To say I had fun at the MTV Nominations party a few weeks ago is an understatement but truthfully, the excitement that I will be attending the 2016 edition of the prestigious award series only started to sink in yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon, a nominee’s media junket was organized at the MTV Networks Africa offices in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
Upon my arrival, I witnessed a special moment when Nasty C, Cassper Nyovest, Riky Rick, Mi Casa and Alex Okosi all stopped to pose for a picture on a flight of stairs leading to an open office space where journalists from various networks waited to ask questions.
Speaking to Jozi Gist about the upcoming MAMA awards, their expectations and much more were shinning stars, Shekhinah, Nasty C and Riky Rick.
“I am definitely looking forward to Future’s performance and I am just hoping to win an award,” said Shekhinah with child like excitement.
Nasty C was not as animated as he answered my questions about what will be his first MAMA’s experience with a very chilled demeanor.
“I am not really expecting anything. I am just really looking forward to having as much fun as I can and enjoying the experience. I don’t want to feel like I am under pressure for anything but hopefully I walk away with an award,” said the 19-year-old “Hell naw” hit maker.
My major highlight of yesterday was meeting “King Kotin” aka Riky Rick who reflected on the journey of the MAMA’s so far and shared his views on winning awards.
“It has been a great journey. I remember Jozi winning best Pop and best Live performance in the first edition in Lagos a few years ago. That was one of my first Mama memories. I watched it on TV,” he recalled.
“Since then it has done its rounds. It has been to Durban and now back to Johannesburg. I think it has been such a tremendous journey and it is nice to be part of it now,” he added.
I was then curious to know what an award will mean to him at this incredible stage of his career.
“Awards are nice but I think your career is never defined by awards.
I always look at awards as a night for people to get together and celebrate the past year and the industry as a whole. I never put any emphasis on winning awards. I have lost more awards than I have ever won but I have gained more knowledge throughout my musical career so far,” Riky Rick revealed.
With just eleven more days to go, fashion designers on the continent are racking their brains on stand out looks on the red carpet while some of Africa’s finest artist’s rehearse their acceptance speeches and prepare to kill it on stage. I can’t wait to see it all – the excitement has definitely started to sink in.