"Uganda’s Juliana Kanyomozi: The Pam Award Queen 2008”

The Pearl Africa Music (Pam) Awards, 2008, has finally concluded, and Rwandans artistes are still keen to be registered in the records of the ‘Regional Music Winners’. 

The gala saw Rwanda’s Rafiki Mazimpaka a.k.a. Choga Styles as the (Best Male Artiste), Miss JOJO nominated (Best Female Artiste), and Kigali Boyz Group (KGB) the (Best Band).

Mazimpaka, the teenager celebrity, set himself a name in East Africa, when he was nominated in 2007 for the same category.

"I’m extremely excited for the Award, and I’m keen for next year’s competitions, as the ‘Best Artiste of the Year,” said Mazimpaka.

29-year old Julian Kanyomozi won ‘Best Artiste of the Year’ during an annual gala that was held at Shimoni Grounds in Kampala on Saturday.

Last Year’s winner was Ronald Mayinja, who claimed Uganda’s music scene from early 90s. It was a nice warm evening, when thousands gathered, waiting with curiosity to witness the winner.

The event was celebrated in a sophisticated and well-decorated huge marquee. Beautiful mini-dressed ladies organized a red carpet reception.

Polite and smart waiters and waitresses treated the crowd with their favourites, and made the evening incredibly satisfying.

The stage was well lit and the sound boomed out of the massive speaker platforms. One huge screen showed what the crowd in the far edges could not see.

Sitting at my table, eating the best dinner ever served with Champaign and other delicious add-ons, I could not help myself from gawking at Her Highness the Queen of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda who was dressed in a flattering well-fitting dinner dress.

What is this Pam Awards thing all about?

The music Pam Awards competitions started in Uganda in 2003 and involved only Ugandans. Nevertheless, today it covers the entire region of East Africa. 

Ever since the introduction of this music competitions, East African musicians are no longer the same. They have been jeered towards a more entertaining music.

Names like: Gordon Wavamunno and Isaac Junior Mulindwa, should go down in books of records for the sacrifice they made to make Pam Awards a success.

Speaking at the gala, the Chairman Board of Trustees Wavamunno noted that the most important thing is that the Pam Awards celebration has not been a one man’s show.

"Each and every one has participated in one way or another. At the end of it all, we can say that we have done it ourselves,” said Wavamunno.

Pam Awards have proven to be more than just the events and hype that build to the grand finale. That accolade means more to the artistes than the public will ever know.

Nomination night is always so big that artistes are biting on their upper lip and strive harder to develop their music talents and get to the limelight.

Mulindwa, the Chairman organizing committee added that over the last six years, the Pam Awards has registered a number of successes, not only within the music sector, but also within other sectors as well.

For an artiste to get any reward, he or she must belong to any of the categories, said below.

A cash prize of USD.500 was given to the best group/band in each category; USD 2,000 was given to the best female and male artiste, and Kanyomozi, who was nominated the best ‘Artiste of the Year’, walked away with a cheque of USD 5,000.

Ends