Soon after this year’s Western Music Awards, it was reported that Artiste of the Year Kofi Kinaata had said he is above the awards scheme and entreated the organizers not to nominate him again.
The statement was obviously interpreted by many as a sign of arrogance and pomposity.
In an interview with Connect FM’s Nana Osei Asare, Kofi Kinaata full name Martin King Arthur admitted having said something similar in an interview.
He is, however, convinced bloggers may have twisted and exaggerated what he said to direct traffic to their sites.
He explained that the concept of the Western Music Awards is to push musicians from the Western Region for national recognition.
But he believes artistes from the Region who are already ‘big’ should only be invited to support and not be part of even nominations.
“This is my second time winning the same award. I suggest that next time our names should not be added. The opportunity should be given to the ‘up and coming’ artistes more,” he said.
He continued: “Imagine if the Artiste of the Year was a certain Welbone. This is a name nobody knows! When reported in the news, people from all over, would be interested in knowing that Welbone who won Artiste of the Year in the Western Region.”
This he believes leverages the said artiste to a point that could land him/her into greatness.
Citing the Volta Music Awards as an example, the two-time Song Writer of the Year underscored that if the likes of Edem and MzVee were nominated, Agbeshie, for instance, could not have been Artiste of the Year.
He added that the Award has done great for Agbeshie’s career as he is now sought after by the media and event organizers, something he humbly suggests should be replicated in the Western Region.
He concluded that if any person still felt offended, beyond the clarification, they should kindly pardon him.
He told Nana Osei Asare that he would be touring Europe in honor of his fans abroad in the next one-and-half months.
By Ato Kwamina Otoo|Connect FM|3news.com|Ghana