Supplied
Mafikizolo won the most gifted dance award. Photo: Supplied
Johannesburg - For the first time ever, South African artists outshone the rest of the continent at the Channel O Music Video Awards by taking home a record seven accolades on Saturday at the Walter Sisulu Square in Soweto’s Kliptown.
Hosted by South African rapper AKA and his Nigerian counterpart, Naeto C, the ceremony was beamed live across Africa on Channel O (DStv Channel 320).
Although the most gifted male video award was scooped by Botswana’s rapper Zeus, over South Africa’s prince of house, Donald, South Africans were appeased when songstress Zonke came out tops in the most gifted female video category.
She was not there to accept the accolade as she is abroad promoting her music.
Last year’s IdolsSA winner Khaya Mthethwa was another winner in absentia. The singer won the most gifted newcomer category against the versatile and equally gifted Moneoa.
Mthethwa had a show to perform last night and could not attend the awards.
Host AKA changed his role from a funny MC to reciting his acceptance speech as he won in the most gifted hip hop video section. His hit song Jealousy outdid fellow South African rapper Reason’s Do It Like I Can and iFani’s Chocolate Vanilla.
AKA, who won a Channel O Award two years ago, becomes the first host of the awards to win an accolade on the same night he is hosting.
The most gifted Afro-pop video was always a bit of a surprise, since Mafikizolo were not nominated, yet they are arguably one of the continent’s biggest Afro-pop outfits. In their place were The Soil (South Africa), The Muffinz (South Africa), 2Face Idiba (Nigeria), Sauti Sol (Kenya) and Davido (Nigeria).
Luckily for South Africa, the win remained at home as The Soil scooped it for their video of Linkomo, which featured multi Sama nominee Zakwe.
Mafikizolo did not walk away empty-handed as they were honoured for the most gifted dance video award for the summer anthem, Khona.
Theirs was a hard contest as they went against DJ Ganyani featuring FB’s Xigubu which also had a fair amount of airplay over the past months.
An obvious win was for the most gifted kwaito video, which was won by Professor for his excellent hit, Fingerprints. Although he was not there to receive the prize, his fans were happy to see him soar over L’vovo Derrango, Kabelo, Tira and Big Nuz.
Professor’s buddy Oskido also got the nod in the most gifted African (south) for his hit Tsa Mandebele which features Candy.
Even if the biggest prize of the night, most gifted video of the year, was taken by Nigeria’s Wizkid for his song Azonto, which has enjoyed a lot of airplay throughout the year, South Africa still came out as the country with the most awards on the night, a first.
Powerful performances from artists such as Lizha James, Cassper Nyovest, Khuli Chana and Buffalo Souljah were the order of the night, all choreographed by dance guru Somizi Mhlongo.
Sunday Independent