There have been several shots made at organizing excellent, well conducted gospel awards in Nigeria in celebration of excellence in the gospel music industry. The closest to it so far? Crystal Awards!
The maiden edition took place on June, 2013 at the Shell Hall of Muson Centre, and I must admit it was a good one. If I share about how good the food at the nomination party was, some peeps might label me “food monger”, and I’m not sure I want that added to my profile just yet.
The Crystal Awards 2014 will take place at the same venue (Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos) on Sunday, July 20, 2014, and would feature various top notch performances by various artistes.
So I took my time to go through the nomination list and thought to share some of my personal views and predictions with you. (We’ll find out how close I got by Sunday night, when the winners are announced)
DISCLAIMER: The views shared in this post are based on my personal opinion, and does not imply that of Praiseworld Radio.
All the nominated artistes are excellent, and deserve to win. This post is solely “predictive”
This year, we have 24 award categories with about 5 to 6 nominees each. Let’s run through them now (I’ll try hard to blot out sentiments here). And just in case a Crystal Awards panel member is reading this, don’t let it affect your decisions o! I’m just saying…
ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
1. Pita
2. Nikki Laoye
3. Mike Abdul
4. Eben
5. BOUQUI
6. Obiwon
Besides the fact that all these artistes are my friends, I must admit I have respect for what they do. So who would I choose? Of courseNikki Laoye! (Durh! She’s on my team too. Heehee) Who do I predict will win this? PITA.
SONG OF THE YEAR
1. “Why You Love Me So” – Nosa
2. “Morire” – Mike Abdul ft. Monique
3. “Nara Ekele” – Frank Edwards
4. “Blow My Mind” – Henrisoul
5. “Light Up My World” – Pita
Now from a gospel radio OAP’s point of view, this is a pretty hard one for me. But from this list, I’ll go for Mike Abdul’s “Morire” off his debut album “Good To Go”. This song was GREAT in the last year.
Plus: I think a Song Of The Year should be one most people can sing along to.
BEST MALE VOCALIST
1. Samsong
2. Segun Obe
3. Freke
4. Obiwon
5. Solomon Lange
6. Frank Edwards
Paying attention to the quality of the nominees’ voices and how active they have been in the past year in terms of records, singles or albums, I’ll say Frank Edwards. Obiwon also released an AMAZING album “Gold Water” this year, so he is a very close contender for this as well.
BEST FEMALE VOCALIST
1. IbitayoJeje
2. Nene Soul Diva
3. Nikki Laoye
4. Efe
5. Lara George
6. Onos
Ouch! This gets harder by the category. I’m not even gonna analyze anything here. All nominees deserve this. Do I have to choose one? Okay, for this purpose; Nikki Laoye. (and Efe too!!!)
BEST PRAISE
1. “Pentecost Praise” – Bethany
2. “Eze” – Pat Uwaje-King
3. “My Praise” – Vivien Stephen
4. “Turned It Around” – Sabina
5. “Praise Jam” – Ada
6. “Twale” – Pita
Of a truth, Sabina’s “Turned It Around” was heavy, well spread and enjoyed heavy rotation across board.
BEST WORSHIP SONG
1. “Your Peace” – Kenny Kore
2. “I Surrender” – Liza C
3. “All That I Am” – Isabella
4. “Yahweh” – TY Bello
5. “Only You” – Nikki Laoye
6. “You Alone Are Worthy” – Eben
Guys, please allow me this one time to introduce my sentiments. “Your Peace” by Kenny K’ore is not just a worship song, but some deep RHEMA laced with melodies that happens to be on God’s favourite playlist as well, so yeah! (Oh! It’s even the first on the list. Very good!)
BEST GROUP / DUO
1. Tehila Crew
2. Gospel According to Rap [G.A.2.R]
3. Tim Godfrey & Xtreme
4. God’s Own Radicals [G.O.R]
5.Brand New Generation [B.N.G]
6.PCE Crew
Oops! If only Tim Godfrey & Extreme had released their new double album (“iWorship” & “The Audience Of One”) much earlier, I would not have hesitated in making my choice here. However, my predictions here:….Tehila Crew!
BEST RAP/HIP POP
1. BOUQUI
2. Provabs
3. IBK Spaceshipboi
4. TB1
5. GameMan
5. Sokleva
In case you didn’t know. I LOVE HIP HOP! So I had better be right on this one (feels like I’m writing JAMB). All nominees are DOPE! They represent true Hip Hop/Rap in Nigeria. I remember Pastor J won this particular award last year, and all the nominees present at the event that day (some are nominated here) mounted the stage with him to celebrate with him.
However, I guess they should welcome the spaceshipboi IBK (who landed on earth earlier this year with his debut album“I Come In Peace”) with this award
BEST CHOIR
1. Daystar Choir
2. TREM Choir
3. House on the Rock Choir
4. HICC Choir
5. COZA Choir
6. Grace Assembly Choir
I’m not making any choice here. This is because I’m not sure which of the COZA choirs (Avalanche Abuja, Lagos, Ilorin), or which of the HOTR choirs. Healing Streams (Daystar) is a good one too. I’ll pass on this.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
1. “Marks of a General & Eve of Independence” – BOUQUI
2. “Good To Go” – Mike Abdul
3. “I Come In Peace” – IBK Spaceshipboi
4. “Noah” – Kenny K’ore
5. “As I Am (The Journey So far)” – Pita
6. “Justified” – Eben
I have listened to ALL the above mentioned albums save that of BOUQUI. These artistes displayed what it means to put out an excellent album. I vote and predict PITA as winner for this. “As I Am” is a MUST-GET album. Something I love to call a “press-play” album. Please buy it as soon as you are done reading this. Thank me later, that’s fine.
BEST NEW ARTIST
1. C-Stas
2. Sophiya
3. Preye
4. Liora
5. Minister Kenn [M.K]
6. Taiwo Oladoye
If Minister Kenn (MK) is a new artiste, then he’s got this! Shikena!
BEST VIDEO
1. “Yabo” – Solomon Lange
2. “You Are Great” – Ayo Vincent ft. Joe Praize
3. “Who Tell You Say” – Sammie Okposo
4. “BadMan” – Henrisoul
5. “Morire” – Mike Abdul
6. “All That I Am” – Isabella
Snap shot from “Badman” video by Henrisoul
I vote for Henrisoul’s “Blow My Mind”. Oops! It’s not there. Which do I choose now o??? Maybe Morire/Badman… But Sammie Okposo will take this award home, I predict.
BEST TRADITIONAL GOSPEL
1. Tope Alabi
2. Kayode Olusoji
3. Psalm Ebube
4. Samnem
5. Kefee
6. OkikiJesu
Kefee
God bless Kefee’s soul. Ssshhh… I hear there’ll be a special feature on her at the event on Sunday night. I’m lookin forward to that. May her dear soul rest in peace in Jesus name.
BEST PRODUCER
1. Okey Sokay
2. Wilson Joel
3. Wole Oni
4. Phat E
5. VC Perez
6. Cobhams Asuquo
OKEY SOKAY!!!!!! OKEY SOKAY!!!!!! He was the most hardworking producer over the last year. I wonder if the dude rests at all. 90% of all the sounds he produced were certified excellent by the Praiseworld Radio music team.
If he doesn’t win this, I’ll snatch it from the winner and run away with it. Just kidding o!!! LOL
TOLA
BEST REGGAE
1. Buchi
2. Righteousman
3. Ed Gilbert
4. Dubem
5. Innerman
6. Lyn
My prediction? Righteousman. I have a feeling I’m right on this one.
BEST VIDEO DIRECTOR
1. Lawrence Omo-Iyare
2. Tolucci
3. Yinka Davids
4. Akin Alabi
5. Frizzle & Bizzle
6. Uvi Orogun
I’m having a hard time making a choice here. It’s either Frizzle & Bizzle or Yinka Davids. Check out these videos they directed! “123” by Nikki Laoye, and “Why You Love Me So” by Ibitayo respectively.
BEST ON AIR PERSONALITY
1. Ira [Wazobia FM]
2. DJ Gosporella [Beat FM]
3. Charz B [Rhthym FM]
4. Sabina Umoren [Naija FM]
5. C-Mor – [Rainbow FM]
6. Holly Holla [Rhythm FM]
A’cube [Praiseworld Radio] Buahahahahaaaa…. Open your eyes clearly. It’s the 7th nominee.
Okay, let me be fair. I’m voting EVERYBODY in this category. Hehee..
BEST MALE ARTISTE IN DIASPORA
1. PCE Crew [U.S.A]
2. Lawrence Ikiri [South Africa]
3. Izzy [U.S.A]
4. Dafidi [Malaysia]
5. Jid-Vocals [Ukraine]
6. Dare David [U.S.A]
Obodo Oyinbo people! Izzy (USA) did pretty well this year. I’ll vote for him. However, I predict Lawrence Ikiri. Hehee (Yayy! I just rhymed! Ikiri/Hehehee)
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE IN DIASPORA
1. Funke Akinokun [France]
2. Peggy Otis [U.S.A]
3. Isabella [U.K]
4. Wumi [U.S.A]
5. Anu [U.S.A]
6. Lily Perez [U.K]
I played a lot of Isabella’s music this year on my show, so maybe I’m biased. Thank you.
BEST ROCK
1. Viva
2. Eben
3. T-Sharp
4. I.K Worships
5. Threadstone
6. Joe Praize
*sobs* I really miss the sound of some of my favourite gospel rock artistes. Well, I know they’ll be back sha. I’m a BIG fan of Threadstone, but I didn’t hear anything new from them this year, surprised to see them here. However, IK worships kept it real. The Best Rock awards will look good on his shelf.
BEST USE OF INSTRUMENT
1. Nathaniel Bassey
2. Mike Aremu
3. Segun Oluwayomi
4. Ebele the Flutist
5. Bolaji Sax
6. Kunle Ajayi
This is tight. I’ll do 50-50: That means me choosing 3 – Nathaniel Bassey, Mike Aremu and Bolaji Sax
BEST COLLABORATION
1. “I Stand Amazed” – Moji Olusoji ft. Lara George
2. “Morire” – Mike Abdul ft. Monique
3. “Like Jesus” – Kenny Kore ft. Nathaniel Bassey
4. “Higher Octave” – Segun Obe ft. Samnem
5. “Your Love” – Anny ft. BOUQUI
6. “Hail My King” – Obiwon ft. Frank Edwards, Eben& Kenny Kore
“Collabo Of Life” can be defined as “Hail My King” by Obiwon ft. Frank Edwards, Eben& Kenny Kore. Sssshhh… I hear they’ll be performing this LIVE on the event day. (Don’t tell no one I told you this. It’a surprise! LOL)
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR
1. “Ordinary People” – CobhamsAsuquo
2. “Bobo Me” – Ada
3. “Little Drops” – Gaise
4. “Seasons” – Sokleva
5. “KuliKuli” – Nene Soul Diva
6. “What Is The Matter” – The Inspired Voices [T.I.V]
7. “Badman” – Henrisoul
I’m hearing things! I just heard you whisper “Cohbams” while reading the list. Yeah, you’re right! That’s my prediction. If you’ve listened to “Ordinary People”, you know what I mean.
COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR
1. Saco
2. Akpororo
3. Open Teeth
4. Jedi
5. Grand Komanda
6. Emma Oh my God
This is a new one! A new category. All these comedians are so hilarious, they can make you laugh till you lose your voice. This category pass me o! *whew* I choose ’em ALL!
P.S: Grand Komanda will be the host of the night, along with actress Doris Simeon.
Now that I’m done writing this, I’m wondering if anyone will be nice enough to give me an applause for it. (Just joking) But really, it’s no small deal, guys. BIG ups to EVERY gospel award organizer out there. Well done!
INFO: Praiseworld Radio will be streaming the event LIVE starting from the red carpet at 4:30pm. Looks to be a fun and glamorous night filled with a lot of glitz. Make sure you are there. Need an invite? Contact us. Outside Lagos/Nigeria? Tune in to listen LIVE: www.praiseworldradio.com/tune-in
DISCLAIMER: The views shared in this post are based on TOLA (Olutola Omoniyi)‘s personal opinion, and does not imply that of Praiseworld Radio.
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