Zeus wins Channel O award

JERRY KAI-LEWIS
Correspondent | Wednesday November 4, 2009 00:00

 

In the presence of hundreds of fans and the continent's best artists, the second time nominated Zeus bested household names such as South Africa's HHP and Pro Kid on his way to making yet another historic moment for Botswana.

'It was really an unexpected victory for me, for Botswana and for my management team at Big Dawg Productions. You have to understand that I was up against some of the most formidable guys you ever want to go up against on the continent. HHP had just won an MTV award, had very expensive videos out, and Pro Kid had very strong backing as well. My video was a low budgeted video that shouldn't have had the time of day amongst what it had to go up against. I just want to say thanks to Mascom, all the radio stations, and people who voted for me,' said Zeus.

In what can only be termed as a first in Botswana, upon the announcement of Zeus' nomination, Big Dawg Productions went on a mass media blitz that could, apart from Zeus' mammoth lyrical presence, only be accredited as the reason for the artist's triumphant stomping of the competition.

According to Zeus' manager Tshepo 'Rox' Sikwane they approached radio stations, corporate entities and the average man on the street to guarantee Zeus' win.

'First of all you have to understand that we are coming from a tiny populated country, and that's a factor we can never overlook when your victory is only assured through voting. With Pro Kid and HHP coming from South Africa and with their massive backings, we felt that we had to pull all the stops. Mascom was huge with providing us with branded T-shirts calling on Batswana to vote for Zeus. We even had people walking around town asking Batswana to give them a Pula in exchange for voting for Zeus. The victory was well-deserved and was also a testament to the fact that in Botswana we look after our own,' he said.    

Zeus' nomination came in the wake of a decline in the number of local artists selected for the Channel O Music Video Awards. At the inaugurating awards, Botswana received two nominations, for which Mr Doe won an award. The following year saw Botswana receiving two unexpected victories from the group Acid and rapper Scar.

Last year, Zeus' Imagination was chosen out of Botswana, alongside Kast and Leroy. This year, the Imagination and Champagne Music star was the only artist from Botswana to be nominated for an award.

The victory is a string of accolades that have been bestowed upon the young artist as Zeus won the award for Best Hip-Hop Video award for his song Gijima. The video was directed by Tshepo 'Dee' Seeletso, a Motswana based in South Africa.

The public can get a chance to watch the premier of the Channel O awards this Sunday at Bull & Bush, when the award ceremony premieres on Channel O (CH 320 on DSTV) for the first time at 9pm. There will be a spare-ribs special as well as entertainment from Zeus, Mr O and Kuchi on the night. So the public is encouraged to be part of the screening.The young star is prepping the release of his follow up album to Freshly Baked.

The new album is called The Flipside and will be in stores across Southern Africa on November 13.