By Tracy Gesare
With a total of nine awards between them, Coke Studio Africa’s participating artistes really stole the show at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) ceremony in Nigeria last weekend.
The biggest winner of the night at Victoria Island’s prestigious Eko Hotel Convention Centre, was Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, a participant of Coke Studio Africa Season II.
He took home several awards; Best African Artist of the Year, Best Song of the Year and Best Male Eastern of the Year.
Sauti Sol came a close second, bagging awards for Best African Group as well as Producer of the year for their hit single Sura Yako. You must remember seeing the heated mash up of Shake Yo Bam Bam/Temperature between Sauti Sol and Yemi Alade right here on Coke Studio.
Yemi – the songbird from the west who is on the third season of the show, where she has collaborated with Kenya’s king of Genge – Juacali, also won big at AFRIMA, being crowned the Best Female Artist West Africa.
Tanzanian songbird Vanessa Mdee won Best African Pop song for the track Hawajui, which she performed on Season II of Coke Studio Africa alongside Burna Boy. The Best Artist in African Electro went to Flavour who is a solid favourite among many fans of the show. His mash ups with Juliana Kanyamozi have emerged top among fan votes for three weeks now. Their songs produced by Nigerian Materkraft, will be included in the first Coke Studio Africa album.
Uganda’s Chameleone clinched the Songwriter of the year award for his hit song Valu Valu, which he also mashes up with Eva Alordiah’s Shuga on Season III.
AFRIMA looks to honour artists from all over Africa who are exemplary in their craft, in the hopes of preserving and promoting African culture in music. Coke Studio Africa must be indeed proud of their artists leaving such a big mark at the 2015 edition of the awards.
About Author:
Tracy Gesare is a Freelance Journalist, Writer and a Social Media Manager. She blogs at: tracygesare.com