The 12th Edition of Canal D’Or was yesterday. It was also the first time I watched it almost in its entirety, missing the Red Carpet (not that I was particularly interested in it) and some minutes of the show as well. I would say however that this perhaps is the best organised Canal D’Or awards we have. I think a lot of people will agree that a lot still needs to be done to make the whole thing really good, considering the few technical glitches that happened, and the time it took to get some transitions done. But overall it was truly an enjoyable moment.
THE HIGHS
- Daphne’s night: Yesterday was definitely Daphne’s night. Ms Njie scooped up 4 Awards: Best Female Urban Artiste, Best Female Artiste, Best Popular Song, and Best Digital Performance. We cannot put Daphne under the new artist category but her win reminds me a lot of the 5 Grammys that Lauryn Hill bagged for her first solo album back in 1999. This just reminds us that Daphne is a force to reckon with and as we have said time and time again here on PoiseSocial, she is definitely our best musical export at the moment.
- Dr Nkeng and his posse: When Dr Nkeng won his award, he made it not about him but about everyone that he works with. Just last week we wrote an article about Dr. Nkeng and his leadership lessons. It was even more beautiful as he shared that award not with his crew only but with Adah Akenji (who lost to him) but got on stage to celebrate. A truly beautiful moment of solidarity and brotherhood which was worthy of a selfie in which everyone said “we take another shot.”
- Nyangono Du Sud: Cameroonian crowds, I have come to realise, are quite a tough one to get on their feet at ceremonies where people dress up. So it was a relief to see Nyangono Du Sud set the hall on fire. Everyone got up on their feet to dance and for the first time since the start of the show, it actually felt like people were there to celebrate music. Honorable mention here to Roga Roga of Extra Musica who also set the hall aflame.
- Syndy Emade’s Speech: Apart from revealing herself to the francophone public (I noticed from Twitter comments objecting to her win) Syndy gave a speech that resonates loudly with my next article which you will read tomorrow; the need for Cameroon creatives to come together and work to build the industry into an even better and stronger one. It was a short speech with a vital message. She also slipped in the fact that a Cameroonian movie was playing on 7 major airlines without saying it was her movie. Genius PR move. And here we are talking about it.
Vicky Fokala: I recognised Vicky Fokala from the comments she has made on some of our posts here and I was surprised at seeing her host the event. I don’t know how long she has been hosting events but I think out of the others, she was really the one who stood out. She went straight to the point and knew how to make herself unseen when needed. It was a fresh breath from Tchop Tchop who at one point did some unnecessary ‘atalaku’ when he called Rigobert Song to hand over an award. I first thought Rigo was the one receiving the award.
THE LOWS
-Lack of social: Here, I am really disappointed with Canal 2. Apart from a few pictures posted on Instagram, there was nothing else! The Canal 2’or Facebook page has nothing about the event from yesterday apart from the banner picture. They didn’t do a livestream. Twitter, which is the most engaging platform for events such as this was empty of them. They do not have a Twitter page! And even the Canal 2 International Twitter page was not live-tweeting the event! Imagine how they could have engaged us with exclusive backstage pictures, short interviews, goofy videos…. It’s such a waste of good content. In 2019, and in the digital era, this is just a grave sin. Imagine all the Cameroonian around the world who could have watched it…
-CPDM Rally: I’ve always been against the politicisation of events such as Canal 2or and Miss Cameroon. This obsession we have in this country for parrainage and marrainage is seriously holding us back. Why the First Lady has to absolutely be at a music Award ceremony is beyond me. And with all the protocol s’il vous plait. We have fetishized having members of government at events as a sign of seriousness and credibility. Almost all front seats were occupied by ministers and their spouses. SMH
Seat Plan: The fact that you had people who had nothing to do directly with the event in the first place, meant that the real guests, musicians and actors had to sit at the back. Also, the congress Hall was not built for award shows. There is little place between the seats. And so when Syndy Emade won, for example, everyone else had to get up and throng out so she could pass. Little things like that which just wasted time.
Singing In Playback: Dear Cameroonian musicians, when people come to see you perform, please sing live over your instrumentals. I think I can speak for most people when I say we are tired of seeing you sing in playback. I was personally disappointed by Gasha.
-Two-year format: Canal 2’OR comes once every two years. This format causes so much trouble with nominations because by the time two year passes, some songs already sound old. I know one of the major reasons they do this is because it costs much money. But maybe if they really focused on the people and the audience and less on the CPDM cabinet, perhaps that budget might balance to make the event an annual one.
-Artistes and PR: Dear Artistes, please understand that we are working to build an industry and so we need to touch every sector. Your PR people are not only there to fight for you when someone says something negative about you online. I’m not interested in what you guys wear but I saw many people online complaining that they could not see your outfits. The blogs that specialise in this type of content could not carry the information because they did not have it either. How is it possible that the only close-up picture I have of Daphne at the event is a selfie which her manager shared?
Here is a tip someone posted on Twitter: Have your PR people reach out to the bloggers and other entertainment platforms days before the ceremony, and share contacts. Hours before the event, share the photos of your outfit to these platforms and if you have can, please share your red carpet pics as well. If Canal 2 doesn’t do that, help these bloggers help you. It’s good for you. Yes, yes a few of them might “throw shade” at your outfits, but if that is something you are scared of, then you are in the wrong business.
THE CURIOSITIES:
Locko’s Speech: It was with a severe demeanour that Locko accepted his award for Best Male Artist. He was going to talk seriously about something except he was interrupted three times. I believe his speech had something to do with most of YouTube views coming from outside Cameroon. Locko, please if you are reading this, please reach out to us. What you were about to say is the type of content we live for. We’ll be more than happy to publish your thoughts. Please help us tag him in the comments section.
Digital Performance: The Best Digital Performance simply goes to the musician who totals the most views on YouTube. My question is, will this not open the floodgates on views buying?
Steve Fonkam’s Interview Attempt: Steve Fonkam tried to get the First Lady to say something about the ceremony. It would be normal if it weren’t Cameroon. In Steve’s defence, the ceremony was over and there was a problem. The First lady stood behind, confused as to where to head next. Steve thought it was perhaps an opportunity to ask her impression of the event. The fact that people found it brazen speaks volume as to how much we have deified some people. It was an awkward moment. Steve broke protocol, true. But then again…I don’t know, the whole thing was just bizarre.
What did you notice about the show yesterday? Let us know!
-Wandji Wilfred.