BET awards accused of double standard

The BET Awards 2015 celebrated its 15th anniversary on Sunday night, which was fitting because the biggest and best moments of the night were all about throwback performances, appearances from old school artistes and mashups of greatest hits.

From the Janet Jackson tribute to Rihanna’s duct tape mystery of Floyd Mayweather and singing along to her ex Chris Brown’s performance.

The greatest hits performance honouring 20 years of BET Awards was ever-y-thing. And they brought the house down as Diddy tumbled during the iconic BET moment. It almost looked like it was part of the performance.

Tanzania’s Millen Magesse finally got her award at the BET on Sunday night after she was named as the sole nominee in the Global Good category.

It was a moment to savour for the thousands of her fans across Africa who came out to acknowledge her efforts in combating endometriosis, a condition that has rendered her barren.

“I am so humbled. Father thank you for uplifting my country too. Thank you BET 2015 for this honour,” she wrote in her Instagram account.

She was congratulated by fellow celebrities from across the continent

And it seemed there was more for East Africa as Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo bagged the first award for the region in a contested category for Best Viewers’ Choice International New Artiste.

“Before I say anything let me dedicate this award to all Ugandans wherever you are in the world, it has been a long journey; it’s the first of its kind in East Africa. This is for Uganda, Uganda really needed this,” Kenzo posted on his official Facebook page.

Kenzo had beaten off competition from Casper Nyovest, Mzvee, George the Poet, Mic Lowry and Novelist in that category.

In his celebration the artiste has released a victory song which he has titled ‘Very Good’ where he calls himself champion, winner, number one and many other names.

But as the two became some of the most trending items on the social network in East Africa and beyond controversy was brewing.

First as you read the coverage by Western media these two are not mentioned anywhere in the rather illustrious stories, their images were very rare save for one or two!

For someone who didn’t watch the show on Tuesday night it is still difficult to tell which dress Millen wore on the red carpet .

As we got to learn it is a procedure that artistes from Africa are awarded separately before the main event and that they don’t get to share the same stage with their American counterparts.

“They are awarded in the morning at a pre-event gala and it is done backstage,” says a source.

From the look of things some African artistes led by Fuse ODG from Ghana were riled by this action which according to them is a sign of segregation.

Wizkid in particular who was also vying in one of the categories was more concerned with the state-of-affairs.

“I love you all for what you do for black entertainment. I respect the fact that you guys do this every year. I know it is not easy, I understand. But as a matter of fact I won’t be attending your pre-shows and nominee if I am getting the award at 10am before the main show,” wrote Wizkid.

The Ojueleba singer added in another post that: it is for the same reason I didn’t come back stage to pick the award when I won it the first time.

The singer says that the established order was bent on treating African artistes as second class that did not fit to be on the same stage with the other artistes.

It is something that has equally exasperated other artistes locally with rapper AY adding his voice among those who feel it is unfair for other artistes from outside America to be awarded separately.

“I have tried to ask myself so many times the essence of this awarding system but I still can’t find any reason and the best I can see is double standards,” he told The Beat.

He adds: If what is uniting us there is the belief that all black people are the same irrespective of where you come from then why should you segregate? For example, look at even their coverage for the event that doesn’t include Africans on the winners’ list. He says the system makes BET lose its entire meaning because one cannot travel for 18 hours from East Africa to Los Angeles only to be awarded secretly.

“Yet when broadcasting they make it seem like it was the same show!” says the Asante singer.

Several artistes as a result have now decided not to attend as the case was with Yemi Alade, Fuse ODG and even Wizkid who was in the US on that Sunday night.

And what was this award for?

The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports and other fields of entertainment over the past year.

The awards are presented annually, and are broadcast live on BET. The annual presentation ceremony features performances by artists, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a televised ceremony.

The BET Award Trophy was inspired by three words - aspire, ascend, achieve. The BET Award Trophy was designed by artist/sculptor Carlos Mare139 Rodriguez.

OutKast won the first BET award. In 2007, Society Awards, the New York firm who manufactures the award, enhanced the quality of the trophy design using plated steel and black crystal.

[email protected]