The much anticipated Islamic Music and Associated Nominees (IMAN) Awards 2017 has finally held on August 20th, 2017, at White House Hotel Multipurpose Hall, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, amidst pomp and pageantry. The only industry award event for all Islamic artistes in Nigeria and diaspora had been much publicised by the organizers, Synergy Media, weeks before the event in all the available media platforms from online, to print and broadcast, hence, practitioners and stakeholders in the industry were already upbeat for the awards which was just in its second edition.
Like in its inaugural edition in 2016, the 2017 edition was also hosted by the multitalented broadcaster and event compere, Musiliu Sanni, better known as Mr. Bebe or Bebe Musiliu, who doubled as the Master of Ceremonies (MC) and stand-up comedian for the whole period of the event and ensured that he took his audience on countless comic excursions back and forth while it lasted. Not to bore the audience with talks and jokes only, the MC also invited some of the artistes who arrived early after they had done Red Carpet interviews hosted by Lekan Adebayo, a fast rising entertainment personality, to show the stuff they were made of on the stage and the artistes included Golden Son, Hyb Addis, Lawizzy, Ade Omo Ade, Al-Mubarak Kewuyemi and few others.
After the hall was already jam-packed by artistes and many of their fans from far and near, Saheed Ojubanire was invited to the stage to give a welcome address on behalf of the organizers. And when the tall and dark complexioned young man stepped on the stage in his silver coloured dry lace buba and sokoto under a silver colour agbada sewn with Atiku material, he collected the microphone from the MC and drew the microphone stand to himself. When he slide the microphone into its hold and the audience gave a murmur of confusion born out of not knowing if he was going to sing or speak, he quickly put them out of their misery by saying that he was not going to sing but needed the stand to hold the microphone since he was going to be reading his address from his android phone and would need his two hands; one to hold the phone, the other to scroll it.
Reading his address, Saheed Ojubanire, welcomed the audience officially to the event and told them they were in for an exciting experience. And he adduced the reason to the fact that IMAN Awards was one of the few award events in Nigeria in which winners are not pre-informed of their emergence just to encourage them to come. He said rather, what brings people to IMAN Awards is confidence derived from their committed participation in the short code based voting process which usually precede the award event since winners are decided 100 percent by people’s votes. And those with the highest votes in all the categories honestly emerge winners. He listed 5 categories that were not going to be awarded because no vote was recorded in them, before he climaxed that with the fact that voting results were printed and brought to the event as he displayed a sealed brown envelope containing copies of the results.
He then went into talking about the theme for the 2017 edition which is: “Opening the Hall of Fame” in which 8 distinguished personalities who had contributed to the growth of Islamic music industry were listed for induction. He reeled out their names as Dr. Seye Kehinde, the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief of City People magazine, Dr. Ambrose Somide, the Managing Director, Radio Services, Daar Communications Plc., Mr. Olugbenga Sunday Esan, a renowned music and movie marketer, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, a popular transporter and major pillar of financial support to entertainers, Alhaji Latifu Oloto, a veteran Islamic artiste, Alhaji Wasiu As-Sideeq, a long-standing Islamic artiste, Alhaji Bolaji Bello, a veteran music producer and Mr. Dare Zaka, an ace music video director, who all came to the event for their decoration into the Hall of Fame in appreciation of the different roles they played in elevating the Islamic music industry to the great height it has attained today.
Saheed Ojubanire also spoke about a new development which he said would transform the media platform on which IMAN Awards is organized from Synergy Media to Different Stroke Media. He said they were two people who started the awards in 2016 but one had pulled out his further participation for personal reasons which necessitated a restructuring. He hinted that Different Stroke Media was going to be setting up a functional website in which profiles of all willing Islamic artistes would be stored at a cost, so that members of the public could be referenced to such profiles if any of the artistes are nominated into any category of IMAN Awards in future to read about them in other to make informed decision before voting. He added that, such profiles were also going to be used as part of contents of a book to soon be published on: The Evolution of Islamic Music in Nigeria (The origin, the artistes/stakeholders & the new dimensions) by Different Stroke Media. He promised that further details would be communicated to whom it may concern as time goes on.
He rounded up his address by thanking all the worthy partners to the event from Otunba Adewale Adeowo, the MD/CEO of Finger King Small Chops and Cocktails that served delicious finger foods for everyone to munch at the event, Intercontinental Distillers Limited (IDL) which served top of the range Veleta Sparkling Fruit Wine to every guests as their personels were physically on ground to ensure everyone had a taste of it, Mr. Akeem Salami, the MD/CEO of Balkeem Nigeria Limited, the manufacturers of proudly Nigerian staple food aesthetically packaged for local and international markets, Ijebulawa Garri, which was distributed to guests, and his friends who stood by him such as Say Zolar, Destiny Vision,
Sleek Impression, Bebe Musiliu Productions, Abiodun Ogundairo as well as his lovely wife.
Right after the welcome address by the organizer, it was time to decorate inductees into the Hall of Fame and to coordinate that exercise, Comrade Desmond Abiodun Nwachukwu, the National President of Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), was invited to the stage. And Saheed Ojubanire stood beside him on the stage to state the reasons each of the inductees were selected. He said Dr. Seye Kehinde was selected for being a very liberal Christian who had been giving support to Islamic artistes with adequate coverage in City People magazine as well as hosting many of them on the platform of City people Entertainment over the years. Dr. Ambrose Somide was selected for being another very liberal Christian who allowed adequate airplay for Islamic music on one of the radio stations under his watch, Faaji 106.5 F.M. over the years, especially, by not relegating playing of Islamic music to only Fridays affair like it is in many other radio stations. Mr Olugbenga Sunday Esan was selected for being another Christian in the music marketing business with strong bias for Islamic music into which he had brought a lot of innovations over the years.
Others, such as Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, better known as MC Oluomo was said to have been selected for being a consistent financial backbone to the Islamic music industry. Alhaji Latifu Oloto, a veteran Islamic artiste was selected for being one of those who set the pace for others to follow in what has become a booming music industry. Alhaji Wasiu As-Sideeq was selected for being a solid bridge between the old and new generation of Islamic artistes who has remained very relevant in the industry despite the years he has spent singing. Alhaji Bolaji Bello was selected for being one of those who made their name producing and singing Islamic music when the going was still very tough but remained steadfast. And Mr. Dare Zaka was selected for being a music video director whose name is synonymous with high quality Islamic music videos over the years. He has proven his magic touch is for real.
Immediately after the basis of their selection had been stated, the inductees were decorated by the FIBAN President with rosettes inscribed with IMAN Awards’ Hall of Fame won round their necks and Certificate of Induction presented to them before they moved from the stage one after the other to sign their autographs against their names on IMAN Awards Hall of Fame Inductee Autographs’ banner hung on the wall and meant to be displayed in all future editions of the awards. The first six personalities that were inducted because they arrived early, except MC Oluomo and Alhaji Wasiu As-Sideeq, then came back to the stage where customized Induction Cake with customized IMAN Award plaque designed on it, to cut the cake while Saheed Ojubanire also stood in their midst as the cake was cut with the spelling of I-M-A-N-A-W-A-R-D-S-H-A-L-L-O-F-F-A-M-E. When MC Oluomo and Alhaji Wasiu As-Sideeq arrived eventually, same was done for them.
Presentation of awards to winners began in earnest after the induction with Dr. Seye Kehinde being the first person called to carry out the exercise of presentation, followed by Dr. Ambrose Somide, Alhaji Lateef Oloto, Mr. Olugbenga Sunday Esan, Mr. Akeem Salami (Ijebulawa), and a host others till the last plaque was presented.
Some of the top Islamic music stars who were physically present at the event with some of them winning awards and appreciating the organizers include: Alhaji Mumeen Damilola (Esinogbamilaye), the president of Islamic Musicians’ Association of Nigeria (ISMAN), Alhaji Qamardeen Odunlami (Ayeloyun), Alhaja Basirat Iya-N-Ghana, Alhaja Mujidat Lawal Damilola (Wabilahi Taofeeq), Alhaja Medinat Barry Tide, Alhaja Mistura Temi Ni Success, Alhaji Mutiu Akasho, Hassan Omo Idunnu, Aishat Ayopo, Golden Son, Fadhilat Sheikh Aderemi T.K. (Alfamini), Alhaja Ruqoyaah Gawat, Alhaja Sophiat Iya-N-Kaola, Crescents and many others. Popular transporter, Alhaji Ganiyu Ayinde better known as Koko Zaria, Pappy and Smart Olayinka accompanied MC Oluomo to his day of glory. Meanwhile, Ayeloyun took over the stage towards the end of the event to appreciate the organizer and everyone that came before everything was brought to a close.
IMAN AWARDS 2017 WINNERS AT A GLANCE
(1) Akeem Ijebulawa Award for Best Male Islamic Artiste: Saoti Arewa
(2) JIMLAT Award for Best Female Islamic Artiste: Ruqoyaah Gawat
(3) Best Islamic Music Album: Apase (Kifayat Singer)
(4) Hasolad Award for Best Islamic Music Video: Temitope (Ruqoyaah Gawat)
(5) Best Islamic Music Collaboration: I Miss You Muhammad.
(6) Best Islamic Hip Hop Artiste: Hyb Addis
(7) Face of Islamic Music [Male]: Ayeloyun
(8) Face of Islamic Music [Female]: Obi Rere
(9) Best New Male Islamic Artiste: Mutiu Akasho
(10) Best New Female Islamic Artiste: (Joint Winners) Aminat Akobi Omo & Nafisat Eniafe.
(11) Most Fashionable Male Islamic Artiste: Ere Asalatu.
(12) Most Fashionable Female Islamic Artiste: Wabillahi Taofeeq.
(13) Bolaji Bello Award for Best Islamic Music Producer: Kazeem Akogba.
(14) Best Islamic Music Video Director: Lukman Anisere.
(15) Best Islamic Music Instrumentalist: Kazeem Demola Ayeloja.
(16)Alfamini Award for Best Islamic Kid Artiste: Aishat Ayopo.
(17) Best Islamic Artiste in Stage Performance: Mistura Temi Ni Success.
(18) Best Islamic Artiste in Diaspora: Sekinat Omidiya (London/Dublin).
(19) Best Popular Tune Adaptation in Islamic Music: Ere Asalatu (Yinka Ayefele’s Tune)
(20) Sulaiman Alawe Award for Best Azikiri Based Islamic Artiste: Iya-N-Ghana.
(21) Best Islamic Soul (Nashid) Artiste: Crescents.
(22) Best Islamic Artiste’s Manager: Muritadho Sulaiman (Mistura Temi Ni Success).
(23) Best Featured Non Islamic Artiste in Islamic Music: No vote recorded.
(24) Best Islamic Music Video Editor: Saheed Oyeledun.
(25) Best Featured Movie Actor in Islamic Music Video: No vote recorded.
(26) Saheed Ojubanire Award for Best Islamic Music Marketer: Golden Point.
(27) Best Islamic Music Promoter: Okiki.
(28) Best Supportive Radio Station to Islamic Music: Family f.m. (Abeokuta).
(29) Best Supportive Tv Station to Islamic Music: No vote recorded.
(30) Best Supportive Newspaper to Islamic Music: No vote recorded.
(31) Best Supportive Magazine to Islamic Music: No vote recorded.
(32) Best Supportive Individual to Islamic Music: MC Oluomo.
(33) Best Islamic Music Friendly Broadcaster (Male): Baakini.
(34) Best Islamic Music Friendly Broadcaster (Female): Ewa Islam.
(35) Okiki Award for Best Supportive Islamic Cleric to Islamic Music: Sheikh Muri N Bariga.
(36) Akeem Ijebulawa Award for Best Reporter of Islamic Music: Gbolahan Adetayo.
(37) Best Make-Up Artist in Islamic Music Video Shoot: Aminat Ganiu.
(38) Best Camera Handler in Islamic Music Video Shoot: Yomi Tijani.
(39) Okiki Award for Best Studio Engineer in Islamic Music Production: Ola Akewusola (Zeal Mark Studio)
