Samini in for another award
Emmanuel Andrew Samini known in his music field as Batman Samini who hails from Wa in the Upper West Region, has been chosen as the only artiste representing Ghana for the 2007 edition of Radiophonie Prize.
Francophone Diffusion, a French association, sets up this contest every year to award the Francophonie artiste of year, elected by their radio network all around the world.
After an artiste is nominated, he/she will be allowed to come up with only one song from his or her current album which is sent to every radio station working with the organizers world-wide.
They must then pick one song which eventually wins Radiophonie Prize. Last year’s winner was Salif Keita of Mali. The prize was given to him in Paris, during La Fete de Musique on June 21st.
Out of 22 countries, twenty seven (27) artistes were chosen, nine artistes from seven African countries, namely: Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Morocco with our own Samini to represent Africa.
A song is chosen based on how well it can cut across on a world-wide radio platform and how easy people can relate to it the world over.
When they received letters and mails informing them that Samini has chosen to contest for this world prize, Samini and his management thought this will not favor them because, Samini is not a francophone artiste, but according to Anthony Pun, his road manager, a survey made by his organizers has proven that Samini is one of the first five African artistes whose songs are played and enjoyed in thousands of Francophone countries world wide.
This means even if the chosen artiste does not win the ultimate prize the name of the artiste and the song get to be publicized on all these radio stations in different part of the world which will increase his fun base and attract global attention.
“Well, I think this is the next step as far as International recognition is concern. This is bigger, and I think I will just keep my fingers crossed and hope to make another waves with this whole new revelation” this were the words of Samini.
He recently won a MOBO (Music of Black Origin) award as the best African musical art in UK last year.