Keont'e Beals watches dream come true with ANSMA award nod

A Grade 12 student at Auburn Drive High School in Cole Harbour is getting ready for his first African Nova Scotian Music Association awards on Saturday night.

Keont'e Beals is nominated in the Emerging Artist category, on a night that gives up and coming black musicians a chance to showcase their talents.

"It feels great, it feel like I'm starting to accomplish a lot and it's really like a pat on the back," said Beals. "Being nominated for an ANSMA award was actually one of my dreams."

This is Beals first award nomination since falling in love with music as a youth at the Saint Thomas Baptist Church in North Preston.

"I first got introduced into music from church. Singing in the [North Preston] junior choir, those are my roots," Beals said.

Music runs deep in Beals's family. His cousin, Gary Beals, was a finalist on Canadian Idol and will also be a part of Saturday night's award ceremony at the World Trade and Convention Centre in downtown Halifax.

Beals said a night dedicated to the work of black artists in the province is important to the community.

"I think, especially in Nova Scotia, there's not really as much as there could be for black Nova Scotians," he said. "ANSMA is a way to make you feel that you can fit into society, especially when it comes to music."

The African Nova Scotian Music Association award show will honour and celebrate the African Nova Scotian music scene with performances from artists such as Cyndi Cain and Jordan Croucher.

The CBC's Jacob Smith will be live blogging from the event, beginning Saturday at 7 p.m.