Angela Kemi Omeke, the celebrated event stylist behind Pink Coconut, has raised eyebrows after speaking out against what she calls the growing culture of “bought awards” in Uganda’s events industry.
Kemi, who has earned two Starqt Awards nominations for Business Woman of the Year and Best Innovative Business, has spent more than 15 years shaping unforgettable celebrations with her artistic touch. But despite her accolades, she says the true meaning of recognition is being watered down.
Sharing her frustration, Kemi revealed that while scrolling through social media, she noticed multiple vendors branding themselves as award-winning without the merit to match.
“I was scrolling through a vendor’s bio when I saw ‘award-winning baker,’” she said. “I was like, which baker? Even me, I want to clap… but I want to clap for the right reasons.”
She went on to narrate a recent WhatsApp exchange with someone offering her an award at a fee.
“Before I could say much, the person said I could pay for the award. Me, pay for something people are voting for?” she exclaimed. “Maybe I am old-fashioned because even if the award is small, even if the award company is a tiny startup, shouldn’t merit still count?”
Kemi warned that this trend misleads clients who rely on such awards to identify skilled service providers.
“I get clients who come ready to engage service providers based on their award-winning social media status, meanwhile the award has been bought like airtime,” she noted.
Her message to clients is clear: Don’t be blinded by titles.
“Awards should not be a branding trick. It’s a report card, it should mean something,” Kemi emphasized. “Before you hire someone waving awards around, please ask to see their work, their real work, because weddings are built on products and services. You test the product, you experience the service.”
As the events industry continues to grow, Kemi’s bold stance calls for a return to authenticity where recognition is earned, not purchased.
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