The Organizers of All Africa Music Awards better known as AFRIMA, last week, set the ball rolling for this year’s edition of the awards as they unveiled the nominees for the regional categories of the event.
Described as the biggest music awards on the continent, the highly anticipated nominees list for the 2016 awards, tagged ‘AFRIMA 3.0.,’ was unveiled in Lagos, by a 13-man jury of AFRIMA.
In attendance were officials of the African Union Commission, members of the AFRIMA Jury, members of the International Committee of AFRIMA, past AFRIMA winners and nominees, media executives and other stakeholders in the creative/entertainment industries of Africa.
According to the Moderator of the adjudication process, Mr. Mike Strano, about 2700 entries from African music professional were received during the period of May 20, 2015 to July 30, 2016. Describing the nominations process as careful and thorough, Mr. Strano harped on the Jury’s resolve to be fair and transparent.
“The Jury is very careful about being accurate right from the process of verifying eligibility of entries to the process collating and finalising results. It is an evolving process but one we work painstakingly at to ensure transparency and fairness”, Strano explained.
Speaking further Mike Strano who is the Regional Director, Eastern Africa/Co-Producer, AFRIMA said, “There are 34 categories of the award but only 10 are released today August 22, which are the Regional Categories. A new category introduced this year is the “People’s Choice Award” which comes out from a healthy debate by the International Committee of AFRIMA and the Jury.”
The Best Female Artistes and Best Male Artistes of the five regions have been released while the nominees in the continental categories will follow suit seven days after.
Describing the jurors’ experience as rewarding, the Head, Culture Division, African Union Commission, AUC, Mrs. Angela Martins, reiterated the AU and AFRIMA’s objectives of unity among African artistes and the need for continental integration while celebrating its rich music and heritage.
She said, “The adjudication process was very rewarding and as one privileged to be part of the Jury, I was able to discover the widespread talents in the different regions of our beloved continent. Now, that the AFRIMA adjudication has been finalised, we expect that in the coming months, Africans will recognise these nominated artistes by putting in votes for all of them.”
One of the two jury members representing Eastern Africa, Mr. Richard Kawesa, a Ugandan, eulogised AFRIMA’s decision to digitalise its screening process for 2016. “In the past years, we were using paper to grade but now in 2016, AFRIMA has shown innovativeness with all of us making use of technology, laptops, tablets and mobile devices to screen and grade with ease.”
Public voting for the nominees in the different categories of the awards will open on August 30. In partnership with the AUC and the Official Host City, Lagos State, the AFRIMA 3.0. calendar of events for November 4-6, 2016 will include the Africa Music Summit on Friday, November 4, and the AFRIMA Music Village, an open concert-style festival featuring nominees and other top billed music stars. The grand awards ceremony holds on Sunday, November 6 with over 2,500 guests expected in Lagos, Nigeria for the various events.
Best Female Artist in Southern AfricaLira – Let there be Light (South Africa)
Lizha James -Chocolate (Mozambique)
Pah Chihera -Nemoyo (Zimbabwe)
Sally Boss Madam – Natural (Namibia)
Zahara – Imali (South Africa)
Zonke -reach it (South Africa)
Best Male Artist in Southern Africa
AKA – Composure (South Africa)
Anatii & Cassper Nyovest – Jump (South Africa)
Black Coffee – Jump (South Africa)
Dizu Plaatjies – Inkomo (South Africa)
DJ Maphorisa – Soweto Baby (South Africa)
Jah Prayzah – Hello (Zimbabwe)
Kwesta – Ngud’ (South Africa)
Best Female Artist in Northern Africa
Amah Meher – Ezay Fatetny (Egypt)
Angham -Wahda Kamla (Egypt)
Latifa – Ya Hayati (Tunisia)
Samira Said – Mahassalash (Morocco)
Zina Daoudia – La Waheed Wala Milion (Morocco)
Sarah Ayoub – Ahwak (Morocco)
Best Male Artist in Northern AfricaAhmed Soultan – Afrobian (Morocco)
Ahmed Chawki – Tsunami (Morocco)
Amir Diab – Al Qahira Cairo (Egypt)
Ayman Alatar – Fi Galbi Kalam (Libya)
DJ Van feat. Tyrane – #Woman (Morocco)
Hatim Ammor – Alawal (Morocco)
H-Name – Wach Rak Nachet (Morocco)
Best Female Artist in Central AfricaBruna Tatiana – Prometo Mudar (Angola)
Daphne Ndolo – Ndolo (Cameroun)
Mani Bella – Qui Cherche Trouve (Cameroun)
Naomi Achu – Busy Body (Cameroun)
Reniss – La Sauce (Cameroun)
Syssi Mananga – Juste Un Peu (Rep. of Congo)
Best Male Artist in Central AfricaC4 Pedro – Spetxa (Angola)
Ferre Gola -Tucheze (DRC)
Franko – Coller la Petite (Cameroun)
Jovi -Zele (Cameroun)
Wax Dey – Saka Makossa (Cameroun)
Werrason – Yo te (Cameroun)
Best Female Artist in Eastern Africa
Avril – No Stress (Kenya)
Cindy Sanyu -Still Standing (Uganda)
Fikeraddia Nekatebeb – Misekir (Ethiopia)
Juliana Kanyomozi – Twalina Omukwano (Uganda)
Victoria Kimani – Booty Bounce (Kenya)
Best Male Artist in Eastern AfricaAlikiba – Aje (Tanzania)
Bebe Cool – Kabulengane (Uganda)
Diamond Platnumz – Utanipenda (Tanzania)
Eddy Kenzo – Mbilo Mbilo Remix (Uganda)
Jose Chameleone – Agatako (Uganda)
Navio – Njogereza (Uganda)
Best Female Artist in Western AfricaAdiouza – Daddy (Senegal)
Aramide – I Don’t Care (Nigeria)
Niniola – Jete (Nigeria)
Josey – Diplome (Ivory Coast)
Seyi Shay -Right Now (Nigeria)
Temi Dollface -School your Face (Nigeria)
Tiwa Savage -If I start to talk (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade – Na go de -(Nigeria)
Best Male Artist in Western AfricaBrymo – In the City (Nigeria)
Flavour – Dance (Nigeria)
Okyeame Kwame – Small Small (Ghana)
Sarkodie – Hand to Mouth (Ghana)
Sidiki Dibate – Fais Moi Confiance (Mali)
Tekno – Duro (Nigeria)
Wizkid – Final/Baba Nla (Nigeria)
SOURCE: AFRIMA,
