It’s deeply worrying and also difficult to understand why most Africans pathetically think they need validation from foreigners as the true measure of their success or greatness. And even when these foreigners continue to disrespect us, we continue to beg for their attention in the face of the unending contempt.
Since the inception of the annual BET African Acts category, African artistes have been treated like second class citizens—perhaps, it’s safe to say, as though we carry a contagious disease.
Each year, our greatest stars enthusiastically fly to America to be disrespected—and pitifully, they smile in the face of this gross contempt. And this is because; they desire a worthless plaque which adds nothing substantive to their careers, except a phrase in front of their names when certain writers decide to me generous to them.
As usual, BET handed the awards for the Best International Act (Africa and UK) backstage—as though these artistes work less than their counterparts who are regularly awarded on the main stage.
For this continuous disrespect to African/UK talents, UK based Ghanaian musician-Fuse ODG boycotted this year’s BET Award—for a plus, he even performed at the largest greenfield festival in the world-Glastonbury. You may not have heard of it, but Glastonbury is far bigger, popular and much respected than BET Awards.
Why would any artiste who takes pride in his achievements and talent forfeit Glastonbury to attend BET Awards, only to be boxed in an auditorium backstage when he wins an award? Fuse ODG is looking else where and our local artistes need to forget BET and channel their energy towards something else too.
Perhaps, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and the many African artistes who cannot seem to pick up on this BET disrespect have nothing else to do—so they would endure whatever contempt BET will throw at them just to receive that worthless endorsement.
Fuse ODG took to twitter to tell BET the hard truth and point it out to them that, enough of the disrespect. He tweeted at BET saying; “the reason why I didn’t come is because you give our awards backstage! You have no respect for our hard work and achievements.”
It’s great that while other African artistes continue to shower praises on BET by making tight appearance despite the obvious ridicule of their achievements and talents, Fuse ODG decided to boycott the ‘nonsense’ and also call them out on it.
READ ALSO: MUST READ: Open Letter To BET Awards | Why Do You Keep Messing With Us?
Stonebwoy has won the 2015 BET Africa Act award—would that add anything valuable to his career or music? I doubt the answer is YES, because it didn’t do anything for the previous winners and yet, none of these artistes can call the BET BS its real name.
Why must we always go out there each year in search for the non-forthcoming America validation when they’ve told us over and over again that they don’t give a hoot about our music and artistes? If the argument is genuinely about time, why must we always be the opportunity cost?
This is where you can confidently shout; inferiority complex will always take us there!
By back stage, it includes the shady pre-event recording which features African Acts each year.
This post was published on June 28, 2015 11:38 PM
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