by Thinus Ferreira
ViacomCBS Networks Africa has called off its revived MTV Africa Music Awards that would have taken place in Kampala, Uganda on 20 February, following ongoing and growing criticism across the African continent against MTV over forging ahead with the awards despite Uganda's allegations of human rights abuses and cutting off its citizens from the internet.
Late on Thursday ViacomCBS Networks Africa announced that the 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards, planned in coordination with Uganda's tourism ministry and that would have been broadcast on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, has been postponed without citing any reasons.
ViacomCBS Networks Africa has not yet issued any statement or given any reason for the abrupt cancellation but over the past few weeks the struggle of forging ahead with the awards in Uganda has become even more difficult for ViacomCBS Networks Africa and its MTV Base brand given the complexities of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the political turmoil and instability in the country.
On social media simply announcing that the planned virtual awards show will no longer be taking place on 20 February in Uganda as scheduled, MTV Base Africa said it is "postponing the 2021 Africa Music Awards".
ViacomCBS Networks Africa in late-2020 announced that it is reviving the so-called "MAMAs" after a 4-year absence.
Bobi Wine (real name Robert Kyagulanyi), the Ugandan presidential candidate who himself has won a MTV award before he became a member of Uganda's parliament in 2017, held a news conference on Thursday and said "It was painful to see how MTV was being used to sanitise the oppressive regime here in Uganda".
"I am glad MTV is also seeing it and acting in respect of all the rights of artists. It would be such a shame for the MTV Music Awards to be held in Uganda under gunpoint."
Last month Uganda's government abruptly ordered an internet blackout and shut off the country's entire population from the web and social media. Bobi Wine and family members were also placed under house arrest.
Bobi Wine's legal representatives have released a 50-page report detailing allegations of human rights violations by Uganda's government and alleged irregularities in regards with the country's violence-filled election that took place on 14 January.
Uganda's decades-long leader, Yoweri Museveni, was once again announced as president for a record 6th term.
Dr Vincent Magombe is a Ugandan journalist, broadcaster and university lecturer, wrote that ViacomCBS Networks Africa's "executives cannot claim ignorance" and argued that the media group should cancel the MAMAs in the country.
"How can they now contemplate, albeit virtually, bringing the best of Africa's musical talent to participate in a global awards ceremony taking place in Uganda at this time?"
"By doing so MTV would not only be lending itself to whitewashing the regime's crimes, but also implicate all nominated artists. How can MTV and Viacom executives, who claim to be supportive of Black Lives Matter, now look the other way when those lives are African?"
Now discontinued, but during its run, WarnerMedia's CNN and MultiChoice that alternated its annual CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards between South Africa and a different African country every other year, were careful to specifically select an African nation where actions against human rights violations and support for media freedom have been shown.
