By Our Reporter
Young Cross Riverians, blistering the music industry, took the shine at the 4th Edition of the Paradise Music Festival and Awards, the “AKWA-CROSS EDITION” in Calabar.
The event which held on Sunday in Calabar drew large swathes of artists, DJs, OAPs, Bloggers, press men as well as industry veterans from across the country to the annual premier award ceremony.
The Director General of Copy Right Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji who graced the occasion, charged entertainers in Nigeria to remain steadfast in the creative industry, as entertainment remains a major contributor to the economy of the society.
In his keynote address on behalf of the host State Government, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Eric Anderson, charged entertainers to think big, reiterating that the best way to go is by churning out creative materials good enough to place them on the same pedestal with their counterparts in other parts of the world.
The night was a huge night for entertainers in Coss River and Akwa Ibom state.
Awards were presented in various categories:
*New Discovery of the Year – Young Bone
*Song of the Year – “Skwinik” by Okpo Records Gang.
*Album of the Year – Obong Ekpe by Shanky
*Female Artiste of the Year – Pretty Brown
*Rap/Hippop Artiste of the Year – Ikpa Udo
*Gospel Artiste of the Year – Ekanem Esu
*DJ of the Year – DJ MPD
*Song Writer of the Year – Usimeke
*OAP of the Year – Duke Emmanuel
*Music Producer of the year – Teddy Banty
*Video of the Year – “No Changes” by Challex Da Boss ft Eeedris Abdulkareem
*Reggae Dancehall Artiste of the Year – Pope Don-X
*Music Blogger of the Year – Lyrical4Ces
*Collabo of the Year- “Baby Tomato” Lybra ft MC Galaxy
*Pop Song of the Year – “Like That” by Tshawn
Paradise Music Festival and Awards has remained the foremost and only event which celebrates ingenuity in music in this part of Nigeria.
Conceptualized as Cross River Music Awards in 2012, the laurel earned respect in the second year, following the pledge of the organizers to continually host the finest music industry appreciation award in the State.
A year after, the brand metamorphosed into Paradise Music Festival and Awards in the third edition.
This year’s edition being an AKWA CROSS EDITION, was open to entries from Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State, which also served the purpose of strengthening the chord of unity between the two States.