Juliana is artist of the year by Isaac Ssejjombwe

Saturday 1st Nov 2008 is a day that Juliana Kanyomozi will leave to remember as she became the first female artist to win the artists of the year accolade in the annual Pearl of Africa Music Awards held at Shimoni grounds.

Juliana  beat Bebe Cool, Bobi Wine and Gen Mega Dee to the top price but the race was tight between Bebe and Juliana and most people anticipated Bebe to walk away with the big price as he is the only artist this year with over 8 hits that are still doing well on most charts in the region  yet others feel the awards were a bit unfair because Juliana has only three hits that have made it big this year which include: Silina mulala with Sweet Kid, Usiende Mbali with Bushoke and Diana a redone version from Philly Bongole Lutaya. However many believed this was the right time for a female artist to win this top price as the country is in transition of gender balance.

Toniks

The mukume singer is also 16 million shillings richer for not only winning the artist of the year accolade but also winning two other trophies namely best RNB Artist and Best female artist.

Having been nominated a record nine times, Bebe Cool won the best Reggae, Ragga and male artist of the year accolades in addition to 7 million shillings. The Goodlyf duo of Mose Radio and Weasel were also big winners as they were awarded with three accolades namely new artists, Afro beat single and song of the year Nakudata dedicating some of the awards to the self proclaimed king of the jungle claiming that he motivated them to work hard because he always said they were not good enough.

However other formidable artists that won on that night include: Toniks for best RNB single Beera nange, Bobi Wine winning Afro Artist, GNL taking best hip hop category, Philly Lutaya tribute receiving album of the year and Anfukula for best video.