The Music & Entertainment Gospel Awards (aka MEGA Awards) was held on air(!) last Sunday, November 19, 2017.
As earlier reported, this year’s award would have been cancelled on account of the violently harsh economic situation, but for the grace of God, the immense support & partnership of Raypower/AIT management and few dogged members of the award’s CWC. These factors produced what has since been dubbed the first-of-its-kind award ceremony: the MEGA 2017 Live On Radio Show – presented, produced and spontaneous winners’ remarks…all from the chilly sound-proof modestly large studio of Raypower, Lagos!
Now, wait for this: the live radio presentations were planed to run for two hours (4-6pm)… the 16 award categories spiced by six live performances spilled over 7pm… over three hours of pulsating presentations, nominations, music galore…and not a moment of respite!! Except for news at 6pm!
To compound the excitement, the octopodal AIT also covered the event to feed the limited live audience of eager nominees and officials who stormed the Raypower premises. As if that was not enough, another radio station, TopRadio FM, also hooked up live to us for one hour!
Top winners this year include Mike Abdul (Artiste of the year & 3 others), Florocka (Producer & 3 others) and Dieko (2 awards). Full list of all nominees and winners attached.
Young and immensely talented singers were unveiled in glorious live studio performances: Joecy Tee, Hope Levi, Desmond Ugegeh & Christomes. However, bigshots opened and closed the show with wind instrument and percussion – Segun Oluwayomi on sax (for MEGA theme tune & two solos) and master drummer Ayiki (Soji Ojemakinde) drummed off the spectacle!! All performed unplugged!!!
Our special thanks go to Ambrose Olutayo Somide & Yewande Iwuoha of Raypower FM and their magnificent staff; to Johnson Onime and Jiire Kuforiji of AIT and their never-say-never production staff. We are also grateful for the support of Lekan Onimole’s TopRadio, Larry Izamoje’s Brilla Sports Radio and Special Crown Cakes. Massive kudos to our Body of Judges/Screeners who delivered admirably under clouds of uncertainty and extremely tight deadlines.
And to all our nominees who came under very short notice, braving the clogged roads of Alagbado under heavy re-construction, and too many others (entrants, friends, supporters, media, etc) who would have loved to come, we wish you all the best always
Recall that MEGA was launched in 2013 to recognize and celebrate outstanding performances and exemplary talents in Nigerian gospel music community. In the words of Raypower’s MD, Olutayo Somide: “Next year’s MEGA will be bigger and much better” – to which we say a mega Amen!!!