The fifth edition of the HiPipo Music Awards (HMA) took place on Saturday evening at Kampala Serena hotel.
The event left behind a number of talking points, bitter tastes and celebrations for the winners. It was also a historical one for Sheebah Karungi.
She became the second female to ever win the most coveted accolade for Artiste Of The Year since Iryn Namubiru won it at the defunct Pearl of Africa Music awards.
The trending songstress signed to Team No Sleep has had a great 2016 and she duly deserved the award.
She also walked away with the gong for Best Video (Kisasi Kimu), Best Female Artiste and Best Afrobeat Song (Nkwatako), making a total of four out of 11 nominations.
Following closely was the Best Male Artiste won by Bebe Cool, who went on to add accolades for Best Reggae (African Girl), Song Of The Year (Kabulengane) and a special recognition with Music Icon of the Decade award.Â
Madina Nalwanga who plays Phiona Mutesi in Queen Of Katwe was recognized with Entertainment Showpiece Act of 2016, with Sammy Kasule getting the Lifetime Achievement Award for his close to four decades in the music industry.
It was also cool to finally have UK-based neo-soul artiste, Michael Kiwanuka, recognized at a local awards show.
The afro-wearing singer who has shared stages with some of music’s greatest international names, was named Best Global Act of 2016. Yet all was not smooth-sailing for the awards, though.
Bebe Cool was booed when he came up to receive the reggae category award. He left the building and his awards were received by his eldest son, musician Allan Hendrik.
The crowd seemed unhappy that Bebe Cool had beaten Apass’ Mariana and Maddoxx Sematimba’s Namagembe to the award. Navio won album of the year for his The Chosen, thanks, interestingly, to the bonus baxi-ragga track, Njogereza.
Also strange was the fact that the director of the best video (Sasha Vybz directed Sheebah’s award-winning video) did not win the accolade for best video director!
Add that to Roden Y’s video for Mbalaba Bulabi winning an award for Best Special Effects thanks to director Frank Jah at the inaugural Club Music Video awards in 2013, and four years later winning the Breakthrough Artiste category at the HMA! Well, the fans decided.
The HMA production improved this year even as too many performances and long acceptance speeches forced the event to go on beyond 1am.
Bebe Cool, Navio, Waka Stars, KizAza, Ziza Bafana and Sheebah were some of the night’s performers.
Full list of winners:
Best Hip Hop Song: Sala Puleesa, Mun G
Best Global Act: Michael Kiwanuka
Song of the Year, South Sudan: Sambala, MB Law & Rhapsody Ft Radio & Weasel
Must Watch Talent: KizAza
Commended Acappella Group: Canaan Gents
Best Regional Song: Ninkwesiga, Ray G Rhiganz
Best Audio Producer: Nessim
Best Video Producer: NG Filmz UG (Dr Nolton)
Best DJ: DJ Slick Stuart & DJ Roja
Best Song Writer: John Kay
Best Zouk Song: Same Way, Geosteady And Lydia Jazmine
Song of the Year, Rwanda: Indoro, Charly & Nina Feat Big Fizzo
Video Trailblazer Award: Waka Stars
Entertainment Showpiece Act of 2016: Madina Nalwanga
Quinquennial Africa Music Vanguard Award: Diamond Platnumz
Best R&B Song: Addicted, Maro Ft Iryn Namubiru
Best Religious Song: Omusiibi, Swahaba Kasumba
Song of the Year, Tanzania: Aje, Alikiba
Best Music Group: Pine Avenue5
Lifetime Achievement Award: Sammy Kasule
Best Ragga-Dancehall Song: Tuli Maje, Ziza Bafana
Best Afrobeat Song: Nkwatako, Sheebah Karungi
Best Reggae Song: African Gal, Bebe Cool
Song of the Year, Kenya: Unconditionally Bae, Sauti Sol and Alikiba
East Africa Super Hit: Unconditionally Bae, Sauti Sol Ft Alikiba
East Africa Best New Act: Navy Kenzo
Best Band Song: Sembera, Mary Bata
Best Folk Song: Mayumba Kumi, Jackie Kizito
Best Afropop Song: Dangerous, Ceaserous
East Africa Best Video: Salome, Diamond Platnumz ft Rayvanny
Breakthrough Artiste: Roden Y
Video of the Year: Kisasi Kimu, Sheebah Karungi
Song of the Year: Kabulengane, Bebe Cool
Album of the Year: The Chosen, Navio
Best Male Artiste: Bebe Cool
Best Female Artiste: Sheebah Karungi
Music Icon of the Decade: Bebe Cool
Artiste of the Year: Sheebah Karungi
