Kilimanjaro Awards not open to public

For the first time since 1999, members of the public will not be allowed into the venue where the annual Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards 2015 (KTMA) will be taking place.

This is despite music fans being involved in the voting process where they get to choose their winners in the 33 different categories.

Organizers of the event say that members of the public and music fans will be able to follow the proceedings on Tanzanian television.

“We made sure that we invited only those who are directly involved in the Kilimanjaro Awards event,” said Tanzania Breweries Ltd Brand Manager Pamela Kikuli.

Kikuli was speaking during the rehearsals at Milimani City where the VIP event will be taking event on Saturday starting 9PM.

“This year, there will be an after party. We realized that people want to stay on even after the event is done,” she added.

“We have lined up great entertainment, but I will not name the artists who will be performing.”

Kenyan artists among them Sauti Sol, Jaguar and Victoria Kimani have been nominated in the Best Song in East Africa category.

Uganda’s Jose Chameleon has also been nominated in the same category.

“These awards are inclusive of East Africa, we want to showcase what East Africa is made of,” said Kikuli.

The Kilimanjaro music awards are a big deal in Tanzania where music artists get feted annually.

The event seeks to award both Tanzanian and East African musicians.

Diamond Platinamz has been nominated in 10 categories, while Ali Kiba had been nominated in 7 different categories.

Other artists with multi-nominations include Jux, Lady JayDee, Isha Mashauzi and Khadija Kopa.