Iryn Namubiru 2011 PAM Artiste of the Year

The Pearl of Africa Music Awards in their 2011 edition continued to provide spills and glamour as the awards crowned their second female artiste to claim the coveted Artiste of the Year trophy. Singer Iryn Namubiru claimed the accolade at the awards dinner that kicked off 3 hours late beating off stiff challenge from other nominees like Bebe Cool (2011 Male Artiste of the Year and 2010 Artiste of the Year), Angela Kalule and Jose Chameleone.

As has become customary, 2011 PAM awards threw up their own share of surprises. The most jaw-dropping was when 2011 Kadongo Kamu winner Mathias Walukaga dedicated his winner to beauty products boss Ssalongo Kasawuli better known as Samona. Ssalongo Kasawuli and Walukaga had a bitter falling out allegedly over a woman who had previously dated Walukaga. Walukaga went on claim that “Samona” had “stolen” her from him. Salongo Kasawuli actually walked onto the stage to bask in the limelight of this reunion.

Perhaps in a cheeky rehash of his infamous Sean Kingston watch incident, MC J Kazoora exchanged watches with former Health Minister Captain Mike Mukula who was among the VIP guests. Pressed to comment on his 2016 Uganda presidential ambitions, an uncomfortable Mukula left it up to the voters without ruling himself out of the race.

A preliminary list of the PAM Awards 2011 winners

Artiste of 2011:Iryn Namubiru 

Best male artiste of 2011:Bebe Cool

Best female artiste of the year: Iryn Namubiru

Audio Producer of the year: Paddy Man

Best Gospel Single:Abita Ebikute by Dr. Hilderman

Kadongo Kamu Artiste:MathiasWalukaga

Best Folk Artiste:Maurice Kirya

Best Afro Beat artiste:Mukisa Gwo by Dr. Jose Chameleone

Best Hip Hop artiste:Navio

Song of the year:Katikitiki by Angela Kalule

Best Live Band-Single:Katikitiki by Angela Kalule

Best R N’ B single:Birowozo by Iryn Namubiru

Best R N’ B:Aziz Azion

Best Reggae group: Bebe Cool

Best Ragga Artist:Coco Finger for Emikono Wagulu

Best Kadongo Kamu single:Tomala Gasoma by Mathias Walukaga

Best Cultural Group:Kika Group

Best Afro-Beat Single:Talk N’ Talk by Mozey Radio and Weasel

Lifetime AchievementAward:  Aloysius Joy Matovu

Best Hip-Hop Single:This is how we do it by Keko feat Goodlyfe

Best New Artiste: Chris Evans

Video of the year:Agasi by Jackie Chandiru

Best Gospel artiste/ group:Pastor Wilson Bugembe

Song writer of the year (Uganda):Nince Henry

Best Live Band (Uganda): Eagles Production

Best Live Band (Burundi): Akeza

Best Live Band (Tanzania): African

Best Live Band (Rwanda): Dream Boys

Best Live Band (Kenya): Umoja

Best Female Artiste (Burundi): Aziza

Best Male Artiste (Burundi):Kidum

Best Female Artiste (Tanzania):Lady Jay D

Best Female Artiste (Rwanda):Miss Jojo

Best Male Artiste (Kenya): Jaguar

Best Female Artiste (Kenya):Amani

Best Artiste of the year (Tanzania): AY

Best Artiste of the year (Rwanda):Alpha