‘Paying To Vote’, Rubbing The Shine Off Award Schemes

Ghanaian reggae artist and radio presenter, Blakk Rasta has stated that he believes voting with money for awards devalues the shine of awards.

According to him, awards gains, should not be paid for.

Blakk Rasta suggested that nominated individuals pay for the awards themselves.

“Paying to vote is rubbing the shine off the award. Someone might say that’s how the organizers make money, but is it merited? When organizers nominate individuals for the awards, they should be asked to pay for the award rather than asking for votes via shortcodes.”

Blakk Rasta

He also highlighted his reason for always going for the Grammy Awards.

“I don’t want awards, yet, I go for Grammys. I would want an award people don’t pay for, unlike the TGMA where they do. People don’t pay for the Grammy. It is a peer award. If people pay to vote via shortcodes, I think they are buying them.”

Blakk Rasta

He gave an instance with musician Stonebwoy when he was asked to return an award he had received due to the brandishing of a gun on the award stage in 2019.

“Stonebwoy said something similar during his beef with Shatta Wale and he was told to return the plague. He insisted the amount of 50,000 GHS raised the previous night to win the votes be reimbursed before he could do so.”

Blakk Rasta

He further highlighted the need for an amendment in the voting process, stating finances as a challenge for some individuals.

“We have to confirm this, we want a better award not what people would have to pay and vote. I don’t have that money, and so are my fans in the ‘ghetto’. What happens to them is that, they get rubbed off these things. We love some of these things, but some of the things should be amended.”

Blakk Rasta

It’s Not Even Bad To Be Controversial

Abubakar Ahmed, popularly known as Blakk Rasta explained why he is tagged as an aggressive person.

Known for his controversial comments on social issues, the musician stated that he genuinely tackles important issues, which take time for most people to recognize they are factual, implying that there is nothing wrong with a person being controversial.

He spoke about his new album titled ‘Salaga Solja’, which has songs like ‘Thief President’, and ‘Sodom & Gomorrah’.

“I think I am sometimes beyond my age. Things that I reason about now and say, some people will not agree with. A year or two, five, or seven years later, people are all clamoring after the same old thing I said years ago.”

Blakk Rasta

According to him, people consider him to be extremely controversial, but he believes that having such a character is not a bad thing because everyone has the right to their perspectives.

“It’s not even bad to be controversial. What does it mean? It is a contrary view. Your view is that this road is straight, and mine is that it is crooked. There’s nothing wrong with somebody calling you controversial.”

Blakk Rasta

The artist has been condemned several times for his remarks on various issues, which are sometimes interpreted to be personal attacks on the subjects involved.

However, Blakk Rasta who is also a poet, noted that he makes such statements because he thinks farther and ahead of everyone, having been raised by parents who were teachers, adding that his passion for reading influences his prospects on various subjects.

Blakk Rasta feels he is overly criticized because “he was born in a country where people don’t read.”

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