New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Africa's contemporary music industry comes under the global spotlight as the winners of the MTV Africa
Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal (MAMA) are announced at a star studded ceremony at Durban's International Convention Centre (ICC).
Africa's biggest contemporary artists and achievers will be gracing the red carpet for what is the biggest event of the African music calendar on Saturday 18 July 2015.
A decade after bursting onto the world stage, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa and MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) will be celebrating African music, creativity and achievement at the fifth edition of the MTV Africa
Music Awards (MAMA).
Performers announced to date include NE-YO (USA), Jhené Aiko (USA),
Young Thug (USA), AKA (South Africa), Bucie (South Africa), Cassper Nyovest (South Africa), Davido (Nigeria), Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), 2FACE (Nigeria),
Black Motion (South Africa),
Wizkid (Nigeria) & Toofan (Togo).
The definitive annual celebration of African talent, MAMA 2015 takes "evolution" as its theme, recognising and rewarding musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African youth culture over the last 12 months, while celebrating the development of the continent's talent and creativity over the last 10 years. The ceremony will feature stunning performances from African and international artists along with unique collaborations.
MAMA 2015 will celebrate African talent across 18 award categories such as Best Male, Best Female, Best Song and Best New Act Transformed by Absolut. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. This year's show will also feature a special edition "
Evolution" category to recognise artists whose careers have flourished throughout the last 10 years. Additional categories include the MAMA Leadership Award and Personality of the Year.
Competing in the prestigious Best Male act category are AKA (South Africa), Davido (Nigeria), Diamond (Tanzania), Sarkodie (Ghana) and
Wizkid (Nigeria), while female artists making their mark in the Best Female category include Bucie (SA), Busiswa (SA), Seyi Shay (Nigeria),
Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania) and Yemi Alade (Nigeria).
The inspiring cross-cultural creative exchange of African musicians is measured in the Best Collaboration category, where AKA, Burna Boy, Da LES & JR compete against Davido featuring Uhuru & DJ Buckz (Nigeria/SA), Toofan & DJ Arafat (Togo/Ivory Coast), Diamond & Iyanya (Kenya/Nigeria), and Stanley Enow & Sarkodie (Cameroon/Ghana).
The enduring popularity of Hip Hop on the continent is captured in the hotly contested Best Hip Hop category, where Cassper Nyovest (South Africa) is battling it out with K.O. (South Africa), Olamide (Nigeria), Phyno (Nigeria) and
Youssoupha (DRC).
Recognising the contribution of new talent on the continent, Best New Act: Transformed Today by Absolut gave nods to nominees from around the continent, including Cassper Nyovest (South Africa), Anna Joyce (Angola), Duncan (South Africa), Patoranking (Nigeria) and Stonebwoy (Ghana). @MTVBaseAfrica revealed on Twitter prior to the event that stand-up comedian and new Daily Show host Trevor Noah (South Africa) was nominated for the second year running as Personality of the Year - where he goes up against fellow comic Basketmouth (Nigeria), TV personality and reality star Bonang Matheba (South Africa), actor O.C. Ukeje (Nigeria) and Manchester City/Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) - after losing out to Lupita Nyong'o in the same category last year.
Last year's Video of the Year winner Clarence Peters (Nigeria) is hoping to repeat his 2014 success with a second nomination in this category for Bebe Cool's music video "Love You Everyday", competing against fellow directors Sesan ("
The Sound": Davido Featuring Uhuru & DJ Buckz),
Adriaan Louw ("Nafukwa": Riky Rick), Meji Alabi ("
Crazy": Seyi Shay Featuring Wizkid) and Ryan Kruger ("Doors": Prime Circle).
First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa
Music Awards has recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and game-changers such as 2Face Idibia, Big Nuz, Davido, D'Banj, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet, HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Mafikizolo, Lira, Nameless, Lupita Nyong'o, Clarence Peters, Diamond Platnumz, Anselmo Ralph, Sarkodie, P-Square, Tiwa Savage, Cabo Snoop, Toofan,
Zebra & Giraffe, Uhuru, Wahu, and many more.
The awards will broadcast live on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130) on Saturday 18 July. The show will also be transmitted worldwide on partner stations and content platforms from 18 July.
Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa: "We are thrilled that the MTV Africa
Music Awards will be returning to Durban and KwaZulu-Natal on 18 July, a date famous for being the birthday of
Nelson Mandela - what better day could there be for staging this inspirational celebration of African achievement and creativity that showcases Africa's best talent on the world stage."
The MTV Africa
Music Awards 2015 is sponsored by KwaZulu-Natal Province in association with Absolut Vodka and The City of Durban.
