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.