The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) have been criticised over the years for lowering their standards. But this year they seem to have reached an all-time low. Artists have come out in their numbers to call out the SAMAs for being disorganised and others accused them of nepotism and favouritism. Makhadzi calls it tribalism.
Read more: Makhadzi Dumps The SAMAs After Messy Performance
According to Sunday World, the SAMA’s organiser Nhlanhla Sibisi, has heard all concerns surrounding the event and will work on doing better going forward. Sibisi says they regret giving the public total power in nominating the artist of the year and voting for them.
“We gave total power to the public to nominate the artist of the year. This was the biggest mistake and we regret it,” said Sibisi. They also said they failed to update the artists on how the voting systems work hence the disappointment.
“We also allowed the public to vote for the artist of the year, this weakened our internal controls because the public vote took over and controlled the voting process. We also failed to engage with the artists, as a result, most of them did not know how the judging process worked. We are therefore pleading with the public not to blame the artists because they followed all the terms and conditions and won. We are to blame, we are at fault and we will do better next time.”
Apart from that, the other problems noted include low funds which also forced them to change the venue from Sun Arena to Sun City.
Zakes Bantwini came guns blazing at the SAMAs accusing them of running a money-making scheme. "Regrettably the SAMAS have broken our trust, they have devalued the honour and prestige, which the awards once stood for, there is no integrity in the way at which the show is being produced, the planning, the awarding of artists & in extending the basic courtesy of RESPECT TO THE ARTIST!!!" he exclaimed.
"After 15 years of a career I have given my life to, I earn my first two awards, after over 28 nominations and years of being overlooked I finally checked a major milestone in my career," he wrote.
"Regrettably this year happens to be the lowest point of these awards and I receive these awards with a heavy heart, the lack of attendance by artists nominated is just one signs of what THE ARTISTS THINK OF SAMAS organisers and stakeholders! This is a result of years of the judging processes being unjust, corruption and myopic thinking and a lack of vision. Our coveted award show depicts a looted SOE and reeks of nepotism and traces of bureaucracy. "
Zakes says these awards have become "a slap in the face to so many, I am unable to find the words to describe my shock and disappointment."
Zakes added that the SAMAs have become a money-making scheme and put a message to people saying "if we celebrate mediocrity we will only have ourselves to blame. "
Read more: Zakes Bantwini Speaks Out On Disappointing Award Ceremony
Image credit: ANMG
Read more: Makhadzi Dumps The SAMAs After Messy Performance
According to Sunday World, the SAMA’s organiser Nhlanhla Sibisi, has heard all concerns surrounding the event and will work on doing better going forward. Sibisi says they regret giving the public total power in nominating the artist of the year and voting for them.
“We gave total power to the public to nominate the artist of the year. This was the biggest mistake and we regret it,” said Sibisi. They also said they failed to update the artists on how the voting systems work hence the disappointment.
“We also allowed the public to vote for the artist of the year, this weakened our internal controls because the public vote took over and controlled the voting process. We also failed to engage with the artists, as a result, most of them did not know how the judging process worked. We are therefore pleading with the public not to blame the artists because they followed all the terms and conditions and won. We are to blame, we are at fault and we will do better next time.”
Apart from that, the other problems noted include low funds which also forced them to change the venue from Sun Arena to Sun City.
Zakes Bantwini came guns blazing at the SAMAs accusing them of running a money-making scheme. "Regrettably the SAMAS have broken our trust, they have devalued the honour and prestige, which the awards once stood for, there is no integrity in the way at which the show is being produced, the planning, the awarding of artists & in extending the basic courtesy of RESPECT TO THE ARTIST!!!" he exclaimed.
"After 15 years of a career I have given my life to, I earn my first two awards, after over 28 nominations and years of being overlooked I finally checked a major milestone in my career," he wrote.
"Regrettably this year happens to be the lowest point of these awards and I receive these awards with a heavy heart, the lack of attendance by artists nominated is just one signs of what THE ARTISTS THINK OF SAMAS organisers and stakeholders! This is a result of years of the judging processes being unjust, corruption and myopic thinking and a lack of vision. Our coveted award show depicts a looted SOE and reeks of nepotism and traces of bureaucracy. "
Zakes says these awards have become "a slap in the face to so many, I am unable to find the words to describe my shock and disappointment."
Zakes added that the SAMAs have become a money-making scheme and put a message to people saying "if we celebrate mediocrity we will only have ourselves to blame. "
Read more: Zakes Bantwini Speaks Out On Disappointing Award Ceremony
Image credit: ANMG