By Biodun Ogundairo
Contrary to the widespread belief that all Nigerian artistes boycotted the KORA All Africa Music Awards held in Burkina Faso last weekend, multiple sources have confirmed that pop twins Psquare were in fact, in Ouagadougou days after the controversial event where they were named winner of the night’s biggest award -Best African act – and winner of the $1 Million prize attached.
Psquare defeated the Senegalese group, Black Diamond; Angola’s Paul G; and homegrown Amety Meria to win the award
It’s the first time Okoye brothers are associating with an awards event in a while. Last year, they were conspicuously missing at the MTV Africa Music Awards, Hiphopworld Awards, Soundcity Music Video Awards and Nigeria Music Video Awards. They have been quoted as saying, in different interviews that they would no longer attend awards events, following widely-reported issues with MOBO, MAMA and HHWA – all three awards where they lost out at different times.
That they rushed down to Burkina Faso on Monday, after performing in London last weekend, has set many tongues wagging. But those close to them insist they had a scheduled Stadium concert in the State Capital, and were only honouring a performance engagement, rather than ‘rushing’ down to receive the KORA prize.
‘I really can’t say why they decided to do the KORA thing, especially with all the controversies surrounding the event. But I guess it paid off at the end. They got them a whopping $1M! How many people will turn down N150 Million?’ one of their close associates who wanted anonymity, told NET over the phone.
Their elder brother and manager, Jude ‘Engees’ Okoye, was also named Best Video Director for ‘Do Me’, one of the hit tracks in their third album titled Game Over. Jude’s plaque comes with $20,000 [N3million] cash prize.
Other winners included lifetime achievement awards for Cape Verde’s Cesaria Evora and Gabon’s Pierre Akendengue, Ghana’s Becca for best African prospect, Senegal’s Chronicle 2h for best reggae artist, and Alicia Keys (who was absent) for “best African-American artist of the diaspora.
Akon reportedly shunned the event after being engaged to attend and perform.
The only other Nigerian act who has been named KORA African artiste of the Year in KORA’s 16-year history is Femi Kuti who won in 1999. Kuti, was however, in court with the organisers for years, following what he termed their refusal to give him his cash prize. It’s uncertain if the case has been resolved. KORA is also presently in court with the Cross Rivers State Government, after the latter sued them for contract breach.
Meanwhile, a Psquare rep mailed in some pictures from the event, this Afternoon. The pictures, below, show the duo and their brother Jude with President of Burkina Faso at the Presidential Villa on Monday. Peter and Paul Okoye wore KORA T-Shirts.
“We are dedicating the award to God because He has been so kind to us. And of course our fans in home and abroad, we really appreciate them and promise not to disappoint them or relent on our oars” Peter Okoye said in a statement sent to NET today by their rep.
“This is actually not the first time we were nominated for KORA, but we strongly believe that God’s time is the best.”
The brothers earned their first KORA nomination in 2003 for their album ‘Senorita’
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18 comments
These guys r true igbo boys….150 milla!!…common,wiv present day Nigeria….
big ups p-square una too much,keep up the good work
Every hard work deserves sucssess…it implies to everybody
i love you
gigup P.Square uguys are DIXTINCT
i thot i read in 1 of d dailies that they were in europe durin d awards and only flew in2 kenya days afta they heard they won?? lyyyy…
GUYS YOU ARE 100MUCH
congrats guys.It was best thing you made the award.I cant imagine you been called for the main award and you not there.Keep doing your thing and soon will like to do a duet with you when next you come uk.Bless Lets be friends….TIMI KORUS
Now u're tha bomb!!!eno easy tru tru
O! My brothers you are too much i love all your work,like E NO ESEY,no 1 be like u,and orthers.love u.by stivo 9ice.
tell me who made it possible???na only GOD made it possible for you guys and e go dey make am dey go for una and for me too in jesus name..AMEN..p square love you guy and hope to be like you one day….your beat fan say so….lucky.
whatever success one has no matter how small it is,should be appreciated first 2 God and secondly to their hardwork and that is what the awards means.
have you ever given it a thought hat their are more than one thousand musicians in Nigeria and only few are recognize….
pls don't be a player hater
'P SQUARE' U GUYS RE THE INTHING NOW. BIG UPS AND MAY THE LORD WHO LIFTED U GUYS UP NEVER LET U GUYS DOWN…
Thumbs up to u guys,you've made it and u're a million dollars richer.thanks 2 God who made it possible.odirah
THIS GUYS WHORT IT,THEY ARE GOOD & AL SO BLESSED.PLZZZZZZZZ LET NO ONE ENVY THEM CAUSE THEY ARE OFF THE HOOK,GIFTED TALENTED GOSHI MINE'O MINE ABEG KUDOS JOOOR
THERE DREAM HAS COME PAST
u guys are rily doin gud big ups all d way but ,but u guys shld try attendin awards ur nominated for,evn though u dont win we ur fans still appreciates ur music n dance…i say more power to ur elbow kip it up….
keep it up guys