How Well Do You Understand The Groove Awards Categories?

The big day is finally here guys! This year’s Groove Awards nominees will be unveiled tonight at an invite-only red carpet event at the National Museum. All the big names in Gospel are expected to attend the event with the hope of getting nominated in a couple of award categories.

Speaking of the categories, the organizers, Mo Sound Entertainment and Safaricom have prestigious accolades for the winners in the several categories. But How well do you know these categories? Today, let’s illuminate all the categories;

DIVISION I
Male Artiste of the Year: This is the KING of Kenyan Gospel. He is the face of Kenyan Gospel Music, and he is who you would name to represent Kenya on the world scene. He roars in the population, like the Lion King! He is the total package – the physical and spiritual embodiment of Gospel Music! He has the ability to command respect on song, radio, TV and stage that sets him apart from his peers. He creates memorable songs that personify the essence of Gospel Music.

Female Artiste of the Year: She is the Queen, the Lioness, the real ruler of the Kenyan Gospel Kingdom (as the Lion is just ceremonial…). She keeps it together and can be considered the new Mother of Kenyan Gospel Music… She is the epitome of a female Gospel artiste in Kenya. Like her male counterpart, she is the total package – the physical and spiritual embodiment of Gospel Music! She has the ability to command respect on song, radio, TV and stage that sets them apart from their peers. She creates memorable songs that personify the essence of Gospel Music.

Group of the Year: A collective number of people coming together to achieve a common goal is what a group could be described as. But it takes a special set of persons to blend so well and deliver a message to us through song, and that is what we wish to encourage with the Group of the Year award.

New Artiste of the Year: The New Artiste of the Year recognizes those artists who shot through the surface of a densely populated industry and made waves. A solid debut, not just a hit single, denotes those worthy of this honor.

DIVISION II
Song of the Year: This is the big one! This is it! Whether it’s from an established artiste or new artiste or group, this song will be considered a timeless classic! This song made it big in all spheres; rural, urban, radio / TV and the streets!

Worship Song of the Year: This song makes you wanna join that particular choir / congregation! It has a soulful feel and the effect is an enriching spiritual feeling bigger than the Song of the Year. This is that song that, simply put, listening to it and singing along loudly is almost an excuse not to go to church!

Ragga / Reggae Song of the Year: Considering the mass market and the youth in Kenya are big on ragga and reggae, this category seeks to highlight those artistes or groups who have recognized this and used the influence of reggae and / or raga to pass on their message through Gospel Music.

Hip-Hop Song of the Year: Hip-Hop is big worldwide, and in Kenya it is popular with the middle to upper class listeners. We pay respects to those who have infused their message with this style while still staying relevant and true to their message

DIVISION III
Audio Producer of the Year: You can have a great song but it is nothing without the instrumentation that goes with it, gives it shape, gives it legs, gives it purpose. The Audio Producer of the year is recognized for their identifiable style, unmatched skill and reoccurring presence throughout the year, while having their own identity separate from the artistes they’ve worked with.

Video Producer of the Year: That ‘magician’ who gives a song a 3D feel by creating an visual message or story board to go with a particular song is who we are looking for. The song may not be as big but the video is awesome!

Song Writer of the Year: Writing is easy. Everyone can write. But that song that talks to you directly, deep down in the soul, and you’d listen to it without the music accompanying it is what Song Writer of the Year is about!

Video of the Year: Teachers in training are told that if the students do not understand what you are teaching by writing it on the board, use different color chalk. And if they still do not understand, draw a diagram. The Video of the Year is simply a video that represents the story and / or theme of a song while painting a provocative picture that is instantly memorable.

The rest of the categories are clarified HERE.