Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe welcomes the 2024 edition of the Entertainers of the Year on Saturday having hosted the event last year.
Led by Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) MBC, the annual event made a comeback last year having been out of the limelight for some time. The return of the event brought smiles to people in the country but its execution lived a lot to be desired.
There were several shortfalls during the grand finale with some quarters hitting at the organisers for its giving out awards to some winners that did not deserve the accolades.
But last year’s edition is gone and in comes the 2024 edition which according to chairperson of the organising committee Chisomo Mwamadi is here to make amends for last year’s gaps.
“Last year was a test for us and we must admit we had shortfalls but we learned from them. We received feedback and now we are ready to go again and this time bigger and better,” Mwamadi said yesterday evening.
He said having moved in different phases through to the unveiling of nominees and later voting for favourite nominees which closes tomorrow night before the awards, it was now time to produce the winners in different categories.
“We are geared to make sure that we deliver an event that is top notch. As I indicated earlier, last year we did not do well in terms of organisation but I can assure people out there that we have made improvements. We have made consultations and we are good to go,” he said.
He said being an awards night, they will also make sure that participants enjoy the night hence the packaging has focused more on awards and performances with short speeches.
“It will not be a night of speeches. We are looking at performances and we have Kell Kay and Erik Paliani ready. We want to make history with people out there and so we call upon them to be part of the event,” he said.
He also revealed that they will only present 27 awards out of 51 awards on stage with the remaining 24 prizes available for collection at the MBC offices.
Mwamadi also invited people to continue voting for their favourite nominees in different categories.
“We do not want people to start complaining during the awards night that their favourite nominees have not carried the day. What they can do now is to vote for their favourites,” he said.
Recently Mwamadi indicated that they had made slight changes as regards nominees and it includes removal of the name of Kendall Kamwendo on the list of Film Director and replaced him with Ignaticious Kaphinde.
The other category is that of Netballer of the Year where Mwawi Kumwenda was nominated as Netballer of the Year and yet she was not active. She has been replaced with Shabel Bengo.
“After proper consultations, we felt it was necessary to make changes. It is all about being transparent and credible,” Mwamadi said. MBC Director General George Kasakula said during a press briefing in Lilongwe on Wednesday that apart from the awards to be given to winners in different categories, they want to serve people with an all-out entertainment.
