The 2nd edition of the Bass Awards was held recently at the Accra sports stadium. The award scheme instituted by Rackus Production is largely to recognise and reward Reggae and Dancehall artistes in the country.
This year's edition, a pale shadow of the inaugural one saw a number of artistes in the reggae and dancehall industry pulling out of the event for varying reasons.
The likes of Samini, Stonebouy , Iwan, Ras Kuuku and Jupita all pulled out of the event. Ras Kuuku had warned that if things were not put in place he wouldn’t honour the invitation to attend.
True to his words, he was absent at the event, delegating a friend to receive the four awards comprising (Reggae Song of the Year, Reggae Songwriter of the Year, Reggae Video of the Year and Reggae Artiste of the Year) on his behalf.
Responding to questions as to why he boycotted the event on Black Rasta's show Kuuku explained: "The event organisers proposed an offer of GH¢1000 as my pay for the event which my management found rather insulting and meagre. In fact, my management and I had proposed GH¢8000 as fee for my appearance and performance at the show.
“At the inaugural edition, it will surprise everybody that I was not given a cedi for my appearance and performance, really, it was my humble quota to support a worthy cause of which I wholly ascribe to and belong.
Reggae/Dancehall is for us and so we will support every effort by any positive minded entity making moves to push the industry to higher heights anytime" he said.
The reggae/dancehall scene in Ghana is becoming a mainstay but it also is bedeviled by challenges.