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Oragnizers of the 2018 edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which is scheduled to hold later in November have released the full list of nominees for this years edition.
Nigerian heavyweights like Davido, Wizkid, Simi, Tiwa Savage have all earned their place alongside the likes of other African superstars lke South Africa's Shekhinah, DRC's Maitre Gims, Diamond Platnumz, Betty G and Nasty C who have all bagged multiple nominations for a brilliant and consistent year.
Other Nigerian artistes nominated in several categories include Olamide, Mr Real, 2Baba, Falz, Banky W, Burna Boy, Praiz, Patoranking, Mr P, Wande Coal and Kizz Daniel.
Democratic Republic of Congo-born international recording artiste and rapper, Maître Gims and South Africa’s fast rising songstress, Shekhinah, have received seven nominations each to emerge highest nominated artistes for the fifth edition of the awards.
This was made known when the African Union Commission, AUC, and the International Jury of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA released the highly anticipated full list of the Regional and Continental Categories of the annual awards ceremony to the public on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.
Closely following the top contenders are Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Ethiopia’s Betty G who each earned six nominations; while Simi (Nigeria) and Nasty C (South Africa) got on the 5th AFRIMA nominees list with five nominations apiece.
AFRIMA is adding four new awards categories namely African DJ of the Year; Best African Dance/Choreography; African Lyricist/Rapper of the Year and Best African Act in Diaspora, introduced in June 2018 by the African Union and the International Committee of AFRIMA to give room for expansion and inclusiveness in the African music industry.
Commenting on the final nominees list for the 5th AFRIMA and how the jury arrived at finding the best musical works within the year under review, AFRIMA Juror representing Eastern Africa, Tabu Osusa, said,
“This year, AFRIMA registered a record number of entries in its competition. We were very pleased to notice that mostly new talents have entered the competition. The 13 jurors had a hard task going through over 8000 talented and creative entries.
It resulted in heated sessions and far from unanimous decisions. Being an odd number of jurors revealed to be a blessing allowing us to make decisions by the majority.
After a lot of sweat, long discussions and late hours, the jurors designated the best artistes in each given genre. It is now up to the public to go through this process and help to find the new African talents.”
Public voting will commence on the AFRIMA website on Saturday, September 1, where both continental and regional nominees in the 36 AFRIMA awarding categories will compete against one another for the coveted 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA Trophy.
See the nominees list of major categories below:
Best Female Western Africa
Best Male West Africa
Artiste Of The Year
Tiwa Savage ft Wizkid & Spellz - Nigeria (Ma Lo)
Starboy feat Wizkid, Ceeza Milli, Terri, Spotless - Nigeria (Soco)
Davido - Nigeria (FIA)
Betty G - Ethiopia (Wegegta)
Diamond Platnumz - Tanzania (Sikomi)
Kwesta feat Wale- South Africa (Spirit)
Maitre Gims feat Vianney- DRC (La Meme)
Nasty C - South Africa (Jungle)
Saad Lamjarred - Morocco (Casablanca)
Song Of The Year
Daphne - My Lover
Davido - FIA
GuiltyBeatz, Mr. Eazi, Patapaa & Pappy Kojo - Akwaaba
Kwesta - Wale
Maitre Gims Ft. Vianney- La Meme
Major Lazer & DJ Maphorisa Ft. Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking & Jidenna - Particula
Nasty C & Runtown - Said
Saad Lamjarred - Casablanca
Sauti Sol Ft. Patoranking - Melanin
Starboy Ft. Terry, Ceeza Milli, Spotless - Soco
Tiwa Savage Ft. Wizkid & Spellz - Ma Lo
Best African Collaboration
Tiwa Savage Ft Wizkid & Spellz - Nigeria (Ma Lo)
Balti Ft Hamouda - Tunisia (Ya Lili)
DJ Moh Green Ft. Magasco - Algeria/Cameroon (Por Favor)
DJ Spinall & Wizkid - Nigeria (Nowo)
Fally Ipupa Ft. KeBlack & Naza - DRC (Mannequin)
GuiltyBeatz, Mr. Eazi, Patappa & Pappy Kojo - Ghana (Akwaaba)
Maitre Gims Ft. Vianney - DRC/France (La Meme)
Major Lazer & DJ Maphorisa Ft. Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking, Jidenna - Particula
Nasty C & Runtown - South Africa/Nigeria (Said)
Revolution & Magic System - Cote d'Ivoire (Kelly)
Sauti Sol & Patoranking - Kenya/Nigeria (Melanin)
Best Male Southern Africa
Best African Rapper or Lyricist
Cassper Nyovest - South Africa (Ksazobalit)
Falz - Nigeria (La Fete)
Khaligraph Jones Ft. Petra - Kenya (Rider)
Muslim - Aji M3aya (Morocco)
Nadia Nakai Ft. Cassper Nyovest - South Africa (Naaa Meeaan)
Nasty C - South Africa (Jungle)
Rouge Ft. Bigstar - South Africa (Dololo)
Shane Eagle - South Africa (Let it Flow)