After news of the details surrounding the presentation of the award for best international act to our homeboy Sarkodie reached home, many different reactions have greeted it.
This year’s BET awards ceremony was held at the Shrine Auditorium in LA where it has been held since 2006. The nominees for Best International Act (Africa) were Africa Camp Mulla (Kenya), Ice Prince (Nigeria), Lira (South Africa), Mokobe (Mali), Sarkodie (Ghana) and Wizkid (Nigeria).
The Best International Act (Africa) award went to Ghana’s Sarkodie and Nigeria’s Wizkid. This award was reportedly presented backstage.
Many people are of the opinion that, the fact that two different artistes picked from 2 dissimilar countries had to jointly win a single award shows the gross disregard BET has for Africa, especially by presenting the award backstage. Maybe BET is not different from the many ‘naive’ Americans who think Africa is just one big country.
We cannot tout this as a mistake, since the same thing is said to have happened last year when D’Banj and 2face were the joint winners.
Though many Africans have expressed their dissatisfaction in the manner BET is handling the Best International Act (African) category, others are of the opinion that, we are jumping ahead of ourselves since other artistes were also awarded backstage.
Besides, BET usually gives out several awards backstage every year. I have heard some local artistes bashing Sarkodie for going to the ceremony, although I know they would be running there if they were nominated.
Shouldn’t we be grateful for the award instead of complaining endlessly? BET doesn’t owe us anything…right? So for them to acknowledge us, should we not embrace it as a way forward?
Are you one of the many who feel our African artistes deserves more and should have been treated better?
Do you think Sarkodie and Wizkid should not have shown up? After all, BET could have posted their plaques to them which would have been no different from receiving them backstage?
Chris-Vincent’s Comments;
I have to add my personal comment to this piece written by Edith Faalong of GhanaCelebrities.Com.
First of all, I do not see this as a total disrespect or disregard, though I find it absurd. If the whole of Africa has ONLY a single category (I stand to be corrected) to compete for; then for the fact that all we got is one, it should have been announced on stage to give the artistes the opportunity to proudly walk to pick up the award, unless the purpose of the award is not to throw shine on Africa-Recognise Africa music…
A single category for a whole continent must be given priority…If BET cannot find 5 mins for the whole BIG AFRICA on stage, then they should not invite us NEXT TIME! We have other important things to do down here…Even if nothing at all, we got monkeys to chase and climb trees with!
READ ALSO: Congrats: Ghana’s Sarkodie & Nigeria’s Wizkid Win 2012 BET Award + Full List Of Winners
Like i said in my previous comment this is bad, it shows that we haven’t arrived yet and you know what baffles me how is it cool for two different artist from two different countries both representing Africa to win one award it’s very disappointing there can’t be two winners at BET they should stop acting like clowns we are not backwards and un-civilised in Africa they way they gave them the awards backstage and not on stage does tells me that America does not recognise it this has happens for the third time already how long will that continue they like to air the videos on their network but look at the way they treating them this is humiliation to Africa i hate the fact that they where side-lined they couldn’t have done it better it’s the third time already at least they could have made these two perform a collabo on stage or something
@Miyagi,for the first time on this forum miyagi u are speaking sense lol
@Ama,Hahahahah lol, so I talk trash all the time
@Miyagi, WHY U TALK LIKE A CHILD. HAVNT U EVER SEEN OR HEAD COMPETITERS HAVNING EQUAL VOTES?…THOU I STAND TO BE CORRECTED.
NOW, BET IS THEIR SHOW, THEY RUN IT, THEY HAVE PRINCIPLES, TRADITIONAL PRINCIPLES THEY FOLLOW. U CNT FORCE THIS ON THEM.
EVEN IN THE VGMA, HOW MANY GHANAIANS VOTE FOR BEST AFRICAN NOMINEES. THEY LOVE THEIR OWN AND WANNA GIVE LITTLE RECOGNITION TO AFRICA, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
As much as we grateful for a category of the BET awards for Africa,i believe that is also gross disrespect for the award to presented backstage. Granted African music may not be know,but if the whole award is to showcase and present Africa,the more reason,it should be presented on the actual stage,so that musicians like Jay Z,Beyonce, Kanye West,Nicki Minaj,Tyga and other people also know how the music is evolving in Africa or also shed light on some of our efforts. I am of the belief that Sarkodie did the right thing by going to the ceremony. My only problem is the manner in which the award was presented.I mean it would have taken a three or two minutes for them to come on stage
@Nana,Well spoken
@Nana,I agree with you man. It’s heartbreaking waaaaaaa
Seriosly u guys shud realy grow up..geez. Even da UK 1 dnt get tht kanna stage treatment n its bcos thos winnrs dnt make any inpact 2 da american music industry..sompl,n besids ths happens all da tym..even @ da grammies tons of awards ar given backstage so stop makin a big deal outa it cos a”ghanian artist”won it ths tym.shit othr african artist hav been winin it even kojo antwi so get ovr it.tho am smh 2 da 2 ppl winin da same award,it sucks..bt hu can get @ thm even if they dnt recogniz us atall cos our music dnt sell thr.PROVE
@Sadam,Hey Taliban or Sadam younger brother what are u on about didn’t the uk complain a couple of years
Ago as well stop writing rubbish okay
@Sadam,your kind of mentality is the reason why some of Africa countries aint moving forward (always putting someone ahead of you). How dare you compare a whole continent with a country like UK? without us these nations will be brought to nunthing. Remember it is “The nominees for Best International Act (Africa)”,thus u comparing 56 African countries to one (UK). Talking about impact,i for ones is proud of how far we’ve come on international level.Go to some streets,clubs and many other places in the State and see how different races from different continent,countries are “craving” for our music. YouTube and other popular entertainment sites speaks a volume of our musical impact. idk where you leave but there are local american t.v and radio stations that play African music on a regular basis here.These same american artists go to Africa for shows and even get pay more.plus you saying Kojo Antwi have won this award shows you know nunthing just making a comment on basis of having an access to the internet. Pls do me a favor and do more research on African music before you come and spew out your non entity comments.
@Sadam,Do you think they will give their artiste of the year an award backstage
As far as i’m concerned i believe that we Africans need to stop putting Americans on a royal pedal stool. Our fellow African artists have been successful in our continent and it’s no thanks to American artists. Although gaining international fame is a great accomplishment, what matters is that we celebrate and appreciate our artists and the talents they share with us. BET doesn’t have to have an International Act category but they’re choosing to do so. As much as it would’ve been pleasing for the artists to receive their awards on stage, it didn’t happen; point, blank, end of discussion. And hey we have our own African Music Awards so let’s look forward to that instead shall we!
Nevertheless congratulations to Sarkodie and Wizkid on winning.
@milani,Me agree with you.
It would have been nice for him to be on stage to receive his award, but the fact that he is a BET winner, that is all that matters. No one can take that away from him. Congratulation to you Sarkodie. Well done
I’ll be back need to think before i write
@Miyagi, u knw..ths is y i dnt coment on shit,tho am here lyk 2-4-7..cos i cnt aford 2 hav som random cock-suckr wakin up on ma dick..nigga atleast hav som breakfast 1st..n yh,abt ma name..its Sadam,gitit?.Sadam n it aint a nicky..so u knw wht u can du 2 ur opinion..bt if u ar unsure i’ll take u on a tour 2 places whr u can stick tht in.FARGOT!
@Semi-Cartermatic, u knw..ths is y i dnt coment on shit,tho am here lyk 2-4-7..cos i cnt aford 2 hav som random cock-suckr wakin up on ma dick..nigga atleast hav som breakfast 1st..u hav no idea hw patriotic i am bt i stll say it lyk i c it,sarkodie is presented an award backstage,so wht? othrs do 2 n it aint da same @ da chanel 0 awards or MAMAs bcos thos ar ours..n whn i say inpact i mean billboard chat n shit nt some tiny local african club or some radio station wth 500 listenrs..listen,erbody has an opinion,bt yall knw wht yall can do wth thm..bt if u ar unsure i’ll take u on a tour 2 places whr u can stick tht in.FARGOT!
Thanks to all of you for your comments. Can we endeavor to limit the name-calling? If we have no respect for each other what do we have? You could also playfully be sarcastic instead of straight out insulting
Anyway, there is a better way of making our grievances heard …to those who believe BET did wrong. You can sign a petition here http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/bet-pressroom-stop-hiding-african-bet-award-winners-backstage
It doesn’t guarantee that anything will be changed ,But it sends out a message about the seriousness of your opinion and will definitely be looked at.
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Mhmm! Lemme Congratulate Sarkodie once again, I would have been more excited if the award was presented 2 him on stage never the less I’m still Happy he won whethere backStage or not, its good he was there in person cuz it felt amazing knowing he’s sitting in the mix of all these great artistes. That’s another opportunity on its own, mingling wit them creating friendships. Big Ups Obidi!!!