The Source of the Nile Entertainment awards (SONEA) are back in the Busoga capital with several competitions and as well featuring enormous participants. The vibrant musical festival and tournament that attracts many in the art and sports communities was established in 2021.
Organized by the Nile Awards Company Limited based in Jinja, the 2024 edition returns with new styles, attracting singers, comedians, Disco Jokers (DJs), Music promoters, Music producers and song writers in the region.
Additionally, this edition is also emphasizing the need for inclusivity of sports industry including rugby and football to raise the young talents in the sports sector.
“We are considering the best actors whose performances have been the best between November 2022 and November 2023. This is done in our region Busoga,” says Andrew Bamulangeyo popularly known as Andy Bush, one of the organizers.
Four participants compete in each department like Dance Hall, Folk, Afro beats, gospel, and song writing among others. The four potential candidates which one will emerge the winner and take the award, will be determined by supporters, nominating and voting the vibrant projects via the different social media platforms.
On top of the fans nominations, a technical team also known as an academy shall be established to regulate the worthiness of the candidates.
“The technical team contributes 60% while the supporters contribute only forty percent in their voting,” adds Andy Bush.
The awards target growing talents to help the young people penetrate into the world of music and their respective areas of specializations.
The regional category where each district presents their artists to compete and probably Nile Award bosses recognize them into SONEA, has greatly helped to discover the wonderful talents in the rural areas of the region.
“This initiative significantly contributed to the rise of Acidic Avokoz and Omutume Planet. We sourced them from the villages and they are now performing in town,” he noted.
The award is an evident success that a singer is really progressing and of course signifies the price tag of such an artist. It leads to exposure and the singer weighs their performances on stages and the local communities that are the supporters.
The country’s Eddy Kenzo became popular when he was nominated and won the BET Award when transformed his music career and his weight was determined.