Publication Date: 10th June 2006

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Oasis Awards 2006

The UK gospel music industry regains another awards ceremony as the OASIS AWARDS
rolls back into town this month...

We're gearing up for the 2006 edition of the Oasis, back after a four year absence. On Thursday
27th July at London's Hackney Empire, posh frocks, glad rags and all that frothy stuff will get broken out for a night of back-slapping, recognition and celebration of the United Kingdom's evolving gospel music scene.

Personally, I've always wondered about awards ceremonies, especially the 'Best...' format.

> If X and Y are nominated, and Y wins 'Best Whatever...', how does that all sit
within a ministry/Christian/Gospel context?
> And, as Y is the 'Best...', does that somehow devalue or negate the validity of the
work that X has put in...?

I haven't got answers, but I'm certainly not going to be complaining about it. After all, I've all got the choice of engaging and participating - or not - depending on how strongly I feel about it.

And while the 'Best...' thing is still unresolved in my head, having UK Gospel.com nominated in the 'Best Website' category does nothing to sway my thoughts on this. For my money, the UB1

team should absolutely run away with that award for www.unitedbyone.co.uk, because they've done an amazing job of lifting the bar on that front.

...Still, the fact that people care enough about UK Gospel.com to nominate it is MOST DEFINITELY reward in itself. So, if you were one of those that put the site forward, then you have my complete and total thanks and appreciation. Thank you, thank you, and THANK YOU!!

I'm sure you're wondering about the full nomination list. Well, a small sample of the UK categories follows, and full list (plus church and international tiers) is on the OASIS site.

Anyway: even though I am still unsure about the actual function/value of awards ceremonies, one thing remains crystal clear in my mind: the efforts of the many people that toil daily, often in a somewhat thankless vacuum, offering their creative gifts up to elevate the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for men - believers and otherwise - to see, deserve to be celebrated.

And that's where I appreciate the effort of people like organiser RONEY HENDERSON's vision

and drive (along with JANET SMITH and her team for the similarly-themed GEM AWARDS), to create a platform such as this. We've had too many years of collective self-deprecation; tell a people that they are not good enough, long enough, and they'll invariably start to believe it.

So from that point of view, I suppose there is a need for us to have this sort of a platform. Many
will undoubtedly suggest less competitive formats, (and I might even be in that number) but the OASIS is what it is, and it is very good at what it does. See the link at the end of this feature for the UK Gospel.com report on the 2002 event.

This year also retains the UK/US balance of the previous one, with guests
ANTONIO NEAL and LYRIC SINGS bringing the international flavour, and
the home-grown quality being delivered by a range of artists including
JAHAZIEL, SONS OF LIGHT and ANDRE 'SAXMAN' BROWN.

OASIS 2006 also has the added dimension of 'church awards' including
Minister of the Year, Church of the Year, Church Conference of the Year
and Community Church of the Year categories. Interesting...

SONS OF LIGHT - from Leeds

I suppose there is an argument that suggests the church's music ministry and
contribution to UK society needs a showcase outside of the serious business of
our weekly Sunday worship, outside the of scope countless musicians and vocalists
that make their living in the professional music industry.

I suppose - as with the GEMS - the OASIS AWARDS can become a forum to
show the 'outside world' what it is we're about, while celebrating the excellence
that exists within the church...

Whether you buy into that obviously depends on your thoughts on awards ceremonies. Like I've said, I'm probably muddying the waters by leaving you with more questions than answers, but hey...

So: I WILL be there on the 27th. Along with quite a few of you, I suspect. If OASIS 2002 was anything to go by, OASIS 06 will be a good night out, and should throw up some interesting bits for watchers like myself. Besides, the industry has made significant strides since 2002. And now that I think about it: in 2002 UK Gospel.com was just two years old...

JAHAZIEL - appearing
live on the night

Anyway, there you go. A whole lot of words, and possibly more questions than answers.

Not very helpful, I know....

See you there...

Yinka Awojobi
Content Development
UK Gospel.com

OASIS AWARDS 2006: UK nominations list extract

BEST BRITISH ALBUM/EP...
David Daniel & The People's Christian Fellowship Choir: PRAISE COMES FIRST
Siani: LOVE IS
Raymond & Co: PLAYING GAMES

BEST CHOIR
Kingdom choir: SMILE - IT'S A BRAND NEW DAY
London Community Gospel Choir: LIVE AT ABBEY ROAD
David Daniel & The People's Christian Fellowship Choir: PRAISE COMES FIRST

BEST CHRISTIAN CHANNEL
Revelation TV/Rmusic TV
God TV
TBN

BEST FEMALE ARTIST

Adelaide Mackenzie: HE GIVES ME MORE
Natalie Phillips: ALL DA PRAIZ
Niki Carless: WORDS OF LIFE

BEST GOSPEL CLUB NIGHT
A Godly Affair: UNITED BY ONE
Click Club: STR8UP
Lime Lounge: LIME LOUNGE

BEST GOSPEL GROUP
Four Kornerz: CLAP CLAP
Raymond & Co: PLAYING GAMES
Siani: LOVE IS

BEST GOSPEL SONG
Clap Clap: FOUR KORNERZ
Love Is: SIANI

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