Glitz and Glamour @ SSA YouTube Awards 2016

                                      

Nonye Ben-Nwankwo and Ademola Olonilua

The first ever Sub Saharan Africa YouTube Awards was held in Johannesburg, South Africa last weekend. It was an evening of fun, excitement and glitz as the big names in the YouTube platform were recognised and awarded plaques.

Granted it was held in Johannesburg, so many Nigerians – nominees and guests – added more fun and thrill to the compact event, which also brought together so many Africans across the continent.

Saturday Beats gives you some of the gist of the event.

And Africans unite

Africans have a way of having a united front and at the YouTube Awards, it was not a different story. Though so many people from different parts of the continent converged, it was a period everybody used to talk about their culture and exchange ideas and get to know one another better.

The rain came in torrents

It was supposedly summer time in the city of Johannesburg but at the award night, the heavens opened and the rain poured in torrents. But did it affect the event? No way! Guests had massive fun and never allowed the weather to dampen their mood.

Online personalities are celebs too

Celebrity status is not restricted to onscreen celebs; indeed, if care is not taken, online celebrities will certainly outshine those seen on TV daily. At the YouTube Awards, so many online celebs have come to be known off screen with their huge following. No wonder screams and shouts of excitement rented the auditorium each time a winner was announced.

Jaiye… the keytarist guru

Known as Jaiyekeys, Nigerian-born keytarist, Jaiye, opened the event, showing his expertise on the keyboard. The young man mesmerised the guests who just couldn’t help but get on their feet as he played some oldies with his keyboard.

Tofo Tofo brings Beyonce back

So many people are in love with Beyonce’s ‘Who Run the World’ video but not many may know that the dancers who performed in that video are Africans.

Known as Tofo Tofo, the young lads from Mozambique brought their unique dance steps to the YouTube awards. They first performed Queen Bea’s song before moving on to other songs. Their dexterity and creativity on the stage made guests give them a standing ovation after their performance.

And Nigerians clinch awards

Nigerians didn’t lose out at the SSA YouTube awards as they came out tops in some of the categories.

Young Emmanuella of the Mark Angel Comedy won the Top Subscribed creator in Nigeria, Channels Television won in the broadcaster category, Ndani TV won in the entertainment category while Ibaka TV won in the Top Subscribed Nollywood channel.

Flavour, Davido lose out

In the music category, once the names of Davido, Flavour and Tanzania’s Diamond Platinum were mentioned, not a few felt either of the above mentioned three would clinch the award because of their popularity. However, it was Yellow Brick Cinema that took the plaque in that category. The group had over one million subscribers and they were even awarded a YouTube Gold Play Button in recognition of that feat.

Timaya never tires

The self acclaimed Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya, was among the artistes that performed at the event. Timaya is indeed, a performer! The young man got everybody on their feet and so many people danced to his beats. Some dancers used the opportunity to show off their assets as they almost bared their vitals for everybody to see while dancing erotically to Timaya’s songs.