As top stars decline their nominations, is NEA award losing its credibility?

Freetown | 21st November 2020 | Vertex Media

Awards have been a form of assessment for someone’s performance in any field they find themselves. The joy of being recognised for what you do has always been awesome. The feeling of being nominated is equally impressive as winning it, but the case is different with some of the 2020 NEA nominees.

The entertainment industry in Sierra Leone has witnessed a number of public outcry, backlashes and rejections of the leading entertainment awards, the National Entertainment Awards (NEA) by some of its nominees.

Following the organisers’ (Lake Productions) publication of nominees list for the 2020 (4th edition), some nominees, especially from the music sector have rejected their nominations on social media. This has left many wondering what’s the fate of the premier award in the entertainment industry.

Since its inception in 2017, NEA has been celebrating acts in music, sports, fashion, comedy, culture and more. An event revered for its glitz and powerful media campaigns.

After the 2019 awards ceremony, many fans on social media were displeased with the amount of ‘unpopular winners.’ This has led to many people snubbing the award lately.

Rapper and former NEA winner Terror D asked the organisers to take his name off the 2020 nomination list with 48 hours, but failed to cite any reason on his Facebook page.

This was followed by another popular radio DJ, Dee Jay Jesse of AfriRadio, whose management asked to disassociate himself from the award, as further actions are pending, should the organisers insist on having him on the list.

Leading Sierra Leonean pop star Mos-B came out on Facebook also asking to be removed from the list of nominees. Another RnB and Afro pop singer I-tribe also asked to be removed from the list of nominees, saying that someone else could take his place.

In what may appear as his rejection of the award was Morris’ Facebook post warning people to use his name or image without his consent. Many fans believed the multi winner of NEA award is declining from the nomination. Same is believed to be the case with popular singer, Markmuday, who many reported to have rejected his nomination. Markmuday was among the 2019 nominees who didn’t win. Worst for him, he was nominated in 4 categories but returned home empty handed.

Singer and CEO of Slim Nation, Markmuday

Many others, including Innocent, Nasser Ayoub and more, have denounced the award as well.

Apart from the music sector, the other nominees from sports, film, fashion and more, are so far comfortable with the nominations.

Following the reactions from the nominees, the CEO of Lake Productions and founder of NEA, Alhaji K. Tarawally aka Laj K reacted in a message he published on social media few days ago. Though he seems disappointed, but he noted that it’s their right to decline their nominations.

“Seriously, we are waiting for more people to decline before we publish our final list next week.”

“People have right to decline. It’s their choice but one thing that’s certain here for sure is that NEA is here to stay for good. No amount of derailment will affect the aspiring vision of NEA.”

Alhaji K. Tarawally, CEO of Lake Productions

On allegations of bribery or compromise, Alhaji challenges anyone with strong evidence to bring them forward, as transparency has been the bedrock of NEA –

“Another aspect that I will like to clarify is the aspect to do with bribe. I will like to contend/challenge anyone across the globe that has ever submitted any bride of any sort to any member of our team in regards to being nominated or the aim of winning an award from NEA SL to come forth. Without any hestitations, we are kindly extending the invitation to come out with proof if this has been the case.”

“We pride ourselves in transparency, integrity and as stated above, NEA SL’s only aim and objective is to celebrate individuals putting in the work to enetertain and showcase Sierra Leone and that has been the case from its inception in 2017.”

On what he believes might be the reason for the backlashes, Mr. Tarawally blames it on ‘hate and jealousy’ as he writes below:

“Our celebrities are hardly celebrated or known outside our beloved Sierra Leone, so it’s sad that any efforts trying to showcase us outside Sierra Leone gets as much hate from us. The jealousy and hate in this country is real.”

Meanwhile, the organisers have released a second list of nominees which is already out on social while voting is in progress. The award ceremony is slated for December 23rd 2020 at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Freetown.

Is this a wake up call for the organisers? Well, let’s wait and see.

By Ibrahim Sorious Samura