Yaw Sakyi, host of TV Africa’s “Rundown”, was the only live wire during the just ended second edition of Ghana DJ Awards at the National Theatre, Saturday February 22.
Yaw, who went to the show to enjoy himself as an industry observer and to also present an award, ended up on stage as the only MC for entire awards event, because the advertised MC for the night, for some reason, decided not to show up.
According an official press release from the organizers prior to the event, Nigerian Comedian Klint De Drunk, was going to be the MC but for unknown reasons, he was conspicuously missing from the venue from the beginning of the show to the end, and organizers didn’t even have the decency to apologize to the audience and explain why the MC couldn’t make it.
This perhaps was one of the numerous reasons why the show started late. As usual the show started after 11pm when most of the people had been sitting for hours waiting. Care-taker MC Yaw Sakyi, who couldn’t believe he was on stage as an MC, walked on stage with his signature laughter, introduced himself as the MC apologized for the late start, and took over the stage to kick the show running.
Without any idea as to what the running order and the program line-up was, Yaw improvised and hosted the show like he had been paid for it. Inviting stars like Praye Tiatia, Adult Tagoe and some people from the audience randomly on stage to entertain the audience and he interacted with selected people quite professionally. .
Yaw Sakyi saved the disgraceful situation so well that after a few minutes everybody even forgot he was not the original MC for the night.
As if absence of the MC was not enough, the audience had more unforgivable hitches during the award presentation. Award presenters were embarrassed on stage because after they introduced themselves and said the popular phase “and the nominees are” there was no screen and there were no nominees. This happened ones, twice and after the third time the presenters themselves had to mention all the nominees before they eventually mentioned the winner.
Performances on the night were virtually like a dancehall show at DJs awards night. Most of the artistes who performed are dancehall artistes. The likes of Mz Vee, Stonebwoy, AK Songstress, Episode, Pope Skinny, Diamond amongst others.
Discovery of the year Dj Bryte, DJ Slim from Kumasi, and DJ Foe also did their own things on the turntable to entertain the crowd. One of the highest points on stage was when guest DJs like Nigeria’s finest DJ Jimmy Jatt, DJ Rab from New York, and South African queen of turntable DJ Divalash, were introduced on stage.
The stage design was not fit for an awards event. The only visible thing on stage was an oval-shaped Redbull branded DJ stand on a bare background.
There was no backdrop or any set design or screens to display the name of the event on the stage (Sakora stage). The sound and light were manageable but could obviously have been better. Attendance was about 50% of the National Theater capacity.
The biggest winner on the night was Joy FM’s DJ Black aka Mr. Tumtum, with four awards, including the ultimate “Best DJ of the year” award. Most of the award winners were not present to receive their awards but DJ Black was on stage to retain his title as the best music selector in Ghana.
Other familiar faces present to receive their awards were Fox FM’s Franckie Taylor, and Hitz FM’s DJ Andy Dusty. Young Joe from Neat 100.9 FM was invited to come and received the Lifetime Achievement Award with Magic Sam, but for some reason, that didn’t happen even though Young Joe was present with his family to receive the award.
The Event, broadcast live on Pluzz 89.9 FM, Accra and Solid 103.7 Kumasi, was preceded by pre-event interviews which featured the likes of Kwaw Kesse, Tinny, Dacosta the GH Rapper, Doctor Pounds, AK Songstress as well as technical men who were part of the production team.
It was a good night because at least there was entertainment but things could have been far better than what happened. This year’s second edition was just a shameful repetition of mistakes made during last year’s maiden edition.
The organizers must be commended for creating such a great platform to award Ghanaian DJ but the organizers should also know that it is one thing dreaming and an entirely different thing making the dream come through, and even when the dream comes through, it is a totally different thing keeping the dream alive.
Here is the official list of winners:
Gospel DJ of the Year – DJ Sapii – Montie FM (Accra)
Best Event DJ – DJ Black
Reggae/Dancehall DJ of Year – Blakk Rasta – Hitz FM (Accra)
Discovery of the Year DJ – DJ Vyrusky – Friday Friends
Best Music Promoter of the Year – Frankie Taylor – Fox FM
Highlife DJ of the Year – DJ Andy Dosty – Hitz FM
Best Mobile DJ of the Year – Deejay Foe – Ark Entertainment
DJs’ Song of the Year – Dancehall King – Shatta Wale
Night Club DJ of the Year – DJ Bootie Brown – Twist (Accra)
Campus DJ of the Year – DJ Fro – University 0f Cape Coast
Artiste DJ of the Year – DJ Mensa – Sarkodie
Mixtape DJ of the Year – DJ Black – Headnod Mix
Best International Ghanaian DJ – DJ Nana – Canada
Hiplife DJ of the Year (Tie) – DR Pounds – Pluzz FM & DJ Cypher – Obouba FM
Best Female DJ of the Year – DJ Kess
Best Video Jockey of the Year – DJ Slim
Night Club MC of the Year – Lyrical – Aphro (Kumasi)
Best International DJ of the Year – DJ Danny Blakk – Jam Afrique (Cote Divoire)
Best Male Radio DJ of the Year – DJ Black – Joy 99.7FM
Best Female Radio DJ of the Year – Ohemaa – Adom FM
Best DJ of the Year – DJ Black
Lifetime Achievement Award
Young Joe
Magic Sam