The Bonteh Digital Media Awards, abbreviated BDMA, is an annual event that recognizes media personalities and digital entrepreneurs that have rocked the tech and media industries in Cameroon. The first edition (2017) took place in Buea. In 2018, due to increased insecurity in the region, the event was moved to Douala; where it will also be held this year on Tuesday 17th December 2019 at La Falaise Diamond, Bonanjo, Douala.
If you have ever tried organizing an event, you would know it is not an easy task, so for this to be in its third edition, I think Bonteh (the founder), deserves some respect. A ceremony of this sort, one would think, should be organized and sponsored by related government bodies in association with the related trade unions but I won’t forget where I’m from. Orange Cameroon has been a partner since its inception and this year, the company is still supporting the platform.I don’t know the nature of their support but I doubt they are doing more than just the bare minimum. I guess we have too say “at least, they are trying.”
I’ve always thought naming such a ceremony after himself would hurt him in the long run but what do I know?
Any-ha!
To the real matter!
ON ITS IMPORTANCE
Award shows are not only a place where people are honoured with glamorous ceremonies. When properly organized, they can become defining moments in the growth of industries; the day when new networks and working relationships are created. It is usually hard to have many people of great influence in one room; award shows have a higher probability of making that happen and we all know what happens when bright minds meet.
ON ITS VALUE
People do not walk away from this ceremony with prize money. All winners go home with a piece of hardware that they can put on their shelves (whatever effect it has on them). I was one of those people in 2017. I won the award for Best Content Creator. My award is actually now irrelevant since that category was removed the following year but whatever. After the award ceremony, I wrote a review of the event in which I was critical of the contents of the bag that Orange offered to the award winners as part of their sponsorship agreement. Conspiracy theorist will say this is why my category was removed but I cannot say.
So, the bag contained a 2500mAh power bank with a full-body lit orange logo. Basically, it was unable to give me one full charge. It also contained a selfie stick and I guess a T-Shirt. I don’t want to go into talking about how that devalued the event but when you look at the work of the people recognized on that day, a free internet modem and 30 GB of data a month for a year is not that much to ask. I believe that is their most important tool which won’t cost Orange and arm and a leg to provide. I missed the ceremony last year so I am not sure what was given but I hope this year, Orange can step up the game and bring even more value.
ON WHAT IS MISSING
I think the award suffers from the lack of a basis. Bonteh initiated this event after making quite a name for himself blogging. Besides blogging he had worked on a few events here and there; nothing with a national reach really. I’m not saying that to take away anything from what he had and has done because even at that, he is, in my opinion, performing great for the society we find ourselves in. I mean how many of us have done something of national impact?
The first edition, however, was successful enough and his work after that would have helped him to start building that basis. CANAL D’OR is what it is because Canal2 makes the content of those awarded their business. If BoomTV had a music award, it automatically has its due recognition because BoomTV is the highest consumer of our music. If the award ceremony had a running platform that, for example, reported and tracked the work of people in the areas in which they recognize, it would over time become the ‘expert’ in what they are awarding. I hope you get what I mean. Should Bonteh find a way to create something that kind of stays close to those his ceremony recognized throughout the year, the value of his platform will definitely increase. A Bonteh Digital Magazine for example.
ON WHAT COULD BE BETTER
In our quest to have everyone involved, we sometimes gain popularity and lose growth in the long run. I don’t see why the award still receives nominations from the public. This goes back to the point I made above. It is like you are trying to award people that you don’t even know about. At this stage, there should be a group of ‘professionals’ tasked with coming up with nominees. Even the voting should be restricted for certain categories like ‘Best Artist Manager.’ How are outsiders supposed to know this?
CONCLUSION
I think this type of award has to do more to gain legitimacy within the industry before trying to convince the general public to become part of it and that is what guided most of my thinking and recommendations. In the world of the blind, the one-eyed man is king - they say. So BDMA it is.
Now your thoughts!
Cover photo: Bonteh Engelbert
- Tino Foy