There’s an old saying that goes ‘aint got no money, you aint got no honey’, even the great R&B star, Willie Hutch recorded a chart buster of the same.

Reality TV worldwide is about winning and either walking off with a huge pay packet or if it is charitable the packet is given to a charity of the celebrities’ choice.

This is the same in most cases, honourable Wangari Mathai, won the Nobel peace prize in 2005 and with the prestigious Statue came a huge cheque.

Look at Reality TV programmes like the American Idol or the X-Factor, that attracts huge audiences, as in the case of the American idol 30million plus, the potential Artistes enjoy a mega pay packet as well as signing a record deal.

So what’s happening in Kenya, do we still not appreciate our Talent? No I guess it’s the same old story that Artistes are not business oriented, lets organise a function, create a theme, get some of our close buddies to get involved and present awards on that big night, the Media houses, both print and electronic will create the hype for us, maneno kwisha. It seems that the milking of Talent by some cowboys is still rampant.

On December 13, 2004, little known gospel rapper DNG surprised music lovers across the continent when he was paraded among the biggest names in Africa’s showbiz circles at the then prestigious Kora Awards, others have been Eric Wainaina and Henrie Mutuku who enjoyed similar stature at the awards.

In an Award ceremony like this an artistes rub shoulders with the best, and if there is no money to accompany the trophy home, which was not the case here, it kind of feels like and ordinary experience once all the pomp and glory has settled down.

Over the years, Kenyans have witnessed award ceremonies crop up in every corner of the country, if I start naming them we will run short of space, but have these Awards helped to ignite this ailing Industry, No, they have not and they have not brought any meaningful change to the industry.

There is a murmur within the celebrity circles that our Superstars do not see Award Ceremonies as serious; mind our gossip ears just overheard the whispers at joints frequented by the Red Carpet Walkers. One Artiste was overheard saying that he didn’t really think much of these Awards, that he would rather focus on his Music and performances rather have his name as one of the nominees for a music Award.

This is where we ask, “What does it mean to be nominated?” It’s great, it’s an honour and it boosts ones career. So does this happen with our Awards presentations, I doubt it, and that is the reason a lot of Artistes are now sceptical about them and would rather not be on that list and if they are, what’s the gain.

So what do our Celebrities want? Simple, the ‘O’Jays’, sang this in the 70’s, ‘Money, Money, Money’, and as the saying goes, “No Pay, No Gain”.

The question also is what do the fans think? From what we know fans are always looking forward to these great events and prepare for weeks for that night. Wouldn’t it feel great to know that those celebs we idolise also feel good about being nominated?

Jermaine Jackson, once sang, ‘Let’s get serious’, I guess he nailed it there.  The organisers of such prestigious events should concentrate on first of all making an Awards Ceremony an Event for all and not for the chosen few and very importantly, get some cash prizes to accompany the Statuette- the Copper, Brass or Gold Trophy, the winners take home.

I have received a number of awards throughout my illustrious entertainment career, but besides the publicity and hype on the material night, there has never been any monetary gain in Kenya, an artiste has to market his own brand to stay above the ground. That answers why most of our Talent just disappear and fade away to such a pathetic state once they are out of the limelight.

Since most people deep down think that Award ceremonies are tailored these Awards are never respected as being genuine, hence they have played a very minor role in boosting this industry.

We do not want to dwell on this to the extent of quoting individuals, our duty to the industry is to help seek ways where if these Awards were to continue as they will, that the organisers, go back to the drawing board and see what the Artiste wants and how best these Awards can be organised so that they are not the privilege of the chosen few.

So we all need to play a part, Artistes, Organisers, Media, Sponsors and above all, YOU, the fans that keep the industry ticking. Let us work together and honour the Talent of our artistes in a justified way and the artistes should also understand that any Award is an incentive to boost your morale and winning an Award and sitting back to hope that the Award will work miracles for you is a dream far from reality.

The industry needs hard work through sheer dedication, discipline and cooperation of one another yet maintain a professional rivalry, our out cry as Artistes should the war against ‘piracy’ an enemy that is stealing our cash by the second here, there, everywhere!!!