The Urban Jamz Awards 2017 has been cancelled and here are four possible reasons why the most anticipated urban music award show in Cameroon has been dropped from this year’s event calendar.
ALSO READ: Urban Jamz Awards 2017 cancelled, Winners announced on Facebook
Valery Atia, founder of the awards, made the announcement via his Facebook wall on October 21 blaming the cancellation on the lack of internet in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
“It will be unfair for some fans to vote while others do not have access to internet. This year’s winners will be decided solely by the jury… Thanks,” Atia’s statement read.
However, besides the lack of internet in the South West and North West Regions, here are other reasons why the Urban Jamz Awards will no longer hold this year.
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Social Unrest in the NW/SW Regions
As a result of the ongoing “Anglophone Crisis” in the NW/SW Regions of Cameroon, Okala Bilai, the Governor of the South West Region, (where the award was scheduled to hold) has passed an embargo preventing any form of gatherings in his jurisdiction till further notice. Adding that no socio-economic or political event shall hold past 9:00 PM in Buea. These terms forced the organizer to cancel his event which was likely to extend until midnight.
2. Police Brutality/ Unlawful Arrests
The organizers have thought it wise that to prevent the unlawful arrests of their guests and celebrities by the armed forces in Buea, it is best they cancel the awards show. Atia exclusively tells us “Given the fact that people are too scared or are not allowed to stay out after 10:00 PM in Buea anymore, we decided to cancel the show. I don’t want people arrested just because they were out celebrating and appreciating urban music and musicians.”
3. Too Expensive
According to Atia Valery, organizing the Urban Jamz Awards this year could cost him more millions! The event planner insists that the “security” situation in Buea (case study) could hamper the smoothness of the event. “I was told that to have my event past 9:00 PM in Buea, I would pay millions to get police security at the venue.. and I don’t want people to feel like they are been caged,” Valery explains.
Really sad. I was actually looking forward to this event
Why were some categories awarded and others not? I think the organizer should have cancelled the entire show. He is stupid to give out the winners of some categories and leave out others
Too bad! This country is fucked up!
This is really sad. I can imagine what the organizers have been through. Cameroon is really a sad place
Weh, poor Valery
I saw this coming….
What a sad country….
Can Biya get our Buea back to normal???
I now hear that the governor asks for millions for such an event to hold… Wonderful! Unbelievable!
Too sad.
Why am i not surprised? Rubbish country!
Wait, they asked for millions just to give you security!!!????
Eh Eh Cameroon don spoil finish
Na only God go help we.
Valery take heart ya