The much anticipated MTV Music Africa Awards planned to take place in Kampala, Uganda has been postponed.
According to Uganda Tourism Board chief executive officer Lilly Ajarova, the postponement was due to Internet “issues” and the coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic has rendered all entertainment functions useless while political fever forced the government to switch off the internet during the just concluded elections.
MTV was hoping things would go back to normal in time for the virtual event which was to be only two months after the controversial election.
“There was a discussion about the postponement of the event. We still have issues with the Internet yet the event is supposed to be virtual. There was an issue of coronavirus,” Ms Ajarova said.
MTV finally bowed to pressure and took to social media to cancel the event saying:
“MTV Base is postponing the 2021. MTV Africa Music Awards. We will keep fans updated as we have more news,” MTV Base Africa tweeted yesterday.
MTV Base is postponing the 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards.
We will keep fans updated as we have more news. pic.twitter.com/yLvxxZpaVs
— MTV Base Africa (@MTVBaseAfrica) February 4, 2021
For months now Human rights activists have been urging MTV to change the venue of the event insisting that Uganda wasn’t the best country to host considering that one of their top artists, Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, cannot even be allowed on stage for performances.
“I can’t thank MTV enough for postponing these awards. Great move. I am sorry, I love the music industry so much. So I couldn’t hold back the excitement and that note I will be handing over to the next president soon,” The President of Uganda artiste, Wycliff Tugume known by his stage name Ykee Benda, tweeted.
