BREAKING NEWS: 2FACE, WIZKID, PSQUARE, TIWA SAVAGE, OTHERS NOMINATED FOR THE MAMAs!
… As Davido Gets Highest Nominations At The Awards.
Shining a spotlight on the African continent and the amazing achievements of Africans around the world, MTV Base today revealed the nominees for the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal supported by Absolut & The City of Durban.
The prestigious MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) nominations were revealed at a glittering nominations celebration at The Sands, Johannesburg, South Africa by MTV Base VJs Nomuzi Mabena and Sizwe Dhlomo, alongside Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, Tim Horwood, Channel Director, MTV Base and Shirley Mabiletja,Brand Manager: Absolut, Pernod Ricard South Africa, in the presence of nominees AKA, Beatenberg, DJ Clock, Burna Boy, Mafikizolo Professor, Oskido and Yuri Da Cunha.
The biggest and brightest contemporary artists from across the African continent and beyond were nominated in 15 different categories including Best Male, Best Female, Song of the Year and Artist of the Year. Broadening the scope of the MAMA awards franchise, achievement in non-music fields was recognised in “Personality of the Year”, and “TransformToday by Absolut”, an award designed to recognize and support young, emerging and original African creative talents who use their imagination to fuel social transformation and bring positive attention to the continent.
Tied for first place in the nominations were South African artists Mafikizolo and Uhuru, and Nigerian artist Davido, who each scored 4 nominations while going directly head-to-head for Song of the Year,Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration. Following closely behind with 3 nominations each were Nigerian artists P Square (Best Group, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year), South Africa’s Mi Casa(Best Group, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year), and Angolan artist Yuri Da Cunha (Song of the Year, Best Lusophone and Best Collaboration). Hot on their heels with two nods each were Angolan star Anselmo Ralph (Best Male, Best Lusophone), Nigeria’s Wizkid (Best Male, Best Collaboration); Gabonese artist Arielle T (Best Female, Best Francophone) and Diamond from Tanzania (Best Male, Best Collaboration).
Other artists from across the African contemporary music spectrum nominated for the awards included: 2Face, AKA, Amani, Beatenberg, Big Nuz, Burna Boy, Chidinma, Danny K, Diamond, DJ Buckz, DJ Clock, DJ C'ndo, DJ Ganyani, DJ Kent, The Arrows, Donald, Don Jazzy, Dr Malinga, Dr Sid, Efya, Espoir 2000, Fally Ipupa, FB, Ferre Gola, Flavour, Fuse ODG, Gangs of Ballet, Goldfish, Heavy K, Ice Prince, JD, KCEE, Khuli Chana, LCNVL, Lizha James, Matthew Mole, May D, Mi Casa, Michael Loman, Nakhane Toure, Nelson Freitas, Olamide, Oskido, Professor, The Parlotones, Phyno, Radio and Weasel, R2bees, Sarkodie, Sauti Sol, Shortstraw, Stanley Enow, The Arrows, Tiwa Savage, Toofan, Uhuru, Youssoupha and Zakes Bantwini.
Celebrating musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African youth culture throughout the year, MAMA 2014 will feature dazzling performances from African and international artists, including the awards’ signature collaborations between artists of different genres and cultures – a high point of every show.
Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, “We congratulate all the nominees for the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards. This year, the MAMA offers a stunning platform for African artists, it also celebrates the young personalities, leaders and creatives who are making a positive impact on the continent.”
Commented Desmond Golding, Head of Department of Economic Development & Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Province, "KwaZulu-Natal Province congratulates all the artists and stars for their achievement in being nominated. We look forward to welcoming these hugely talented artists and personalities to the Durban ICC on 7 June for the biggest contemporary music spectacle that KwaZulu-Natal Province and South Africa has ever seen."
“As a brand, ABSOLUT is thrilled to be associated with the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards, and we would like to congratulate all of the nominees announced for this year's awards and wish them the best of luck on this journey," commented Shirley Mabiletja, Brand Manager: ABSOLUT, Pernod Ricard South Africa. "Each generation there are a handful of artists who leave a transformative mark, and the MTV Africa Music Awards most certainly celebrates these artists. As the perfect platform, ABSOLUT has proudly sponsored one of the new categories, "Transform Today by Absolut", which forms part of ABSOLUT's Transform Today campaign, aimed at celebrating the power of young individuals who transform the image of Africa through their creativity and vision. We are excited to celebrate this initiative and our ongoing involvement in contemporary culture through creative collaboration.”
The MAMA nominations in full:
MUSIC CATEGORIES
Anselmo Ralph (Angola)
Davido (Nigeria)
Diamond (Tanzania)
Donald (South Africa)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best Female:
Arielle T (Gabon)
Chidinma (Nigeria)
DJ C’ndo (South Africa)
Efya (Ghana)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Best Group:
Big Nuz (South Africa)
Mafikizolo (South Africa)
Mi Casa (South Africa)
P Square (Nigeria)
Sauti Sol (Kenya)
Best New Act:
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Heavy K (South Africa)
Phyno (Nigeria)
Stanley Enow (Cameroon)
Uhuru (South Africa)
Best Live Act:
2face (Nigeria)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Flavour (Nigeria)
Dr Malinga (South Africa)
Zakes Bantwini (South Africa)
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Best Collaboration:
Amani ft Radio and Weasel – ‘Kiboko Changu’ (Kenya/Uganda)
Diamond feat Davido – ‘Number One’ (Remix) (Tanzania/Nigeria)
Mafikizolo feat May D – ‘Happiness’ (South Africa/Nigeria)
R2bees feat Wizkid – ‘Slow Down’ (Ghana/Nigeria)
Uhuru feat DJ Buckz, Oskido, Professor, Yuri Da Cunha – ‘Y-tjukutja’ (South Africa/Angola)
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Artist of the Year:
Davido (Nigeria)
Mafikizolo (South Africa)
Mi Casa (South Africa)
P Square (Nigeria)
Uhuru (South Africa)
Song of the Year:
Davido- ‘Skelewu’ (Nigeria)
DJ Clock feat Beatenberg – ‘Pluto’ (Remember Me) (South Africa)
DJ Ganyani feat FB – ‘Xigubu’ (South Africa)
DJ Kent feat The Arrows –‘Spin My World Around’ (South Africa)
Dr Sid feat Don Jazzy – ‘Surulere’ (Nigeria)
KCee - ‘Limpopo’ (Nigeria)
Mafikizolo feat Uhuru ‘Khona’ (South Africa)
Mi Casa- ‘Jika’ (South Africa)
P Square – ‘Personally’ (Nigeria)
Yuri Da Cunha -‘Atchu Tchu Tcha’ (Angola)
Best Hip Hop:
AKA (South Africa)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
Khuli Chana (South Africa)
Olamide (Nigeria)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
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Best Pop:
Danny K (South Africa)
Fuse ODG (Ghana)
Goldfish (South Africa)
LCNVL (South Africa)
Mathew Mole (South Africa)
Best Alternative:
Gangs of Ballet (South Africa)
Michael Loman (South Africa)
Nakhane Toure (South Africa)
Parlotones (South Africa)
Shortstraw (South Africa)
Best Francophone:
Arielle T (Gabon)
Espoir 2000 (Ivory Coast)
Ferre Gola (DRC)
Toofan (Togo)
Youssoupha (Congo)
Best Lusophone:
Anselmo Ralph (Angola)
JD (Angola)
Lizha James (Mozambique)
Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde)
Yuri Da Cunha (Angola)
NON MUSIC CATEGORIES
Personality of the Year:
Chimamanda Adiche (Nigeria)
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Nigeria)
Trevor Noah (South Africa)
Lupita Nyong’o (Kenya)
Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire)
Transform Today by Absolut
Anisa Mpungwe (Tanzania)
Clarence Peters (Nigeria)
I See a Different You (South Africa)
Leti Arts (Ghana)
Rasty (South Africa)
Voting for the MTV Africa Music Awards is open at www.mtvbase.com from 16 April 2014 until midnight on 4 June 2014.
The MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal supported by Absolut is a spectacular awards show and music celebration, taking place in South Africa for the first time on 7 June 2014. Held at theDurban International Convention Centre (ICC), the awards will air live across the continent at 21:00 CAT on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130).