Last year, the 3 Music Awards came under fire for a relative dearth of female winners and performers onstage and, furthermore. But women in music doing superlative work is no new phenomenon. Before delivering criticisms of a show that is in many ways continuing a long-term slide, it’s worth noting that the ceremony itself stepped up this year.
The second edition of the annual 3Music Awards was slatted for 30th March, 2019 at an estimated 20,000 capacity, Fantasy Dome, Labadi Accra. Even though the show recorded poor patronage and also commencing 4 hours late to the initial time. The event had Lexis Bill and Cookie as hosts and Hitz 103.9 FM’s Andy Dosty was behind the turntables.
In an invigorating one-two punch early in the night, multiple awards winning reggae/dancehall delivered top notch performance that served to justify his spot among the night’s top nominees; he carefully and cautiously descended from the sky with the help of his 2017 hit single dubbed ”Ayoo” which was massively sang amongst the patrons present on the nigh of awards.
The whole night was full of emerging stars every bit as exciting. Wendy Shay(using an apparent lip-sync to her advantage, focusing more fully on her showmanship) and rising star Dope Nation owned their moments on the stage, lending the refreshing feeling of stars being cemented or first established, rather than just burnished.
Apart from Shatta Wale, the event witnessed performances from young chap, Cina Soul gave out an overwhelming live band music performance, Kofi Mole, who won the Next rated act of the year lived beyound expectation, Bethel Revival Choir, Medikal. Nigeria’s Victor AD who won Africa Act of Year, La Meme Gang, Joey B, Legendary Rocky Dawuni got slot to deliver their artistic prowess.
Akwaboah with his piano music teamed up Adina Thembi give out inerasable memories on the minds of patrons. Adina’s soul soothing voice melted the hearts of music fanatics on the night. Legendary Reggae/Dancehall King, Samini climaxed the event with excellent performance, not to forget his much talked about freestyle which some entertainment critique have deciphered that, it was a shade towards organizers and board members of the music awards.
The show handled the optics problem around gender elegantly and well, by giving real time and attention to women artists who deserved the space, and who might never have been given the shine if not for the “step up” scandal. But recent years have not been easy on the 3Music Awards on several fronts.
Apart from being the first to perform, born Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr, Shatta Wale became the first artiste to win an award this year. His ‘Gringo’ song was adjudged the ‘Viral Song of the Year’. The floodgates were opened after that and the dancehall act’s awards sweep fest begun.
The ‘My Level’ hit singer went on to bag ‘Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year’, ‘Reggae/Dancehall Act of the Year’, ‘Digital Act of the Year’, ‘Video of the Year’ with his ‘Gringo’ smash hit doing the magic trick for him on all occasions. His strong unflinching fan base – Shatta Movement – was adjudged ‘Fan Army of the Year’ while his smash hit, ‘My Level’ picked up the award for ‘Song of the Year’.
The 2019 edition of the 3Music Awards, which was live on Joy Prime and was in partnership with The Multimedia Group – Joy FM, Hitz FM, Joy Prime and other brands, saw other deserving artistes walk home with awards.
Stonebwoy, perhaps one act many were looking forward to slugging it out with Shatta Wale for who reigns supreme on the night, won three awards on the night. The dancehall act, who was not present at the Awards, was no match for Shatta Wale. At the end of hostilities, the Ashaiman-based act won ‘Afrobeats Song of the Year’ for ‘Bawasaaba’, ‘Album of the Year’, for ‘Epistles of Mama’ and ‘Most Streamed Artiste on Boomplay’ award.
Bethel Revival Choir took home three awards on the night. The group won ‘Gospel Song of the Year’, ‘Gospel Act of the Year’ and ‘Group of the Year’. Gospel group Bethel Revival Choir won the hearts of many. Apart from their beautiful blend of traditional and modern melodies, the group was duly rewarded for their exploits. Talented young act Kuami Eugene was adjudged ‘Highlife Act of the Year’ while his smash hit ‘Wish Me Well’ won ‘Highlife Song of the Year’.
The most touching award on the night went to legendary gospel musician Prof. Kofi Abraham. His Legendary Award was very crucial considering the fact that he has been doing music since the 1970s and with over 30 albums to his credit, this is first award/recognition. Veteran highlife musician Obuoba J.A. Adofo and music producer Mark Okraku Mantey also received Honorary Awards.
It’s weird that awards shows still exist. Back in the day before social media, before stars were a tap away on a mobile device we keep in close proximity to us at all times, awards shows were a time to catch up on our favs. Now that the artists we look up to have the ability to reflect what they want us to see through a one-way mirror on the daily, there’s much anticipation. The 2nd annual 3Music Awards lived up to the hype.
By: Gerrard-Israel
