Dear BET, I hope by the time this letter is
published, you would have offered an
explanation as to why their award for best
International Act, Africa is given to whoever
wins backstage or hours before the show
starts instead of on stage during the main
award show. Indeed, an ‘explanation’ has
come. BET maintained in a post on Instagram
that they presented the best International Act,
Africa award to Ghanaian artiste Stonebwoyb
on the main stage.
This is simply not enough!
The BET (black entertainment television)
awards are considered by many to be one of
the only mediums for artists of African
descent to get the deserved recognition for
their artistry. Why then do they choose to
blatantly disrespect African artists by handing
them their awards at pre shows, backstage or
even hours before the main event?
The prevailing opinion amongst fans of the
network is that ‘they simply do not give a
damn about African entertainment or their
stars.”. In my own personal opinion, that is
simply not true. The fact that BET even
included a best international act Africa award
shows how important African entertainment
is to them. Also, since their introduction into
the African market, they have constantly used
their platform to promote African artists
abroad. Kudos to them for this. But still, it’s
not enough reason to treat our artistes as
second class citizens. Treat our artists the
same way their colleagues are treated abroad.
If not for anything, consider the fact that
African entertainment has come of age. I
mean our artists are starting to compete with
their international colleagues in terms of
output. By this I mean, the quality of work
our guys now put out is constantly improving
something that BET has always commended.
Now the only difference between a Wizkid
and Chris Brown video is the artists
themselves.
If BET feels presenting the award on stage
would mess up their programming schedule,
they could go the MTV route. MTV also has a
Best African Act award category in its annual
MTV Europe Music Awards and it presents the
awards to the winners right on the main
stage. Nigeria’s Dbanj, 2face and S.A’s
Freshlyground are example of acts that have
won the award. The award category was
retired in favour of the MTV Africa Music
Awards (MAMAs) starting in 2008. But it made
a comeback in 2012 with Kenya’s Sauti Sol
winning the award in 2014.
MTV also took their appreciation of African
entertainment further by creating the MTV
Africa Music Awards (MAMAs). Even though
MTV has their own issues with regards to our
artistes, at least their MAMA awards platform
is helping in getting more recognition for
African music abroad.
I’m also glad our artistes have not kept quiet
about it. Fuse ODG sent out a tweet saying
“Dear @BET, the reason why I didn’t come is
because you give our awards backstage! You
have no respect for our hard work and
achievements.” Yemi Alade followed suit. “By
the way, @bet_intl Africa is not a
country.!!! ..it is wrong to nominate huge
African stars and publicly try to humiliate
Africa. Why on earth is the African category
of the awards held hours before the “main
event? if African artists are not worthy in
your sight.”
Yemi Alade went further calling for the
cancellation, deletion and omission of the
category, if the winners will not get a chance
to receive their honours at the main event.
“Pls by all means cancel, delete, ommit the
“best international act (Africa) category out of
this glorified award. This is wrong!! Wrong
wrong wrong wrong.” Wizkid rounded it all
up. “Lol So I’m hearing BET is mad cos I
didn’t come for the pre shows and interviews!
Lol. I love u all for what u do for black
entertainment worldwide.I respect the fact u
guys do this every year.i know it’s not easy.I
understand. But I won’t be attending ur
preshows and nominee parties if I’m getting
the award at 10am before the main show.” He
said.
Since BET introduced the best international
act Africa category in 2011, a total of 5
Nigerians and 2 Ghanaians have won the
award.
I just hope BET makes amends for their
actions concerning this matter. African
entertainment is to important to be ignored.