Tanzania: 'Alikiba Won MTV Europe Music Title'

Dar es Salaam — Four days after MTV Europe
awarded the Best Africa Act award to Nigeria's
WizKid, it has been officially confirmed that the
trophy belongs to Tanzanian musician Alikiba.
As a result, MTV Europe Music Awards has stripped
Nigeria's Wizkid of the Best African Act award and
given it to AliKiba after days of public outcry.
The award, which was subject to a public vote,
became a subject of discussion after votes via the
MTV Europe Music Awards showed Alikiba was
leading and had won, but MTVbase Africa declared
Wizkid as the winner through their social media
On that night, Alikiba was performing at Tigo Fiesta
climax at Leaders Club in Dar es Salaam. Therefore,
he could not attend the ceremony.
Speaking to The Citizen exclusively, Christine
Mosha, who manages Alikiba's music business both
locally and internationally, said after the
announcement on Saturday night in Rotterdam, she
constantly contacted MTV Africa for an explanation

"I wrote to them immediately questioning why the
award had gone to someone else yet their website
indicated that it was Alikiba who had won the
category through the public vote," said Ms Mosha
aka 'Seven.'
Though it took a while for the administration to
state what had transpired, MTV Europe Music
Award finally admitted that both artistes had won,
but in different categories.
"Alikiba had won the MTV Europe Music Best Africa
Act category, whereas Wizkid had won the MTV
Europe Music Best Worldwide Act," added Ms
Mosha.
It is still not clear who was responsible for the mix
up but by press time, MTV Africa, which made both
announcements, was yet to release an official
statement regarding the clarification.
With Alikiba's win, Tanzania retains the prestigious
award. AliKiba went up against African
heavyweights such as Black Coffee Casper Nyovest
from South Africa and Wizkid and Olamide from
Nigeria.
"I've just got the confirmation that the award is
coming back to Tanzania, but I can't talk much
about it, we are still waiting for the official
statement and when I will receive it," Alikiba wrote
on his Facebook page.
The faulty announcement was subject of online
backlash as the singer and the fans demanded an
explanation as to how it had happened yet the online
confirmation indicated the Aje singer had won.