This year’s Headies Awards involving all the countries in The African continent has come and gone with Nigerian Gospel artiste, Lara George emerging as African Queen of Gospel music in the keenly contested continental awards held recently in London.

Unfortunately no Gospel musician from Rivers State was nominated in the prestigious African Gospel Music Awards (AGMA). This development has led to reactions amongst some musicians in the state.

In an interview with The Tide entertainment, Mr Emmanuel Amachree aka Oba Omega stated that for Rivers State not to be nominated showed that they did not work hard enough for the awards because awards were given to those who merited them.

The ‘Kriikata zoom’ master said Rivers musicians should work harder to get international recognition. According to him, people in the state were only interested in celebrating musicians who were based outside particularly in Lagos and Onitsha, amongst others. Instead of the indigenous musicians who are based here in the state, which he said was bad for the state.

The Rivers State born multiple award winner also blamed the chemistry in the state chapter of the performing musicians of Nigeria (PMAN) as responsible for the plight of musicians in the state. He said presently, the leadership of the body was divided and so were the members, and a house divided amongst itself cannot stand.

For wave making music star, Mr Lolo Isaiah Opuende, aka Loppezy, only few Rivers State born artistes were doing well in the industry in terms of promotion of their songs. He said apart from the money required to promote their music there was favouritism in the industry.

The Kula, Akuku Toru local government (AKULGA) born artiste, “if you do not have a godfather, you would hardly grow in the industry. Therefore the absence of a state born musician in the nomination of the award category was not a surprise to him.

Meanwhile, the high flying Nigerian Gospel artistes, Lara George, Mike Aremu, Frank Edwards, Wole Oni, Sammie     Okposo and Rooftop MCS were deservedly honoured for their pacesetting roles for African Gospel Music scene worldwide, as they were crowned with the prestigious African Gospel Music Awards (AGMA) UK recently in London.

The award winning Nigerian gospel acts were led by popular ‘Ijobe Orun’ exponent, Lara George. She won the coveted Best African Female Gospel Artiste Award, despite a very tough competition from outstanding African female gospel music icons, who made up the challenging nominees.