Over the years, the BET network has undergone some changes most of which I have not necessarily been in agreement with, however, I still find myself delighting in the BET Hip-Hop awards. As I'm certain many others hold similar sentiments More specifically, the cyphers. A collective display of raw and irrefutable talent. The re-introduction of old-school artists, the cyphers, as well as performances are the usual contributing actors to the collective appeal of the show. But, this year, as well as last, there was something missing: the category catering to the acknowledgment of African artists. I did not watch the awards in its entirety, however, I was able to watch the cyphers via BET.com. It was painfully brought to my attention by an article I just read a short while ago, which explained the nature and solution of this matter in exemplary detail:
Let me get this straight. BET goes into Africa (with over 800million people) and establishes its subsidiaries with the obvious goal of making profit from Africans. Yet, within the USA, it cannot dedicate even one minute of air time in its actual award shows for the very Africans it solicits and makes monies off of? If you will not air African artists at your BET Awards or BET Hip-hop Awards show, why patronize these acts? You are already in Africa so what exactly is the point of a nomination on a BET Awards show or making our artists go through a BET Hip-hop Awards Cypher presentation and yet BET Networks does nothing with it?
