K-Banton excluded from Best Hip Hop Act nominees at 2025 Maso awards
Malawian hip hop artist K-Banton, whose real name is Khumbo Storrah, has publicly expressed disappointment after being omitted from the Best Hip Hop Act nominees list at the 2025 Maso Awards.
As reported by Face of Malawi, the organizers of the Maso Awards officially opened public nominations for the 2025 edition from October 6 to October 25, 2025. During this period, fans could submit their preferred nominees through the official website, ensuring that their voices were heard in this vibrant celebration of Malawian music.
In a Facebook post on Monday, November 11, Banton, who is also the younger brother of renowned gospel star Shammah Vocals, highlighted that this exclusion has occurred annually since 2021, making him feel like a shadow in the spotlight.
He questioned the motives behind the omission, stating, "Every year my name is excluded." Speculating that he might have unknowingly offended the organizers, he acknowledged that his recent lack of releases may have affected his chances this year.
Yet, he emphasized, "You can't talk about Malawian hip hop without mentioning my name." His absence felt like a missing puzzle piece in the genre's landscape.
Four years ago, Banton was celebrated for his standout verse on the hip hop hit “Moto” by Quest. This year, he made another mark by lending his vocals to the second verse of “Super Star” by Phyzix, featuring a lineup of artists.
Turning to the awards themselves, the Maso Awards announced nominees for various categories on November 10. This year, the Best Hip Hop Act category features artists such as Phyzix, IKK, Charisma, Bee Jay & Ace Jizzy, Mic Mash, Emm Zibry, and last year's winner, Crispy Malawi.
In 2024, artist Jetu, still years away from becoming an octogenarian, was not included in the Best Female Artist of the Year category at the MASO Awards, despite being a household name. This omission sparked an online debate, leading the organizers to address the issue.
