The organisers of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) have released nominees for its regional categories ahead of the 2018 ceremony.
An incomplete list was made public at a press conference on 14 August at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria. In attendance were the AFRIMA jury as well as the African Union representative Angela Martins.
At the event, Martins applauded AFRIMA, saying it is “growing in scope and impact”. She also saluted the jury members, who, it was said, had put in long hours to produce a worthy list of nominees. “We salute you and applaud you,” she said.
Despite those hours and a long delay in starting the conference, it was announced that the jury was yet to finish assessing the more than 8 000 entries received. As a result, only six categories were announced to the audience in attendance. The rest of the list, said the organisers, would be conveyed electronically.
The full list of nominees for the regional categories has now been released, three days after the press conference.
At the press conference, Mike Dada, president of AFRIMA, said the awards existed to celebrate African music and to portray the continent as having other things besides poverty and violence. “We are using AFRIMA to communicate ourselves to the rest of the world unapologetically,” he said, adding that the awards body also aims to “reward our established superstars”.
The list of nominees has duly rewarded the continent’s stars, as such big acts as Bebe Cool, Wizkid, Davido and Diamond Platnumz are nominated. Most of these artists would be expected to dominate the general categories when the concluding list of nominees is published by AFRIMA.
“The AFRIMA nominees list we arrived at reflects and represents the top-notch creative expressions of music talents and professionals within the relevant regions and validity period,” said jury member Robert Ekukole. “However, we also have a challenge where some artistes failed to enter for the awards and as such missed the opportunity to be evaluated or possibly nominated for AFRIMA.”
The list of nominees for the regional categories of the 2018 AFRIMA is reproduced below:
- Best Female Artist in Central Africa
- Amanda Malela – DRC – Kumama
- Anabela Aya – Angola – I Love You Bue
- Blanche Baily – Cameroon – BonBon
- Bruna Tatiana – Angola – Amo Te
- Charlotte Dipanda – Cameroon – Sista
- Daphne – Cameroon – Jusqu’à La Gare
- Iyenga – DRC – Sorry
- Shura – Cameroon – Allez Dire
Best Male Artist in Central Africa
- Afrotonix – Chad – DYD
- Belamy Paluku – DRC – Blood Brothers
- Dadju – DRC – Bob Marley
- Fally Ipupa – DRC – Mannequin
- Gaz Mawete – DRC – Paulina
- Locko – Cameroon – Je Serai La
- Magasco – Cameroon – Sokoto
- Maitre Gims – DRC – La Meme
Best Female Artist in Eastern Africa
- Betty G – Ethiopia – Mengedegna
- Irene namatovu – Uganda – Nsambila nyuma nga Janzi
- Maua Sama – Tanzania – Nakuelewa
- Petra – Kenya – I Got That
- Rash – Kenya – Nitachange
- Sandra Nankoma – Uganda – Kaddugala
- Sheebah Sasha Vybz – Uganda – Mummy Yo
- Vibe – Rwanda – Neza
Best Male Artist in Eastern Africa
- Bebe Cool – Uganda – Freedom
- Diamond Platnumz – Tanzania – A Boy from Tandale
- Harmonize – Tanzania – Kwangwaru
- Kagwe Mungai – Kenya – Till the End
- Khaligraph Jones – Kenya – Rider
- Nyashinski – Kenya – Bebi Bebi
- Rayvanny – Tanzania – Makulusa
- Yamiu Mola – Ethiopia – Wegegta
Best Female Artist in Northern Africa
- Kenza – Algeria – Maliket Saba
- Lyna Mahyem – Algeria – Boucan
- Lyna Mahyem – Algeria – Bye Bye
- Maryam Saleh, Maurice Louca, Tamer Abu Ghazaleh – Egypt – Ekaa Maksour
- N-S feat Kafon – Tunisia – Daloula
- Souhia Ben Lachhab – Algeria – Lik Manwalich
Best Male Artist in Northern Africa
- Abu – Egypt – 3 Daqat
- Balti – Tunisia – Ya Lili
- DJ Moh Green – Algeria – Por Favor
- Hamza El Fadly – Morocco – Ya Mraya
- Lartiste – Morocco – Mafiosa
- Muslim – Morocco – Mama
- Saad Lamjarred – Morocco – Casablanca
- Sofiane – Algeria – Arafricain
Best Female Artist in Southern Africa
- Ammara Brown – Zimbabwe – Akiliz
- Babes Woduno – South Africa – Ganda Ganda
- Lily – Malawi – Bad at Love
- Mandisa Mamba – Swaziland – Party
- Nadia Nakai – South Africa – Money Calling
- Rouge – South Africa – Dololo
- Ruby the Pigeon – Namibia – Rorisang
- Shekhinah – South Africa – Please Mr
Best Male Artist in Southern Africa
- Cassper Nyovest – South Africa – Ksazobalit
- EXQ – Zimbabwe – Pahukama
- Jah Prayzah – Zimbabwe – Nziyo Yerudo
- Kwesta – South Africa – Spirit
- Nasty C – South Africa – Jungle
- Roberto – Zambia – Contolola
- Shane Eagle – South Africa – Let it Flow
- Sibusiso Mashiloane – South Africa – Niza
Best Female Artist in Western Africa
- Angelique Kidjo – Benin – Once in a Lifetime
- Aya Nakamura – Mali – Oumou Sangare
- Becca – Ghana – Number One
- Efya – Ghana – Mame
- Josey – Cote d’Ivoire – Jour J-O
- Simi – Nigeria – Joromi
- Tiwa Savage – Nigeria – Ma Lo
- Viviane Chidid – Senegal – Marriage Force
Best Male Artist in Western Africa
- Davido – Nigeria – Fia
- DJ Spinall – Nigeria Nowo
- Djodje – Cape Verde – Be Mine
- King Promise – Ghana – CCTV
- Kuami Eugene – Ghana – Angela
- Kwesi Arthur – Ghana – Grind Day
- MHD – Guinea – Bella
- Olamide – Nigeria – Wo!
- Starboy – Nigeria – Soco