Four local singers have returned home after participarting in the 10th All Africa Kora Music Awards in Durban, South Africa on Sunday night. The local musicians who were nominated in various categories from Tanzania were; Jay Dee, AY, Wanne Star and Saida Kalori.Saida kalori lost to Koffi Olomide in the categories of the Best Artist of the Decade.
AY was beaten by Alain Aurian from Mauritius in the Best Male Artist Award from East Africa.
Kenyan Neema beat Jay Dee in the Best Female Artist from East Africa.
Wanne Star lost to South African Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the Best African Traditional Music category.
The event was hosted by Jamaican Dancehall star Shaggy and Angelique Kidjo from Benin.
Congolese musician Werrason Ngiama Makanda and American Missy Elliot coloured the event.
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History of the Kora Awards
Kora is the first pan-African music awards which are internationally recognized.
Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, who now serves as Executive Producer, Kora was first broadcast in 1996 to 45 countries. Today Kora is the only non-sporting event broadcast live in Africa, Europe and Asia.
Currently 21 awards are awarded under 21 categories including the prestigious Life Time Achievement Award.
ENTRY:
Entries are submitted from around the world to Kora's core selection committee in Johannesburg, South Africa according to the prescribed categories. Four to six artists are selected for each respective category.
SELECTION:
A final panel of judges is selected representing key geographic regions on the African continent and other parts of the world. The board spends an entire week prior to the event judging the artists according to the predetermined categories. For good transparency, an international auditing firm supervises the adjudication process.
THE CEREMONY:
The winners in each of the categories are announced on the night of the event during the live broadcast. The ceremony also showcases some of Africa's best performances and brings the cream of African artists together under one roof. Tickets to the ceremony are sold through Computicket.
OBJECTIVES:
Kora's objectives are firstly, to promote African Artists and their works internationally. Subsequently to unite Africa and its Diaspora through music and the arts. Finally, to Produce a world-class television show that portrays a positive image of Africa.
TARGET MARKETS:
The principal targets are the masses throughout the African continent. Thereafter, we have the media, primarily television and at a secondary level, radio and print. Our market includes music buyers in other parts of the world outside of the African continent, other African artists and the performers themselves.
The KORA Awards undoubtedly constitute a tremendous method of promotion for African Artists. KORA 2001 was freely distributed live, to an accumulated audience of 397 million television viewers.
SOURCE: Official Website
