Chidi Okereke
Nothing is perfect, but as far as awards are concerned, #SoundCityMVP is somewhere at the top of the chain in Nigeria. The 2017 edition that held today is once-again proof that they are good at this thing, and bar the small glitches, it was a resounding success. For those of you who didn’t go, these are the major highlights of the festival.
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African time
I’m tired of including this in concert reviews, but we need to keep letting people know that slapping a time on your communications and not starting at that time is unfortunate. And that is how it went down yesterday. The event was billed to commence by 8pm, but the doors did not open until about an hour later. As guests trooped in and positioned themselves according to their ticket categories, DJ Neptune and Dotun kept the audience hyped. The main show eventually began at about 10:30pm, with the introduction of Ebuka Obi-Uchendu as the host.
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The Host
Ebuka’s profile as a compere keeps rising and rising and it is such a delight to watch. Having ‘owned’ the fashion industry in 2017 – what with his famous Agbada and all – the host changed outfits twice at the MVPs, and kept the show rolling with interesting interludes and witty remarks. His performance was really good, but the show could have done without him being introduced to the stage every time he came back on. We know who Ebuka is, damn it!
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The performances
“iPhone 1 – Legbegbe …”
Only right that the show began with a performance of a Shaku Shaku song – the dance of the moment. Soon after the performance, the first set of awards were presented, then other performances followed.
The performers of the night include Small Doctor – who gave us penalty; Iyanya – who performed Good Vibes, his remake of Kevin Lyttle’s song; Seyi Shay; Tiwa Savage who did All Over and Ma lo; Cassper Nyovest – who entered with Doc Shebeleze; and Sarkodie who repped Ghana HipHop well with his bars and ended with Painkiller.
After Sark, Emtee performed the massive hit – Winning; MI Abaga raised the roof with Anoti and concluded with Fix up; Kiss Daniel – who did not perform at any major show in December did Sofa and Yeba to thunderous applause; Mayorkun – one of the best young acts of 2017 Che Che’d; and Davido wrapped up the show with his big 4 – If, Fall, Like That and Fia.
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Tuface
This is very worthy of mention. While the show was about music and entertainment, one person remembered the plight of fellow Nigerians in the hands of herdsmen. That person is none other than Tuface who – after his performances – asked the government and security agencies to end the killings of innocent citizens in Benue State. Shout out to the man who has almost never wavered in his activism, and push for a better Nigeria, through his music, and platforms.
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Winners
First, we do understand that the categories were up for votes, and the people with the most eventually won. We also get how the organizers may have wanted the awards to go round, so all camps, countries, and genres are represented. Nevertheless, while most of the winners deserved it, we have some reservations about others. See full list HERE.
- First, the collaboration category, we’d have given it to Particula or YCee and Maleek Berry’s Juice, but we’re guessing the whole of Ghana and core Runtown fans came through with the votes.
- While there is a case for Mayorkun, what with Mama and Che Che, Maleek Berry definitely deserved the Best New Act win.
- How Sauti Sol did not win the best group is baffling. Anyways, diversity, yeah?
- Olamide’s Listener’s choice, Runtown’s Viewer’s choice, Wizkid’s Digital trophy, and Cassper’s Best HipHop are all deserved.
- The best female category was keenly contested – what with Simi and Niniola having had fantastic years. Tiwa won though, and it was well deserved.
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Award presenters
Starting with Shina Peller and Toke Makinwa, all the awards were presented by notable persons in the industry. VJ Adams, Bovi, Vimbai, Big Brother’s Soma (who asked the crowd to simmer down, sic), Juliet Ibrahim, Sugardaddy RMD and Olamide Adedeji (not Baddo) were also amongst those who announced and presented MVP trophies.
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Mistakes
The gaffes began with Toke Makinwa announcing Sarkodie and PATORANKING as winners of the best collaboration.
Simi, featuring as the winner when Maleek Berry was announced as Best Pop Artiste is probably the biggest gaffe of the event. Maleek Berry (rightly) did not come out to accept the awards, before it becomes a Moonlight vs La La Land thing.
RMD appreciation tweet. Even though the devil tried to embarass him with Diamonds, our daddy held his own. #SoundcityMVP pic.twitter.com/w1FDBQLJSv
— Chidi Okereke (@Chydee) January 13, 2018
We also think it was a mistake that Diamond Platinumz was announced as Best Male MVP in a category that had Wizkid, Davido and Runtown. Definitely a mistake, and that is why nobody came out to accept it. Also fantastic how RMD – as a Warri guy – said, “if una get mind, make una come collect am (the award) from me later”.
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Davido’s hattrick
Davido is the man of the year 2017, and his picking up 3 awards solidified that fact. As a matter of fact, if he had won every single one of the 8 categories he was nominated in, it would have been very okay. His year was that good. Also great how he mentioned Wizkid – amongst others – in his speech after winning the African Act of the year.
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Notable absentees
- Wizkid was conspicuously not at the show. But it was for a good reason. According to Mutay who received his Digital Artiste of the Year trophy, he was performing ‘daddy duties’ in the UK. Videos soon surfaced of him performing at YCee’s Juice Concert in London. Dope.
- Runtown too was not at the festival. He said he was in Vegas for a show he had committed to since August 2017.
- Tekno was very conspicuously absent, in both the nominee’s and performer’s lists. Someone said Soundcity borrowed the beef he has with The Headies. Funny. But on a serious note, with songs like Yawa and Go, how did he not get nominated?
- At the last MVP awards, Mr. Eazi shined bright. His light has since dimmed, after he started comparing Ghana with Nigeria. Listen and learn, young ones. Zagadat.
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In summary, the Soundcity MVP Festival was really really good, and I hope other award events at least meet and surpass the standard they have set. (This is not a sub, don’t come for my headies please).
