Charlotte Dipanda. Does that ring a bell? The 24-year-old singer with a soulful touch has captured the hearts of Cameroonians since the release of her first album "Mispa" in 2009. They paid her for bringing some bliss into their lives by voting her as the Best Female Artiste of that year,through the Cameroon music and culture awards, Canal D'or.
She carved her niche in the hearts of many with poignant vocals that accompanied the late Jeannot Hens' guitar in songs like Ndando, Longue and Cathy. For connaisseurs who remember her early days as a vocalist in Douala cabarets before she was fished out by Congolese songster - Lokua Kanza, her current success is well deserved.
She was performing on the night of her victory (part of a tour of Cameroon) thus failing to attend the ceremony.
The Male Artiste of the Year - Longue Longue - was at the event. He walked to the stage in a priest's cassock, which he dropped to unveil a stylish suit as he received his prize. According to votes via SMS and the web, he came ahead of Tsimi Tsoro whose lead track "Merci" was voted best song of the year.
ANY LOGIC IN AWARDS?
The copyrights organisation - SOCAM - revealed that Tsimi Toro sold the highest number of records that year (30,000) in the country, for which he won an additional Canal D'Or.
Don't ask me how Tsimi Toro could have the "Best Song" and the "Best sales" but manage to get beaten by Longue Longue in the "Artiste of the Year" category. There is no logic in this awards business. If you doubt it - ask Samuel Eto'o about the 2009 CAF African Footballer of the Year Award.
We understand it is the outcome of the votes...
Hugo Nyame, playing an old-school makossa with a voice that reminds many of 1980s star "Douleur", could have been the big winner. His much fancied "Pardon Madame" only earned him the award for the "Revelation of the Year", at the sparkling age of 42...Our very own Susan Boyle!? There is a time for everything - isn't it?
That means the X-Maleya boys' band can still expect to scoop the artiste or song of the year title another time. Now, it is time to relish the title of "Best Urban Musical Group/Artiste"!
Meanwhile, Prince Yerima Afo-A-Kom who sings in a blend of his native Kom, Hausa, Pidgin, English, and French won the "Best Traditional Artiste/Group" award. The other nominees in this category were rather light-weight. What could be the selection criteria for nominees at the Canal D'Or?
MA FILLE, MON BLANC
The Canal D'Or also rewards comedians (and actors). They are mainly drawn from local TV sit-coms. You could read more about them on the awards' site.
However, one of the comedians stood-out. Nothing to do with his height though. It's all about how Majoie Asse cracked-up the audience and televiewers. His sketch (above) about an old woman searching for a "white lover" (Mon Blanc) via the internet got people laughing to tears. Funny as it may be it also a mirror of how warping economic hardship has left everyone dreaming of an escape to Europe.
He lifted the award for "Best stand-up comedian" and bagged home a special prize of 1.5 million FCFA offered by Cameroon's Ministry of Culture.
The Ministry offered over 10 million FCFA in cash prizes to the winners. Such support to the success of the 6th edition of this initiative by a private TV Channel, Canal 2 International, indicates that the Canal D'Or have become the foremost cultural awards in the country.
GOING FORWARD
It seems though, that the organisers may have been carried away by the glitz and glamour of such ceremonies and forgot that it was a television production as well.
The lighting was particularly poor. It was often absent and when it appeared it shone too bright. Either way, viewers were left guessing how the faces of the presenters and laureates looked like. The contrast and mix of colours was also terrible. This was largely the fault of the white curtain that had to serve as a screen for the projection of videos.
The sound was also awful. Some of the microphones weren't working or produced bad quality sound.
The handsome and beautiful presenters where usually verbose, often trading niceties about their (gorgeous) outfits, when they weren't requesting rounds of applause from the audience for the many companies that sponsored the occasion.
Curiously, for all the time they spent reminding people that the ceremony was being broadcast across the globe, they didn't properly introduce their award winners nor those who presented the trophies. Did they assume that the audience and viewers knew all the guests?
Surely, few people watching in Senegal know "Madame Lapiro de Mbanga's" first-name which was never mentioned while she received an award on behalf of her husband!
The hall used on Friday 9 April seemed ill-suited for the occasion. It appeared tight. A host of artistes who were nominated or had to perform were sat far behind on seats unknown to the producer who seemed two paces behind on most shots.
A simple rehearsal would have revealed these glitches. Better preparation would have guided the presenters.
All big events (inluding the World Cup draws and the Oscars) have a dry-run or rehearsal. This must become a habit in Cameroon too. It would make Cameroonian TV shows professional and a pleasure to watch.
cameroonians have nevered and will never do anything right
Posted by: sangbong | May 15, 2010 at 10:38 AM