Stars Shine:The All African Music Awards Nominee List
Take a look into this years star-studded nominee pool!
Earlier this week the nominees for one of Africa's most popular music award ceremonies was released and it left not much for the imagination. The AUC, or African Union Commission, and AFRIMA have finally let loose the names of artists that span over twenty two categories and covers individuals from throughout the entire continent of Africa! These categories stretch from "Artiste of the Year in Africa", "Best Songwriter in Africa", and everything inbetween.
The 13 person jury of the All Africa Music Awards, or AFRIMA, has even added a new category, the "African Fans Favourite." This is inkeeping with the present vibe of music on the continent and was made to showcase those talents in Africa that effect the fans within their respected genre and territory, but also those that touch the ears of those in all walks of life.
It also seems like the world of music in Africa does not want to waste any momentum going into the massive extravaganza. The AUC and the host city of Lagos, Nigeria will play host to the Africa Music Business Summit which will allow the creative musical minds of Africa to gather together under one roof to work on collectively taking a step forward.
The weekend will also, last but not least, set the stage for the AFRIMA Music Village which has been described as a music festival with featured nominees and top billed music stars playing their hits for over 6,000 attendees!
Make sure you mark your calanders for this wonderful event and take a look at the full list of nominees below or on the AFRIMA website.
Also take a few moments to watch the video below to see brief depiction of what you can expect from the weekend and check back with us when we discuss the winners!
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Best African Collaboration
Ahmed Soultan ft. Femi Kuti, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Mehdi Nassouli – Afrobian (Morocco)
Amine Aub & Masta Flow – Feel the Same (Morocco)
Amine Aub ft Papa Wemba and DJ Youcef - Kanya Ma Kan (Morocco)
Eddy Kenzo Ft. Niniola - Mbilo Mbilo remix (Uganda)
Flavour Ft Selebobo - Mmege Mmege (Nigeria)
Francois Van Coke ft. Arno Carstens - Ek Weet Nie (South Africa)
Okyeame Kwame Ft Mzvee - Small Small (Ghana)
Sarkodie ft Pat Thomas – Bra (Ghana)
Tiwa Savage ft Dr. Sid – If I Start to Talk (Nigeria)
Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Electro
Black Coffee – Come With Me (South Africa)
DJ Maphorisa – Soweto Baby (South Africa)
Djeff Afrozila – So Blessed (Angola)
Hatim Ammor – Alawal (Morocco)
Mi Casa – Barman (South Africa)
Renato Xtrova - Love Affair (Angola)
Such – You (Zimbabwe)
Best African Jazz
Bokani Dyer – Vuvuzela (South Africa)
Carmen Souza - Cape Verdean Blues (Cabo Verde)
Jimmy Dludlu – Ha Deva (South Africa)
Kunle Ayo – Happy to Know You (Nigeria)
Moreira Chonguica – Ngoma (Mozambique)
Oum – Ah Wah (Morocco)
Ray Lema Quintet – Head Bug (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall
Agende - Ziza Bafana (Uganda)
Anteneh Minalu – Wayo (Ethiopia)
Cindy Sanyu – Still Standing (Uganda)
Dufla Diligon ft Cindy Sanyu – Tempo (Kenya)
Montess - In Love with A Gun (Cameroon)
Patoranking – No Kissing Baby (Nigeria)
Stonebwoy – Go Higher (Ghana)
T-Smallz – Guewel (Gambia)
Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Hip-Hop
AKA – Composure (South Africa)
CiCi Bala – Lebanta (Botswana)
E.L - King Without a Crown (Ghana)
H-Name - Wach Rak Nachet? (Morocco)
Jizzle - Man of the Year (Gambia)
Jovi – Zélé (Cameroon)
Sarkodie –Hand to Mouth (Ghana)
Stanley Enow – Work Hard (Cameroon)
YCEE - Omo Alhaji (Nigeria)
Zona 5 - Pablo (Angola)
Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African RnB & Soul
Aramide - I Don't Care (Nigeria)
Butera Knowless – Konashize (Rwanda)
Henok & Mehari Brothers - Ewèdi Shalèhu (Ethiopia)
Iyanya - Type of Woman (Nigeria)
Kiss Daniel – Mama (Nigeria)
Korede Bello ft Tiwa Savage – Romantic (Nigeria)
Lira – Let There Be Light (South Africa)
Niniola - J'ètè (Nigeria)
Ric Hassani – Gentlemen (Nigeria)
Sidikiba Diabaté - Fais Moi Confiance (Mali)
Tjan – Aduke (Nigeria)
Zonke – Reach It – (South Africa)
Songwriter of the Year In Africa
Bulelwa Mkutukana -Imali (Zahara, South Africa)
Eddy Kenzo & Niniola - Mbilo Mbilo (Eddy Kenzo & Niniola, Uganda)
Hatim Ammor - Alawal (Hatim Ammor, Morocco)
Kwame Nsiah Apau - Small Small (Kwame Okyeame ft Mzvee, Ghana)
Lerato Molapo - Let There Be Light (Lira, South Africa)
Naseeb Abdul Juma - Utanipenda (Diamond Platnumz, Tanzania)
Olawale Ashimi - In the City (Brymo, Nigeria)
Sidikiba Diabaté - Fais Moi Confiance (Sidikiba Diabate, Mali)
Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza - Colours of Africa (Mafikizolo, Diamond, DJ Maphorisa, South Africa)
Unique - Njogereza (Navio, Uganda)
Producer of the Year
DJ Coublon - Duro (Tekno, Nigeria)
DJ Maphorisa - Soweto Baby (DJ Maphorisa Ft Wizkid & DJ Buckz, South Africa)
DJ Van - #Woman (DJ Van & Tyrane, Morocco)
Don Jazzy - If I Start To Talk (Tiwa Savage, Nigeria)
Fortune Dane - Hand To Mouth (Sarkodie, Ghana)
Kuseim - Mbilo Mbilo remix (Eddy Kenzo Ft Niniola, Uganda)
Masterkraft - Finally (Masterkraft Ft Flavour & Sarkodie, Nigeria)
Sidikiba Diabaté - Fais Moi Confiance (Sidikiba Diabaté, Mali)
Yung John -Baba Nla (Wizkid, Nigeria)
Revelation of the Year
Amine Aminux - Makayen (Ma Morocco)
E.L - King Without a Crown (Ghana)
Emtee - Roll Up (South Africa)
Falz - Bad Baddo Baddest (Nigeria)
Simi - Love Don't Care (Nigeria)
Yamato Band – Cheza Kwa Madoido (Tanzania)
Zani Challe ft. Patoranking - Single Tonight (Malawi)
Song of the Year In Africa
Alawal - Hatim Ammor (Morocco)
Duro – Tekno (Nigeria)
Fais Moi Confiance - Sidikiba Diabaté (Mali)
Final (Baba Nla) – Wizkid (Nigeria)
If I Start to Talk - Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Imali – Zahara (South Africa)
Mbilo Mbilo remix - Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
Njogereza – Navio (Uganda)
Small Small - Okyeame Kwame ft Mzvee (Ghana)
Soweto Baby - DJ Maphorisa Ft Wizkid & DJ Buckz (South Africa)
Utanipenda - Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Album of the Year
Ahmed Soultan - Music Has No Boundaries (Morocco)
C4 Pedro - King C.K.W.A (Cameroon)
Mi Casa – Home Sweet Home (South Africa)
Sauti Sol - Live and Die in Afrika (Kenya)
Sidikiba Diabaté - Diabateba Music Vol. 1 (Mali)
Tiwa Savage – R.E.D (Deluxe Edition) (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade – Mama Africa (Diary of An African Woman) (Nigeria)
Zahara - Country Girl (South Africa)
Zonke - Work of Heart (South Africa)
Artiste of the Year
Black Coffee - Come With Me (South Africa)
Diamond Platnumz – Utanipenda (Tanzania)
Eddy Kenzo – Mbilombilo Remix (Uganda)
Hatim Ammor – Alawal (Morocco)
Navio - Njogereza (Uganda)
Sarkodie -Hand To Mouth (Ghana)
Sidikiba Diabaté - Fais Moi Confiance (Mali)
Tekno - Duro (Nigeria)
Tiwa Savage - If I Start To Talk (Nigeria)
Wizkid - Final (Baba Nla) (Nigeria)
Zahara - Imali (South Africa)
Video of the Year
Come With Me - Stacey Lee (Black Coffee Ft Mque, South Africa)
Dogo Yaro - Pascal Aka (VVIP Ft Samini, Ghana)
Ek Weet Nie - Hunter Kennedy (Francois Van Coke Ft Arno Carstens, South Africa)
Gentleman – Mex (Ric Hassani, Nigeria)
King Without a Crown – Phamousphilms (E.L., Ghana)
Mbilo Mbilo remix – Mex (Eddy Kenzo ft Niniola, Uganda)
Mmege Mmege - Clarence Peters (Flavour ft Selebobo, Nigeria)
School Your Face - Damola Adelaja (Temi Dollface, Nigeria)
Most Promising Artiste
Amine Aub - Feel the Same (Morocco)
Antenehminalu – Wayo (Ethiopia)
Bisa Kdei – Mansa (Ghana)
Butera Knowless – Konashize (Rwanda)
Elzo Jamdong - Assiko Flow (Senegal)
Nuru - All in a Moment (Ghana)
Ric Hassani – Gentlemen (Nigeria)
Sat B – Nyampinga (Burundi)
Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Pop
Amine Aminux - Makayen Ma (Morocco)
Amine Aub - Feel the same (Morocco)
Diamond Platnumz – Utanipenda (Tanzania)
Jose Chameleone – Agatako (Uganda)
Tekno – Duro (Nigeria)
Wizkid - Final (Baba Nla) (Nigeria)
Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Rock
Amine Aub & Masta Flow – Kanya Ma Kan (Morocco)
Dark Suburb ft Wiyaala – Mama (Ghana)
Francois Van Coke ft Arno Carstens - Ek Weet Nie (South Africa)
Jano Band – Darigne (Ethiopia)
Kanyeki – Murata (Kenya)
Lionel Loueke Trio - Wacko Loco (Benin)
Loki Rothman - Under the Stars (South Africa)
M' Vula - Tristezas E Alegrias ( Angola)
Best African Group
Jano Band – Darigne (Ethiopia)
M' Vula - Tristezas E Alegrias (Angola)
Mafikizolo - Colours of Africa ( South Africa)
Mi Casa – Barman (South Africa)
Sauti Sol - Live and Die In Afrika (Kenya)
Toofan - Eledji (Togo)
VVIP - Dogo Yaro (Ghana)
X-Maleya – Mon Mariage (Cameroon)
Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Traditional
Alokè – Gbétoho (Benin)
Binakoumaré & Madou Diabate - N'djaba (Mali)
Bioma - Ovedje Ayonuwe (Nigeria)
Dizu Plaatjies - Inkomo (South Africa)
Mabiisi - Awine (Ghana & Burkina Faso)
Stypak Samo - Woyo hoooo (Cameroon)
Zeynab - Bolojo (Benin)
Best Artiste/Duo/Group/Band In African Contemporary
Adiouza – Daddy (Senegal)
Ahmed Soultan - Afrobian (Morocco)
Eddy Kenzo - Mbilo Mbilo Remix (Uganda)
Flavour - Mmege Mmege (Nigeria)
Okyeame Kwame ft Mzvee - Small Small (Ghana)
Reniss - La Sauce (Cameroon)
Tiwa Savage - If I Start To Talk (Nigeria)
Zahara - Imali (South Africa)
Best Female Artiste in Inspirational
Evelyn Wanjiru – Nikufahamu (Kenya)
Mercy Masika – Nikupendeze (Kenya)
Naomi Achu - Busy Body (Cameroon)
Oum - Ah Wah (Morocco)
Sinach - Way Maker (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade - Na Go De (Nigeria)
Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational
Benjamin Dube - I Know Only You (South Africa)
Denno Ft Bahati – Story Yangu (Kenya)
Icha Kavons – Testimony (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Kanyekiz – Murata (Kenya)
Mike Abdul – Korede (Nigeria)
Papa Dennis & Rigan Sarkozi Olalo (Kenya)
African Fans Favourite
D’Banj - Emergency (Nigeria)
DJ Hamida Ft H Magnum - Pina Colada (Morocco)
H Magnum ft Black M - Aucun Mytho (Cote d’Ivoire)
Kiff No Beat - La Vie De Louga (Cote d’Ivoire)
Maitre Gims Ft Nsika - Sapés Comme Jamais (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Mr. Bow - Vida Boa (Mozambique)
Nyashinki - Now You Know (Kenya)
Phyno Ft Olamide - Fada Fada (Nigeria)
REGIONAL CATEGORIES
Best Male Artiste Central Africa
C4 Pedro - Spetxa One (Angola)
Ferre gola – Tucheze (DRC)
Franko - Coller La Petite (Cameroon)
Jovi - Zele (Cameroon)
Nelson Freitas - Miuda Linda (Angola)
Wax Dey - Saka Makossa (Cameroon)
Werasson - Yo Te (DRC)
Best Female Artiste, Central Africa
Bruna Tatiana - Pometo Mudar (Angola)
Daphne Ndolo – Ndolo (Cameroon)
Mani Bella - Qui Cherche Tronve (Cameroon)
Naomi Achu - Busy Body (Cameroon)
Reniss - La Sauce (Cameroon)
Syssi Mananga - Juste Un Peu (DRC)
Best Male Artiste, Eastern Africa
Alikiba - Aje (Tanzania)
Bebe Cool – Kabulengane (Uganda)
Diamond Platinumz – Utanipenda (Tanzania)
Eddy Kenzo - Mbilo Mbilo Remix (Uganda)
Jose Chameleone – Agatako (Uganda)
Navio - Njogereza (Uganda)
Best Female Artiste, Eastern Africa
Avril - No Stress (Kenya)
Cindy Sanyu - Still Standing (Uganda)
Fikeraddis Nekatebeb – Misekir (Ethiopia)
Irene Ntale - Omukwano Gw’ekilo (Uganda)
Juliana Kanyomozi - Twalina Omukwano (Uganda)
Victoria Kimani - Booty Bounce (Kenya)
Best Female Artiste, Northern Africa
Amal Maher -Ezay Fatetny (Egypt)
Angham - Wahda Kam La (Egypt)
Latifa - Ya Hayati (Tunisia)
Samira Said – Mahassalsh (Morocco)
Sarah Ayoub - Nachid Al Houb (Morocco)
Zina Daoudia - La Waheed Wala Million (Morocco)
Best Male Artiste, Northern Africa
Ahmed Soultan - Afrobian (Morroco)
Ahmed Chawki – Tsunami (Morocco)
Amir Diab - Al Qahira Cairo (Egypt)
Ayman Alatar - Fi Galbi Kalam (Libya)
DJ Van ft Tyrane - #Woman (Morocco)
Hatim Ammor - Alawal (Morocco)
H-Name - Wach Rak Nachet (Morocco)
Best Female Artiste, Southern Africa
Lira - Let there be Light (South Africa)
Lizha James – Chocolate (Mozambique)
Palu Chihera – Nemoyo (Zimbabwe)
Sally Boss Madam – Natural (Namibia)
Zahara – Imali (South Africa)
Zonke - Reach it (South Africa)
Best Male Artiste, Southern Africa
AKA – Composure (South Africa)
Anatii & Cassper Nyovest – Jump (South Africa)
Black Coffee - Come with me (South Africa)
Dizu Plaaties – Inkomo (South Africa)
DJ Maphorisa - Soweto Baby (South Africa)
Jay Prayzah – Hello (Zimbabwe)
Best Female Artiste, Western Africa
Adiouza – Daddy (Senegal)
Aramide - I don’t care (Nigeria)
Niniola - J’ete (Nigeria)
Josey - Diplome (Ivory Coast)
Seyi Shay - Right Now (Nigeria)
Temi Doll Face - School Your Face (Nigeria)
Tiwa Savage - If I Start to Talk (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade - Na Go De (Nigeria)
Best Male Artiste, Western Africa
Brymo - In The City (Nigeria)
Flavour – Dance (Nigeria)
Okyeame Kwame - Small Small (Ghana)
Sarkodie – Hand to Mouth (Ghana)
Sidikiba Diabate - Fais Moi Confiance (Mali)
Tekno -Duro (Nigeria)
Wizkid - Final Baba Nla (Nigeria)