Mutesasira and Levixone celebrate. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
The Victoria Gospel Academy (Viga) Awards are the only highly respectable and anticipated ceremony in the gospel circles. Whenever they don’t happen, like has been on case for past three years, gospel artiste feel cheated for a whole year’s work. Last Saturday, the fourth edition of the awards took place at the Imperial Royale Hotel but with a lot to be desired.
The organisation of the awards was lacking. The ceremony slated to start at 5pm, according to the programme kicked off much later with few people in attendance.
The first performances came from female dance-hall singer Zabuli, Ivan Tot, Stella Maries and Dangello with his Omwaka Guno song that got the crowd singing.
Pastor Mugisha Mondo came on stage to launch the Viga Magazine after which he prayed for Shs1 billion to turn around the gospel music industry.
Over Shs2 million was collected from auctioning the magazine.
Some of the big winners of the night included Levixone who won the male artiste of the year category beating ‘bigger’ artistes like Dangelo Busuulwa, Pr Wilson Bugembe, CoopyBly, Martin Sseku, Robin San and Ham Kay.
Julie Mutesasira beat off stiff competition from Judith Babirye, Betty Nakibuuka, Joy Tendo, Hawa Musa and Olivia Muwumba to be crowned Female artiste of the year.
Justine Nabbosa won the Best Praise and Worship category for her song Oli Katonda
Song of the year went to Pastor Wilson Bugembe’s ‘Daala’ while Best Collabo went to Dangelo and Bbairye’s Agulumizibwe and Secular artiste with a gospel song was Lyto Boss ft Solome Mirembe’s Omwetaaga.
CoopyBly and Canaan Gents scooped two awards each with Coopybly taking both the Reggae song (‘Nkulembeera mukama’) and video of the year (What a love) while Canaan Gents won Social Media Song/artiste and Acapella Award.
When called upon to give away the best song/artiste based abroad, Moses Golola cracked the audience’s ribs when he preached that instead of artistes singing ‘Batuzaala mu Balaa’ (referring to Daxx Kartel’s song) they should instead sing ‘batuzaala mu church’.
Other performances came from Korean acrobats, CoopBly and Pamela among others.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com