BOMU stages bigger and better awards

TUMELO SETSHOGO
Correspondent | Tuesday December 11, 2007 00:00

 

The awards showed tremendous improvement in terms of quality and the number of artists and categories.

Last year's inaugural awards, had 17 categories but this year the number increased to 28 with an average of four nominees in most of them.

The categories with less than four nominees were Best Raga/Dancehall Album that had two nominees, Best Music Compilation CD with three nominees and Best R&B which had only one nominee.

On hand to present the awards were among others, Mogoditshane MP Patrick Masimolole, Specially Elected MP Botsalo Ntuane, Gaborone Central MP Dumelang Saleshando, Culture and Youth Department director, Tlhabologo Ndindze, and the visiting Motsweding FM crew.

The heavily contested categories were in Best Kwasa-Kwasa Album, which pitted heavyweights in the likes of Ded-Coh & Desert Musica, Franco & Afro Musica, Alfredo Mos & Les Africa Sound and Chris Manto 7ven. Franco, arguably the best kwasa-kwasa icon with his dancing style, scooped the award.

Another category, which was difficult to predict the winner, was that of Best Music Video of the Year where P-Mag, Vee, Shirely and Chris Manto 7evn wrestled out to grab the prestigious award. Revelers put their heads on the block when they anonymously predicated Vee would emerge victorious ahead of his competitors, but were disappointed when the Shirely was declared the winner.

R&B was scooped by Evoke (Thabiso Nkao) with his latest album titled, Living Life. He was alone in this category, which is also new in BOMU awards.

The other winners are; HT for Best Hip-Hop/Rap Album, Ghavorr for Best Kwaito Album, Wizards of the Deserts for Best Kwaito-Kwasa Album defeating potential candidates, Vee. They also won the Best Group/Duo. Isaac Moleyi & Ikalanga Gospel Group for Best Male Gospel, Mayoress Molefi-Mochankana for Best Female Gospel Album walloping the likes of Tebbie, Soul Mates for Best Afro-Pop Album with their song, Ngwetsi emerging victorious ahead of Kgotla, Mr. Tag and Afro-tsina.

Motsweding FM local favorites Shumba Ratshega with their heat song, Makhirikhiri Metsametsano scooped the Best Traditional Album. Ratshega, who have received tremendous coverage by the South African Radio Station, defeated Shirely, Maxy and Ditaola Traditional Group. Another traditional group, Culture Spears with their song Kulenyane, also won best DVD 2007 award.

As it looked like Vee will not have any award this year after losing the Best Video to Shirely and Best Kwaito-Kwasa Album to Wizards, he won the Best Male Artist of the Year award ahead of Skazzo, Kgotla and HT. Lister Boleseng won the Song of the Year award with his song, O Tlhokana Le Nna and also won the Best Packaged Album.

Best of Alfredo Mos won the Best Music Compilation CD, Dj Mex won the Best House Album, Za_nik won the Best Disco Album, while Best Folklore Album award went Ntirelang Berman. Puna Gabasiame went home with two awards of her album becoming the Best Jazz and Best Female Artist.

Youthful Stompie defeated music other potential heavyweights in the likes of Ded-Coh, Thusego and Ghavorr for the Best New Comer in the industry.

The Record Company of the Year award went to So-Hype Records and Publishing. Alfred Ntshwene of RB1 won himself the Best Supporting Radio Presenter while Supporting Print Media Journalist went to the Echo writer, Ephraim Kooreng.

There was also the Legendary Honorary Awards for the past and the present. The late Spencer Sekwababe scooped the past Legendary Honorary Award and John Selolwane scooped the present one.