The African Union Commission, AUC, and the 13-man Jury of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, have released the highly anticipated 2016 Nominees List for the Continental Categories of Africa’s leading awards project.
The 2016 AFRIMA Continental Nominees List was released to the public via the media and on the AFRIMA website www.afrima.org on Tuesday, September 6, two weeks after the Nominees list for the Regional Categories of the awards were unveiled on Monday, August 22 at a Press Conference in Lagos. The 22 continental nomination categories include different music genres, as well as coveted categories of “Artiste of the Year in Africa”, “Best Video in Africa”, “Best Producer in Africa”, “Best Songwriter in Africa” and “Revelation of the Year in Africa”.
This year also saw the introduction of an innovative category by the International Jury of AFRIMA titled “African Fans Favourite”, to recognise African artistes who create chartbusting, anthemic songs that propel the artistes to great popularity within and outside their respective countries and regions.
The Regional Categories which featured Best Female Artistes and Best Male Artistes of the five regions, nominated 65 artistes while 184 nominees make up the newly released continental categories with online public voting expected to begin on Monday, September 12 on the AFRIMA voting platform domiciled on www.afrima.org. The voting will close on Saturday, November 5.
In partnership with the AUC and the Official Host City, Lagos State, AFRIMA 3.0. calendar of events for November 4-6, 2016 will include the Africa Music Business 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.
Here’s the full list of nominees:
| Best African Collaboration | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Ahmed Soultan Ft. Femi Kuti, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Mehdi Nassouli | Morocco | Afrobian |
| Amine Aub & Masta Flow | Morocco | Feel the Same |
| Amine Aub Ft Papa Wemba and DJ Youcef | Morocco | Kanya Ma Kan |
| Eddy Kenzo Ft. Niniola | Uganda | Mbilo Mbilo remix |
| Flavour Ft Selebobo | Nigeria | Mmege Mmege |
| Francois Van Coke Ft. Arno Carstens | South Africa | Ek Weet Nie |
| Okyeame Kwame Ft Mzvee | Ghana | Small Small |
| Sarkodie ft Pat Thomas | Ghana | Bra |
| Tiwa Savage Ft Dr. Sid | Nigeria | If I Start to Talk |
| Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Electro | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Black Coffee | South Africa | Come with me |
| DJ Maphorisa | South Africa | Soweto Baby |
| Djeff Afrozila | Angola | So Blessed |
| Hatim Ammor | Morocco | Alawal |
| Mi Casa | South Africa | Barman |
| Renato Xtrova | Angola | Love Affair |
| Such | Zimbabwe | You |
| Best African Jazz | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Bokani Dyer | South Africa | Vuvu zela |
| Carmen Souza | Cabo Verde | Cape Verdean blues |
| Jimmy Dludlu | South Africa | Ha Deva |
| Kunle Ayo | Nigeria | Happy to Know You |
| Moreira Chonguica | Mozambique | Ngoma |
| Oum | Morocco | Ah Wah |
| Ray Lema Quintet | Democratic Republic of Congo | Head bug |
| Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Agende | Uganda | Ziza Bafana |
| Anteneh Minalu | Ethiopia | Wayo |
| Cindy Sanyu | Uganda | Still Standing |
| Dufla Diligon ft Cindy Sanyu | Kenya | Tempo |
| Montess | Cameroon | In Love With A Gun |
| Patoranking | Nigeria | No Kissing |
| Stonebwoy | Ghana | Go Higher |
| T-Smallz | Gambia | Guewel |
| Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Hip-Hop | ||
| Artist | Country | Track |
| AKA | South Africa | Composure |
| CiCi Bala | Botswana | Lebanta |
| E.L | Ghana | King Without a Crown |
| H-Name | Morocco | Wach Rak Nachet? |
| Jizzle | Gambia | Man of the Year |
| Jovi | Cameroon | Zélé |
| Sarkodie | Ghana | Hand to Mouth |
| Stanley Enow | Cameroon | Work Hard |
| YCEE | Nigeria | Omo Alhaji |
| Zona 5 | Angola | Pablo |
| Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African RnB & Soul | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Aramide | Nigeria | I Don’t Care |
| Butera Knowless | Rwanda | Konashize |
| Henok & Mehari Brothers | Ethiopia | Ewèdi Shalèhu |
| Iyanya | Nigeria | Type of Woman |
| Kiss Daniel | Nigeria | Mama |
| Korede Bello Ft Tiwa Savage | Nigeria | Romantic |
| Lira | South Africa | Let There Be Light |
| Niniola | Nigeria | J’ètè |
| Ric Hassani | Nigeria | Gentlemen |
| Sidikiba Diabaté | Mali | Fais Moi Confiance |
| Tjan | Nigeria | Aduke |
| Zonke | South Africa | Reach It |
| Songwriter of the Year In Africa | ||
| Songwriter | Country | Track & (Artist) |
| Bulelwa Mkutukana | South Africa | Imali (Zahara) |
| Eddy Kenzo & Niniola | Uganda | Mbilo Mbilo (Eddy Kenzo & Niniola) |
| Hatim Ammor | Morocco | Alawal (Hatim Ammor) |
| Kwame Nsiah Apau | Ghana | Small Small (Kwame Okyeame Ft Mzvee) |
| Lerato Molapo | South Africa | Let There Be Light (Lira) |
| Naseeb Abdul Juma | Tanzania | Utanipenda (Diamond Platnumz) |
| Olawale Ashimi | Nigeria | In the City (Brymo) |
| Sidikiba Diabaté | Mali | Fais Moi Confiance (Sidikiba Diabate) |
| Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza | South Africa | Colours of Africa (Mafikizolo, Diamond, DJ Maphorisa) |
| Unique | Uganda | Njogereza (Navio) |
| Producer of the Year | ||
| Producer | Country | Track (Artiste) |
| DJ Coublon | Nigeria | Duro (Tekno) |
| DJ Maphorisa | South Africa | Soweto Baby (DJ Maphorisa Ft Wizkid & DJ Buckz) |
| DJ Van | Morocco | #Woman (DJ Van & Tyrane) |
| Don Jazzy | Nigeria | If I Start To Talk (Tiwa Savage) |
| Fortune Dane | Ghana | Hand To Mouth (Sarkodie) |
| Kuseim | Uganda | Mbilo Mbilo remix (Eddy Kenzo Ft Niniola) |
| Masterkraft | Nigeria | Finally (Masterkraft Ft Flavour & Sarkodie) |
| Sidikiba Diabaté | Mali | Fais Moi Confiance (Sidikiba Diabaté) |
| Yung John | Nigeria | Baba Nla (Wizkid) |
| Revelation of the Year | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Amine Aminux | Morocco | Makayen Ma |
| E.l | Ghana | King Without a Crown |
| Emtee | South Africa | Roll Up |
| Falz | Nigeria | Bad Baddo Baddest |
| Simi | Nigeria | Love Don’t Care |
| Yamato Band | Tanzania | Cheza Kwa Madoido |
| Zani Challe ft. Patoranking | Malawi | Single Tonight |
| Song of the Year In Africa | ||
| Track | Artist | Country |
| 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 | |||
| Artiste | Country | Track | Album |
| Ahmed Soultan | Morocco | Afrobian | Music Has No Boundaries |
| C4 Pedro | Cameroon | Spectxa One | King C.K.W.A |
| Mi Casa | South Africa | Barman | Home Sweet Home |
| Sauti Sol | Kenya | Live and Die in Afrika | Live and Die in Afrika |
| Sidikiba Diabaté | Mali | Fais Moi Confiance | Diabateba Music Vol. 1 |
| Tiwa Savage | Nigeria | If I Start To talk | R.E.D (Deluxe Edition) |
| Yemi Alade | Nigeria | Na Gode | Mama Africa (Diary of An African Woman) |
| Zahara | South Africa | Imali | Country Girl |
| Zonke | South Africa | Reach it | Work of Heart |
| Artiste of the Year | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Black Coffee | South Africa | Come With Me |
| Diamond Platnumz | Tanzania | Utanipenda |
| Eddy Kenzo | Uganda | Mbilombilo Remix |
| Hatim Ammor | Morocco | Alawal |
| Navio | Uganda | Njogereza |
| Sarkodie | Ghana | Hand To Mouth |
| Sidikiba Diabaté | Mali | Fais Moi Confiance |
| Tekno | Nigeria | Duro |
| Tiwa Savage | Nigeria | If I Start To Talk |
| Wizkid | Nigeria | Final (Baba Nla) |
| Zahara | South Africa | Imali |
| Video of the Year | |||
| Video | Director | Artiste | Country |
| 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 | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Amine Aub | Morocco | Feel the Same |
| Antenehminalu | Ethiopia | Wayo |
| Bisa Kdei | Ghana | Mansa |
| Butera Knowless | Rwanda | Konashize |
| Elzo Jamdong | Senegal | Assiko Flow |
| Nuru | Ghana | All in a Moment |
| Ric Hassani | Nigeria | Gentlemen |
| Sat B | Burundi | Nyampinga |
| Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Pop | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Amine Aminux | Morocco | Makayen Ma |
| Amine Aub | Morocco | Feel the same |
| Diamond Platnumz | Tanzania | Utanipenda |
| Jose Chameleone | Uganda | Agatako |
| Tekno | Nigeria | Duro |
| Wizkid | Nigeria | Final (Baba Nla) |
| Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Rock | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Amine Aub & Masta Flow | Morocco | Kanya Ma Kan |
| Dark Suburb, Featuring Wiyaala | Ghana | Mama |
| Francois Van Coke, Ft Arno Carstens | South Africa | Ek Weet Nie |
| Jano Band | Ethiopia | Darigne |
| Kanyeki | Kenya | Murata |
| Lionel Loueke Trio | Benin | Wacko Loco |
| Loki Rothman | South Africa | Under the Stars |
| M’ Vula | Angola | Tristezas E Alegrias |
| Best African Group | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Jano Band | Ethiopia | Darigne |
| M’ Vula | Angola | Tristezas E Alegrias |
| Mafikizolo | South Africa | Colours of Africa |
| Mi Casa | South Africa | Barman |
| Sauti Sol | Kenya | Live and Die In Afrika |
| Toofan | Togo | Eledji |
| VVIP | Ghana | Dogo Yaro |
| X-Maleya | Cameroon | Mon Mariage |
| Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Traditional | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Alokè | Benin | Gbétoho |
| Binakoumaré & Madou Diabate | Mali | N’djaba |
| Bioma | Nigeria | Ovedje Ayonuwe |
| Dizu Plaatjies | South Africa | Inkomo |
| Mabiisi | Ghana & Burkina Faso | Awine |
| Stypak Samo | Cameroon | Woyo hoooo |
| Zeynab | Benin | Bolojo |
| Best Artiste/Duo/Group/Band In African Contemporary | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Adiouza | Senegal | Daddy |
| Ahmed Soultan | Morocco | Afrobian |
| Eddy Kenzo | Uganda | Mbilo Mbilo Remix |
| Flavour | Nigeria | Mmege Mmege |
| Okyeame Kwame Ft Mzvee | Ghana | Small Small |
| Reniss | Cameroon | La Sauce |
| Tiwa Savage | Nigeria | If I Start To Talk |
| Zahara | South Africa | Imali |
| Best Female Artiste in Inspirational | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Evelyn Wanjiru | Kenya | Nikufahamu |
| Mercy Masika | Kenya | Nikupendeze |
| Naomi Achu | Cameroon | Busy Body |
| Oum | Morocco | Ah Wah |
| Sinach | Nigeria | Way Maker |
| Yemi Alade | Nigeria | Na Go De |
| Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| Benjamin Dube | South Africa | I Know Only You |
| Denno Ft Bahati | Kenya | Story Yangu |
| Icha Kavons | Democratic Republic of Congo | Testimony |
| Kanyekiz | Kenya | Murata |
| Mike Abdul | Nigeria | Korede |
| Papa Dennis & Rigan Sarkozi | Kenya | Olalo |
| African Fans Favourite | ||
| Artiste | Country | Track |
| D’Banj | Nigeria | Emergency |
| DJ Hamida Ft H Magnum | Morocco
| Pina Colada |
| H Magnum Ft Black M | Cote d’Ivoire | Aucun Mytho |
| Kiff No Beat | Cote d’Ivoire | La Vie De Louga |
| Maitre Gims Ft Nsika | Democratic Republic of Congo | Sapés Comme Jamais
|
| Mr. Bow | Mozambique | Vida Boa |
| Nyashinki | Kenya | Now You Know |
| Phyno Ft Olamide | Nigeria | Fada Fada |
| Best Male Artiste Central Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| C4 Pedro | Angola | Spetxa one |
| Ferre gola | DRC | Tucheze |
| Franko | Cameroon | Coller La Petite |
| Jovi | Cameroon | Zele |
| Nelson Freitas | Angola | Miuda Linda |
| Wax Dey | Cameroon | Saka Makossa |
| Werasson | DRC | Yo Te |
| Best Female Artiste, Central Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| Bruna Tatiana | Angola | Pometo Mudar |
| Daphne Ndolo | Cameroon | Ndolo |
| Mani Bella | Cameroon | Qui Cherche Tronve |
| Naomi Achu | Cameroon | Busy Body |
| Reniss | Cameroon | La Sauce |
| Syssi Mananga | DRC | Juste Un Peu |
| Best Male Artiste, Eastern Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| Alikiba | Tanzania | Aje |
| Bebe Cool | Uganda | Kabulengane |
| Daimond Platinumz | Tanzania | Utanipenda |
| Eddy Kenzo | Uganda | Mbilo Mbilo Remix |
| Jose Chameleone | Uganda | Agatako |
| Navio | Uganda | Njogereza |
| Best Female Artiste, Eastern Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| Avril | Kenya | No Stress |
| Cindy Sanyu | Uganda | Still Standing |
| Fikeraddis Nekatebeb | Ethiopia | Misekir |
| Irene Ntale | Uganda | Omukwano Gw’ekilo |
| Juliana Kanyomozi | Uganda | Twalina Omukwano |
| Victoria Kimani | Kenya | Booty Bounce |
| Best Female Artiste, Northern Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| Amal Maher | Egypt | Ezay Fatetny |
| Angham | Egypt | Wahda Kam La |
| Latifa | Tunisia | Ya Hayati |
| Samira Said | Morroco | Mahassalsh |
| Sarah Ayoub | Morocco | Nachid Al Houb |
| Zina Daoudia | Morocco | La Waheed Wala Million |
| Best Male Artiste, Northern Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| Ahmed Soultan | Morroco | Afrobian |
| Ahmed Chawki | Morocco | Tsunami |
| Amir Diab | Egypt | Al Qahira Cairo |
| Ayman Alatar | Libya | Fi Galbi Kalam |
| DJ Van FT Tyrane | Morocco | #Woman |
| Hatim Ammor | Morocco | Alawal |
| H-Name | Morocco | Wach Rak Nachet) |
| Best Female Artiste, Southern Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| Lira | South Africa | Let there be Light |
| Lizha James | Mozambique | Chocolate |
| Palu Chihera | Zimbabwe | Nemoyo |
| Sally Boss Madam | Namibia | Natural |
| Zahara | South Africa | Imali |
| Zonke | South Africa | Reach it |
| Best Male Artiste, Southern Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| AKA | South Africa | Composure |
| Anatii & Cassper Nyovest | South Africa | Jump |
| Black Coffee | South Africa | Come with me |
| Dizu Plaaties | South Africa | Inkomo |
| DJ Maphorisa | South Africa | Soweto Baby |
| Jay Prayzah | Zimbabwe | Hello |
| Best Female Artiste, Western Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| Adiouza | Senegal | Daddy |
| Aramide | Nigeria | I don’t care |
| Niniola | Nigeria | J’ete |
| Josey | Ivory Coast | Diplome |
| Seyi Shay | Nigeria | Right Now |
| Temi Doll Face | Nigeria | School Your Face |
| Tiwa Savage | Nigeria | If I Start to Talk |
| Yemi Alade | Nigeria | Na Go De |
| Best Male Artiste, Western Africa | ||
| ARTISTE | COUNTRY | TRACK TITLE |
| Brymo | Nigeria | In The City |
| Flavour | Nigeria | Dance |
| Okyeame Kwame | Ghana | Small Small |
| Sarkodie | Ghana | Hand to Mouth |
| Sidikiba Diabate Fais Moi | Mali | Confiance |
| Tekno | Nigeria | Duro |
| Wizkid | Nigeria | Final Baba Nla |