Channel O Spirit Of Africa Music Video Awards 2006
Ilka Schlockermann looks at the winners of the Channel O Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards 2006.
Before there was MTV Base Africa , the pan-African music channel to watch was Channel O transmitting from South Africa to the whole of Africa. And Channel O is still going strong.
Channel O have now for the third time hosted the Channel O Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards . The winners for the 2006 were announced at a glittering ceremony in Johannesburg on 15 October 2006. Check out the photos from the ceremony.
The Channel O Award is unique in that videos are voted for by viewers, giving fans complete control over who receives an award. Criteria used for short-listing include technical quality, frequency of requests for a video on the different Channel O shows and overall creativity.
Whilst Channel O may have previously been considered somewhat biased to Southern African acts this year it was the Nigerian nominees that dominated the awards with rapper Mode 9 taking home three awards, followed by 2Face with two awards, while masked Afrobeat singer/ musician Lagbaja , heartthrob and serial award-winning D’banj , Dare Art Alade (who rose to fame at a X Factor style show in Africa) and Weird MC (whose track ‘ Ijoya ’ must be one of the longest-running hits at the moment) each collecting one award.
Zola , whose international status rose dramatically this year with his involvement in the award-winning movie Tsotsi , received the Special Recognition Award for his role in the upliftment of youth on the African continent, most notably the work that he has done as a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador in East Africa.
The show was hosted by comedian David Kau , assisted by Channel O VJs. Top bands including Kwaito act Arthur , South African Afro-pop comb Freshlyground (currently nominated for Best African Act at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards , HHP , Ntando , Mzekezeke , Longombas , Mista Doe and Gal Level treated the crowd to vibrant performances.
The winners reflect the diversity of the Channel O audience and Yolisa Phahle , Channel O General Manager was happy about the final list of winners:
There really are no losers when it comes to the outstanding talent that has made these awards possible. To the winners of each category I say thank you for your music, it makes a difference to our lives. Music has that power. At the end of the day it’s the viewers that have had the final say.
The complete list of winners is:
- Best Male Video : Lagbaja - Never Far Away (Nigeria)
- Best Female Video : Lizha James - For All Ya (Mozambique)
- Best Newcomer : D'banj – Tongolo (Nigeria)
- Best Duo or Group : Malaika - 2 Bob (South Africa)
- Best Urban Jazz Video : Zama Jobe - Ndawo Yami (South Africa)
- Best Dance Video : Dj Cleo - Goodbye (South Africa)
- Best African Pop : 2Face - Ole (Nigeria)
- Best African Southern : Mista Doe - Hot To Death (Botswana)
- Best African West : 2Face - Ole (Nigeria)
- Best African East : Jonny Ragga - Give Me The Key (Ethiopia)
- Best African DJ : DJ Fresh (South Africa)
- Best Hip Hop Video : Mode 9 (feat. Nnena) - Cry (Nigeria)
- Best R&B Video : Dare - Escalade (Nigeria)
- Best Kwaito Video : Brickz - Tjovitjo (South Africa)
- Best Collabaration Video : Danny K & Mandoza - Music (South Africa)
- Best Director : Mode 9 (Feat. Nnena) - Cry (Nigeria)
- Best Special Effects : Weird MC - Ijoya (Nigeria)
- Video Of The Year : Mode 9 (Feat. Nnena) - Cry (Nigeria)