The Yo! Music video countdown music video contest that is regularly screened on One Africa Television explicitly states that if an artist holds on to the number one spot for four consecutive weeks then they are entitled to a free music video, courtesy of Ogopa Butterfly Production House and One Africa Television. But this seems not to be the case.

Two weeks ago the popular music video for the song ‘Holike Wange’ proved that it has staying power, as it managed to stay at number one on the Yo! Countdown for four successive weeks. The song is by DD Finest’s (Aunne Lungameni, 19, popularly known as Cade, R&B singer Maclean Neumann, 20, alias ‘Guilty’ and rapper Carlos de Oliveira, 24, better known as ‘R.O.G’). No arrangements have as yet been made with the group’s manager for the shooting of the winners’ music video.

The trio’s manager, Dragan Djokic, claims that when he asked the organisers of the show about the free music video that ‘DD Finest’ won they told him that they have not awarded any winning prize for some time now. He accuses the organisers of not delivering on what they promised.

“They are claiming that if a music video is declared on the number one spot for four weeks consecutively then the artist is entitled to a free music video, but this is not happening. It is all lies, lies, lies! I entered the video into the contest with the hope of winning the free music video. What they are doing is not fair,” Djokic says with deep disappointment in his voice.

He wants to know why if they are not giving the winning prize do they still advertise it? “This is very unprofessional and I don’t like working like this,” Djokic complained. The advert was however still published in the June edition of the monthly ‘Red Carpet magazine’ that is also owned by Suleiman Kyababa, the owner of Ogopa Butterfly Entertainment.

One Africa Television says that they have nothing to do with the programme. “Ogopa Butterfly Entertainment shoots and edits the programme themselves. They bring the finished project to us and then we broadcast it,” an employee retorted. He however admitted that an artist recently also approached their office enquiring about the winning prize. “There is nothing that we can do. If there are problems or any other issues regarding the programme, then Ogopa Butterfly Entertainment has to be contacted,” he advised.

Another artist (name withheld) also revealed to Informanté Entertainment that he had experienced similar treatment. “I have won the competition twice, but I have only received one free music video. When I made an enquiry they told me that the camera is apparently not up to date. I have been waiting for feedback on when the camera would be ready. I have not heard from them up until today.”

The owner of Ogopa Butterfly Entertainment, Kyababa, says that ‘DD Finest’ was not on the number one spot for four weeks in a row. “The 5 May show that was screened was a repeat of the previous week’s show. We had to repeat the show, because we did not have the votes to continue with the normal screening of the weekly programme. The system was off,” he says.

The screening records at Ogopa indicate that DD Finest’s video was indeed on the number one spot for four consecutive weeks. Sula stressed that Djokic did not come to him to discuss the matter. “Why did he run to the media without coming to me? Does he want to give us a bad name or what? Things like these are causing division in the music industry,” Kyababa claims.

Meanwhile in the June issue of ‘Red carpet magazine’ there is an article stating clearly that ‘DD finest’ have been at the number one spot for four consecutive weeks and that they have won a free music video. Kyababa however dismisses this, claiming that the article is wrong. “The reporter just listened to the group when he interviewed them without checking the correct facts,” he says.

So, why was the article not checked for accuracy before it went to print? Kyababa says that he does not read all the articles that appear in the magazine. The sub-editor at ‘Red carpet magazine’ who wrote the article, Francois Olivier, says that the article is accurate and according to his knowledge ‘DD Finest’ has won. “This is the first time that I hear that they are not getting the video. According to rules they are entitled to the winning prize,” Olivier says.

Daphne Willibard, chief executive officer of ‘Red carpet magazine’, says that Ogopa Butterfly Entertainment does not give free music videos anymore. “Leo was the sponsor of the free music video, but they are not sponsoring anymore,” she revealed.

Records at Ogopa indicate that other artists who did not receive their free music videos include Gazza and D-Naff. “Gazza’s free music video period has expired and D-naff did not have his set-up ready in time for the shooting of the video and that is why their music videos were not shot,” Kyababa explained.

Yo! Music video countdown is screened every Saturday at 19h00 on One Africa Television.