your fans.Are you protesting against Afrima, well you should have the gut to say it. Are you against awards? You should have the gut to say it. And if you had the gut to stand for something you’d have done it live on TV. Connected with 54 countries. That sounds like making an impact. But if you were just lazy and your management was lazier than you ... ( I leave it with an ellipsis )

Only Stoneboy amongst the Ghanaian artists awarded showed up on stage. I am sure someone is going to say “they paid him.” I have no idea, I am not a super fan of Stoneboy’s music, I never met him, but he was classy, conscious, smart in his speech and very charming. He honored his fans.

As a professional, I found the choice of the artists who didn’t show up, and didn’t send anyone on their behalf quite disturbing.

As a music lover, and someone who has been spending her money to buy and see music since she was a child, I find it rude, and unacceptable.

Let me go back one second to the platform before I close: you have the responsibility to honor every opportunity to say something that can help the industry, create conversations around relevant topics, can help change your country, can help increase awareness for something that is important for you as a human being and as an artist. Kudos to Sandra Nankoma from Uganda who used the platform to talk about colorism and her struggle.

There have been examples of people not showing up for awards to fight a cause or to demonstrate something.

It becomes meaningful and relevant if there’s a message behind your action. You don't do it for the show. You do it because you don't always have a platform.

The show was dull, sloppy, only a few exciting moments woke up the public (Bobi Wine Awarding Osibisa was my highlight ); Michael Blackson couldn’t pronounce one name right, same for the South African host who even called the second lady Mrs. Samira; Dj Switch is a minor and she shouldn't have been performing after midnight, she should have been in bed; the 4Syte tv CEO was drunk, or not fit for the task of presenting an award ( in both cases he shouldn't have been there ); the room was hot and not air-conditioned enough; Fally Ipupa performance was an unnecessary penis power play, if it was necessary for you it means you need to add more spice to your private life; Mr. Eazi was fun but didn’t stay enough to collect his award for song of the year -weird-; same for 2Face, who literally just performed, and then didn't wait to receive his award

I feel like people should explain why they were not there and they couldn't care less. If your managers are telling you that it was cool, please fire them. There's nothing cool in being rude or disrespectful towards your fans. If you have an issue with Afrima, talk about it so the awards can be improved, so people can discuss and try to change things.

But if you are silent and unbothered, or you are just holding a grudge, then, for me, you're not very professional. To hold a grudge is a children’s behavior, not a professional one. Should we all grow up?

I want to add the few positive things: people still love music a lot; Anita Erskine is a great professional; King Promise live performance was excellent; I saw Bobi Wine, and I told him “Power to the People,” Osibisa moment was beautiful and emotional.

As they say where I come from, “Ad Maiora,” “towards greater things,” and to get constructive criticism is the only way to improve.

And now the thorny question: MADAM, what are this 4.5 million dollars for? You could have least paid for a decent air conditioning.

Namaste.

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