Another anniversary this year (the other one being 15 years Africanhiphop.com): our friends from Afrik’Aktion in Libreville, Gabon celebrate the tenth edition of their Gabao Festival. The annual gathering with a heavy focus on hip hop from Gabon, the Central African region and international guests has grown from a small event to one of the annual highlights for the youth of Libreville and Port-Gentil.
The first in a series of anniversary events has been the all-new Gabao Hip Hop Awards which were presented on 25 February (update: check out the pics below, courtesy of Afrik’Aktion). The festival itself will take place from 5 to 8 July and we’ll announce the full program on Africanhiphop.com.
The winners for 2012, as voted for by the public via SMS:
Best Artist: Tina (47,41%)
Best Video: Baponga – Go Easy (62,56%)
Discovery of the year: POG – Styll Awax (58,41%)
Best Radio DJ: Flo’o – Urban Fm (64,67%)
Best TV presenter: Lionel Sympa – Télé Africa (84,8%)
Best Beatmaker: Massassi (jury decision)
Best Dj: DJ Fleo (jury decision)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lER32E1hPcU[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyE1X7bwr88[/youtube]
Special Awards
Georges Kamgoua ‘for opening up his Kage studio to rappers during a time that nobody wanted to work with them’
V2A4 for paving the way for, and inspiring many youngsters
Régis Massimba for the Bhat Power Show
Eric Benquet for investing more than anyone else in hip hop through his Eben Entertainment
AFJ Productions, for numerous services provided to event organizers
