THE organisers of the Namibian Music Awards have acted quickly to try and defuse controversy over some of this year’s choices.
Dissent and Namibia’s premier music event are joined at the hip, so it was no surprise that some fans were hopping mad. Again!Most of the sound and the fury this year revolved around the Newcomer and Rap Hip Hop categories.Still, it seems the organisers felt there was merit to some of the criticisms and yesterday announced a number of changes.KK (‘Keep It Real’) is in, Stefan Ludik is out. OK, Stefan’s not totally out. Just out of the Best Rap Hip Hop and Newcomer sections. This and other changes were announced in Windhoek yesterday.The ‘Best Single’ category has been expanded to six nominees. It sees Sally (‘Whistler’) and Fresh Family (‘Superstar’) join the existing line-up.There’s also a shake-up in the ‘Best Newcomer’ section. Ludik also exits this category, as does Dixon-Down Low. Ludik’s replaced by Run Nams (‘Hangover’), while two additions have been made – Fishman (‘Let’s Hook Up’) and Bertholdt (‘Friends With Benefits’).Ludik will still be competing in other categories, as will Dixon Down-Low.It’s something of a shambles for Shekeni-Kefululu dja Ngwali, who’s been disqualified from the ‘Best Shambo’ section. He will not be replaced and there are now only three nominees in this category.* For the lowdown on Namibia’s premier annual music event, see tomorrow’s The Weekender!
