AFRIMA RELEASES NAMES OF 2015 AAWARD NOMINEES

ALL AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS, AFRIMA OUT WITH FINAL 2015 NOMINEES LIST; MORE TOP AFRICAN ARTISTES EMERGE.

.....Yemi Alade, Charlotte Dipanda, Davido, Diamond Platnumz, Brymo, Alikiba, Dr.Jose Chameleone, Psquare, Sauti Sol and Joy Gitau top nomination list

.....As music lovers show readiness and excitement to begin voting on August 21

It was a phenomenal moment for all music lovers across Africa as the International Committee of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, in partnership with African Union Commission, AUC, announced the nominees for the 2015 edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) at an international media conference which took place on Friday, August 14,, 2015 at Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

Nominees are contending for the coveted AFRIMA 23.9 karat gold-plated trophy in 33 categories divided into the regional and continental categories and including the AFRIMA Legend Award and music/entertainment journalist of the year award. Well-known sensational African music names on the AFRIMA nominees list include: Amr Dab (Egypt) 1 nomination, Olamide (Nigeria) 2 nominations, Davido (Nigeria) 4 nominations, Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) 4 nominations, Psquare (Nigeria) 3 nominations, Charlotte Dipanda (Cameroon) 5 nominations, Sauti Sol (Kenya) 3 nominations, Sakordie (Ghana) 3 nominations, Yemi Alade (Nigeria) 5 nominations and Casper Nyovest (South Africa) 2 nominations. The budding music acts to earn nominations include: Kiss Daniel (Nigeria) 2 nominations; Wiyaala (Ghana) 3 nominations; Patoranking (Nigeria) 1 nomination; Joy Gitau (Kenya) 2 nomination, Ruby Gyang (Nigeria) 2 nominations and THT (Madagascar) 1 nomination, among others.

Ace music video director, Clarence Peters (Nigeria) made it into the the Africa video of the Year category for the video of the song ‘Golibe’ by Flavour and ‘Shekini’ by Psquare alongside other great music video directors like: Enos Olik (Kenya) for ‘Sura Yako’ by Sauti Sol and Stanley Ajjetey (Ghana) for ‘Africa’ by Wiyaala, John Njaga Demps & Unlimited L.A (Senegal & Nigeria) for “Time is now” by J. Martins, featuring Youssou N'dour and Gyo Gyimah (Ghana) for “The One” by Edem featuring Sway.

Jury members and AFRIMA International Committee were present to unveil the nominees after a rigorous six day screening exercise which started on Sunday, August 9 and ended on Friday, August 14. Also present at the conference were media practitioners, artistes’ managers, label owners, artistes and other stakeholders who were all excited and expectant as the nominees were being announced.

Giving insight into the criteria by which the nominees list was reached, AFRIMA juror and BBC Radio 3 presenter, Rita Ray explained that the jury panel adhered strictly to the entry submission requirements while being guided by AFRIMA’s core values of FACE IT –Fairness, Authenticity, Creativity, Excellence, Integrity and Transparency. she also went further to explain the voting process which is scheduled to begin on the Friday, August 21, 2015 and also said the AFRIMA voting online platform will open for an 11 week voting process, while encouraging the public, fans and followers of African music to visit the AFRIMA website, www.afrima.org, to view the nominees in the 29 (open for public voting) categories of the award and vote for their favourite artiste (s).

Revealing programmes of AFRIMA 2015 event, the President/Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada said: “Recipients of the AFRIMA Legendary Award and the Africa Entertainment/Music Journalist Award will be decided by the International Committee of AFRIMA and revealed at the main awards ceremony on Sunday, November 15 while songwriter and producer of the year will be wholly decided by the academy.

He added that: “The five star awards ceremony will be preceded by the AFRIMA Music Village between November 13 and 14, a two-day festival style outdoor concert of non-stop music, funfair and exhibition from countries in Africa and performances by African artistes. There will also be an African Music Summit on November 13, themed "Reviving the Business of Music in Africa". The one-day conference will be a platform for the music industry stakeholders to engage and deliberate on how the industry can be nurtured and be a major contributor to national and continental economies.”

“AFRIMA in partnership with the African Union Commission is aimed at celebrating the rich musical heritage of the African continent. We want to use AFRIMA as a pedestal to explore the power of music as a tool of integration and prosperity in Africa despite the challenges it faces” Mr Dada concluded.

AFRIMA will be held in Nigeria to be broadcast to 84 countries on 109 television stations across the world with the support of its media partners.



AFRIMA 2015 FINAL NOMINEES LIST




CONTINENTAL CATEGORIES


Best Female Artist in Inspirational.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Becky Joe

How Great

Nigeria


Betty Akna

Africa United

Equatorial Guinea


Lab'l

Ma ve wa Ngan

Cameroon


MoniQue

Na You Dey Reign

Nigeria


Ogecha

Dumimaja

Nigeria







Best Male Artist in Inspirational.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Darey

Pray for Me

Nigeria


Difference

Hosanna

Nigeria


Juliani

One Day

Kenya


Prince Eyango

Merci Seigneur

Cameroon


Timi Dakolo

Wish Me Well

Nigeria


Vumomse

Rakata

Cameroon







Best Artist in African RnB & Soul.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Ben Pol

Sophia

Tanzania


Danny Kalima

Dusty City

Malawi


Efya

Forgetting Me

Ghana


Joy Gitau

Are You Gonna Love Me?

Kenya


Liron

Lonliness

Kenya


Praiz

If I Fall

Nigeria


Ruby Gyang

Good Man

Nigeria


The Soil

Susan

South Africa







Best Artist in African Contemporary.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Brymo

1 Pound

Nigeria


Charlotte Dipanda

Elle n'a pas Vu

Cameroon


Diamond Platnumz

Nasema Nawe

Tanzania


Linah

Ole Themba

Tanzania


Makadem

Nipe Denda Moja

Kenya


Mani Bella

Face a Face

Cameroon







Best Artist in African Hip-Hop.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Cassper Nyovest

Ghetto

South Africa


Edem

The One (Remix)

Ghana


Jovi

Big Vulture

Cameroon


Juliani

One Day

Kenya


M.anifest

Forget Dem

Ghana


Stanley Enow

King Kong

Cameroon


NG Bling

Parle a ma Main

Gabon


Kiff No Beat

Ca Gate Coeur

Ivory Coast







Best Artist in African Electro.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Blade Deep

Perfectly

South Africa


Boddhi Satva

Mama Kosa

Democratic Republic of Congo


Busiswa

Lahla

South Africa


Flavour

Power to Win

Nigeria


Gazza

Shuna

Namibia & South Africa







Best Artist in African Pop.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


DJ Arafat

Gbobolor

Côte d'Ivoire


Don Bigg

Ghadi Bellour

Morocco


Meezo L Fadly

M'Wooppy

Morocco


Toofan

Orobo

Togo


Vanessa Mdee

Hawajui

Tanzania


Wande coal

Baby Hello

Nigeria


YCee

Condo

Nigeria







Best Artist in African Rock.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Bebe Cool

Love You Everyday

Uganda


Dark Suburb

I Dey Feel You Die

Ghana


Lulu & The Zakaleo Band

Thembassa

Kenya


M'vula

Volume 10

Angola


Prime Circle

Doors

South Africa


Wiyaala

Angel

Ghana







Best Artist in African Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Cindy

Dat Dat

Uganda


Erick Kristal

Ile Ife Africa

Benin


Nneka

My Love, My Love

Nigeria


Timaya

Sanko

Nigeria


Patoranking

Daniella Whine

Nigeria


Stonebwoy

Pull Up (Remix)

Ghana


Teddy Afro

Korkuma Africa

Ethiopia







Best Artist in African Jazz.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Abdullah Ibrahim

The Song is my Story

South Africa


Abel Mulugeta

Leb Barbamet

Ethiopia


Kunle Ayo

Joromi

Nigeria


Joel Sebunjo

Nakato

Uganda


Gabacho Maroconnection

Moussaoui

Morocco


Gangbe Brass Band

Yoruba

Benin







Best Artist in African Traditional.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Aziz Sahmaoui

Mazal

Morocco


Gangbe Brass Band

Yoruba

Benin


Irene Namatovu

Okuzaala Kujagaana

Uganda


Saava Karim

Akalulu

Uganda


Sekou Kouyate

Dela

Guinea


Simo Lagnawi

Bolami

Morocco







Best African Collaboration.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Davido, featuring Uhuru & DJ Buckz

The Sound

Nigeria & South Africa


AKA, featuring Burna Boy, Da Les & Jr

All Eyes on Me

South Africa & Nigeria


Dibi Dobo, featuring Angelique Kidjo

Ekomole

Benin


J. Martins, featuring Youssou N'dour

Time is Now

Nigeria & Senegal


Ladysmith Black Mambazo, featuring Salif Keita

United We Stand

South Africa & Mali


Waje, Victoria Kimani, Vanessa Mdee, Arielle T, Gabriela, Yemi Alade, Selmor Mtukudzi, Judith Sephuma, Blessing Nwafor and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

Strong Girl

Kenya, Tanzania, Gabon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa


Sauti Sol, featuring Amos & Josh

Nerea

Kenya


Toofan, featuring DJ Arafat

Apero

Togo & Ivory Coast


VVIP, featuring Idris Elba & Phyno

Selfie (Remix)

Ghana, Nigeria & Sierra Leone


Yemi Alade, featuring Dil

Temperature

Nigeria







Best African Group.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Dark Suburb

Jump Off a Cliff

Ghana


Featurist

Babaah

Cameroon


P-Square

Shekini

Nigeria


Sauti Sol

Sura Yako

Kenya


The Soil

Susan

South Africa


VVIP

Skolom

Ghana







Most Promising Artist in Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Aramide

Iwo Nikan

Nigeria


Ben Pol

Sophia

Tanzania


H_Art the Band

Uliza Kiatu

Kenya


Joy Gitau

Are You Gonna Love Me?

Kenya


Kiss Daniel

Woju

Nigeria


Liron

Loneliness

Kenya


Lulu & The Zakaleo Band

Thembassa

Kenya












Video of the Year in Africa.




VIDEO

VIDEO DIRECTOR (ARTIST)

COUNTRY


Africa

Stanley Ajjetey (Wiyaala)

Ghana


Time is Now

John Njaga Demps & Unlimited L.A (J. Martins, featuring Youssou N'dour)

Nigeria & Senegal


Sura Yako

Enos Olik (Sauti Sol)

Kenya


Golibe

Clarence Peters (Flavour)

Nigeria


The One

Edem Ft. Sway (Gyo Gyimah)

Ghana


Shekini

Clarence Peters (P-Square)

Nigeria







Revelation of the Year in Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Adekunle Gold

Sade

Nigeria


Amantle

Moratiwa

Botswana


Daphne

Gunshot

Cameroon


H_Art the Band

Uliza Kiatu

Kenya


Kiss Daniel

Woju

Nigeria


THT

Week end

Madagascar












Album of the Year in Africa




ALBUM

ARTIST

COUNTRY


Ayo (Joy)

Wizkid

Nigeria


Double Trouble

P-Square

Nigeria


Elle n'a pas vu

Charlotte Dipanda

Cameroon


Face a Face

Mani Bella

Cameroon


King of Queens

Yemi Alade

Nigeria


Silt

Alsarah & The Nubatones

Sudan


Tabula Rasa

Brymo

Nigeria


Thankful

Flavour

Nigeria


The Lioness

Wiyaala

Ghana







Song of the Year in Africa




TRACK

ARTIST

COUNTRY


Adonai (Remix)

Sarkodie, featuring Castro

Ghana


Elle n'a pas vu

Charlotte Dipanda

Cameroon


Fans Mi

Davido, featuring Meek Mill

Nigeria


Kissing

Yemi Alade

Nigeria


Mwana

Alikiba

Tanzania


Nasema Nawe

Diamond Platnumz, featuring Khadija Kopa

Tanzania


Ojuelegba

Wizkid

Nigeria


Shekini

P-Square

Nigeria


Sura Yako

Sauti Sol

Kenya


Wale Wale

Dr. Jose Chameleone

Uganda







Artist of the Year in Africa




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Alikiba

Mwana

Tanzania


Charlotte Dipanda

Elle n'a pas vu

Cameroon


Davido

Fans Mi

Nigeria


Diamond Platnumz

Nasema Nawe

Tanzania


Flavour

Golibe

Nigeria


Dr. Jose Chameleone

Wale Wale

Uganda


Olamide

Shakiti Bobo

Nigeria


Sarkodie

Adonai (Remix)

Ghana


Wizkid

Ojuelegba

Nigeria


Yemi Alade

Kissing

Nigeria




REGIONAL CATEGORIES


Best Male Artist in Central Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Awilo Longomba

Bundelele

Democratic Republic of Congo


Herleo Muntu

Muabilayi

Democratic Republic of Congo


Junior Eyango

Belle Mere

Cameroon


Locko

Margo

Cameroon


Numerica

Kossa Moi Ça

Cameroon


Stanley Enow

King Kong

Cameroon







Best Female Artist in Central Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Betty Akna

Africa United

Equatorial Guinea


Charlotte Dipanda

Elle n'a pas Vu

Cameroon


Laurette La Perle

Twist

Democratic Republic of Congo


Mani Bella

Face a Face

Cameroon


Missy BK

Ndolo

Cameroon







Best Male Artist in Eastern Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Alikiba

Mwana

Tanzania


Diamond Platnumz

Nasema Nawe

Tanzania


Dr. Jose Chameleone

Wale Wale

Uganda


Jaguar

One Centimetre

Kenya


Kidum

Ihorere

Burundi


Teddy Afro

Korkuma Africa

Ethiopia







Best Female Artist in Eastern Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Alsarah

Habibi Taal

Sudan


Helen Berhe

Gumema Bet

Ethiopia


Lilian Mbabazi

Simple Girl

Uganda


Linah

Ole Themba

Tanzania


Suzanna Owiyo

Wamiel

Kenya


Tsedenia

Yet Biye

Ethiopia







Best Male Artist in Northern Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Ahmed Soultan

This is Who I Am

Morocco


Amr Diab

Gamalo

Egypt


Aziz Sahmaoui

Mazal

Morocco


Don Bigg

Ghadi Bellour

Morocco


Monsif Jilali

Bki Ya L'ayne

Morocco


Simo Lagnawi

Bolami

Morocco







Best Female Artist in Northern Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Cheba Sabrine

Oublie Moi

Algeria


Jannat

Agbany Shakhsito

Morocco


Manal

#Denia

Morocco


Samira Said

Mazloom

Morocco


Souad Massi

El Boulbouli

Algeria







Best Female Artist in Southern Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Anna Joyce

Ja Nao Combina

Angola


Bucie

Shela

South Africa


Busiswa

Lahla

South Africa


Celma Ribas

Fato

Angola


Cindy Munyavi

Kutsvaga Mari

Zimbabwe


Kelly Khumalo

Asine

South Africa







Best Male Artist in Southern Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Beatenberg

Beauty Like a Tightened Bow

South Africa


Cassper Nyovest

Ghetto

South Africa


DJ Malvado

Toca Ninguém se Mexe

Angola


Djeff Afrozila

Ser Kazukuta

Angola


Jeremy Loops

Down South

South Africa


KO

Son of a Gun

South Africa







Best Male Artist in Western Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Brymo

1 Pound

Nigeria


Davido

Fans Mi

Nigeria


Flavour

Golibe

Nigeria


Olamide

Shakiti Bobo

Nigeria


Sarkodie

Adonai (Remix)

Ghana


Wizkid

Ojuelegba

Nigeria







Best Female Artist in Western Africa.




ARTIST

TRACK

COUNTRY


Efya

Forgetting Me

Ghana


Niyola

Last Bus Stop

Nigeria


Ruby Gyang

Good Man

Nigeria


Seyi Shay

Jangilova

Nigeria


Wiyaala

Africa

Ghana


Yemi Alade

Kissing

Nigeria