The already controversial Zim Hip Hop Awards hit a snag this past weekend. The organisers had planned a Nominee Party but apparently it was a monumental flop. The artists nominated for the top Hip Hop songs seem to have decided to do a no-show which might be seen as a show of disgruntlement with the way the awards are being organised.
The party was supposed to be held at Stars Night Club located at the Rainbow Towers on Saturday. But it was a sore sight. No signage to show where the club was and there were no posters or a welcome banner for the nominees. It was just an epic fail. The organisers seem to have not sent out any invites to the nominees and those from outside Harare were not catered for.
Its more problems for Beefy & Co as there was already talk on the authenticity and planning of the Awards. They had been slated for Bulawayo but the organisers cited lack of adequate funding and they were moved to what is fast becoming the home ground of the awards, 1 + 1 Club located at Long Cheng Plaza. Some Nominees who chatted with ENTHUSE expressed concern for the state of affairs regarding the Awards. All these false starts are leading to the loss of momentum that they had gained from hosting the Awards Pre-Party at the Horizon Club in Bulawayo.
This is a disappointing development as Zimbabwean Music awards have already been under massive scrutiny as the sector players continue question their credibility. The Zim Hip Hop Awards are headed towards a rocky road. We do hope the organisers have a solid explanation for this one.
Kirkpatrick Chidamba