Ooohh sh*t! Mama I made to the MAMA’S!!! When I saw them flashing lights, fly models and press reception, I was like mama I hope you seeing where your son is at!
Last night I attended the MAMA’s Nomination party at The Sands in Sandton. And damn, MTV held it down! The last time we witnessed the MTV Africa Music Awards happen was back in 2010 in Lagos. Now the MAMA’s are back with a bang, bigger and better.
To kick off the night, we started on the red carpet to see the who’s who of the music industry, who they came with and see who wore what, who came with who and all that stuff we like seeing on the red carpet.The likes of Da L.E.S, AKA, Nonhle Thema, Penny Lebyane, Joey Rasdien, Burna Boy, Danny K with the wifey are just some of the celebs that caught our eye on the the red carpet. Oh, not forgetting Buji aka Bujiyonce, who did an awkward dance move on the carpet that left the photographers taking a moment to figure out what he just did, #SMH. Anyway… While all this was going down on the red carpet, the Twins On Deck and Speedsta were killing the decks with the dopest songs.
After the red carpet, we stepped inside to find out more about this lavish party that had us brushing shoulders with the best.
MTV Base and Absolut Vodka collaborated to announce this years nominated artists and provide people with a good time. The MAMA’s introduced a new category Best Hip Hop, which is a first ever since these epic awards started.
The MC’s of the party were MTV Base’s Nomuzi Mabena and Sizwe Dhlomo who held it down threw out the night. We were graced by the presence of the finest artists in Africa on stage.The performances were on fire. AKA performed his new single and had everyone congratulating the nominees through the lyrics of the song. Burna Boy, was impressive dressed in black. Beatenberg who murdered it with DJ Clock on the decks and Uhuru blessed us with hot jams and kept the crowd on their toes, dancing away to their tunes. Mafikizolo took forever as if they were arriving on stage on Camels and carts.
These are the categories and the artists nominated:
MUSIC CATEGORIES
Best Male:
Anselmo Ralph (Angola)
Davido (Nigeria)
Diamond (Tanzania)
Donald (South Africa)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best Female:
Arielle T (Gabon)
Chidinma (Nigeria)
DJ C’ndo (South Africa)
Efya (Ghana)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Best Group:
Big Nuz (South Africa)
Mafikizolo (South Africa)
Mi Casa (South Africa)
P Square (Nigeria)
Sauti Sol (Kenya)
Best New Act:
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Heavy K (South Africa)
Phyno (Nigeria)
Stanley Enow (Cameroon)
Uhuru (South Africa)
Best Live Act:
2face (Nigeria)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Flavour (Nigeria)
Dr Malinga (South Africa)
Zakes Bantwini (South Africa)
Best Collaboration:
Amani ft Radio and Weasel – ‘Kiboko Changu’ (Kenya/Uganda)
Diamond feat Davido – ‘Number One’ (Remix) (Tanzania/Nigeria)
Mafikizolo feat May D – ‘Happiness’ (South Africa/Nigeria)
R2bees feat Wizkid – ‘Slow Down’ (Ghana/Nigeria)
Uhuru feat DJ Buckz, Oskido, Professor, Yuri Da Cunha – ‘Y-tjukutja’ (South Africa/Angola)
Artist of the Year:
Davido (Nigeria)
Mafikizolo (South Africa)
Mi Casa (South Africa)
P Square (Nigeria)
Uhuru (South Africa)
Song of the Year:
Davido- ‘Skelewu’ (Nigeria)
DJ Clock feat Beatenberg – ‘Pluto’ (Remember Me) (South Africa)
DJ Ganyani feat FB – ‘Xigubu’ (South Africa)
DJ Kent feat The Arrows –‘Spin My World Around’ (South Africa)
Dr Sid feat Don Jazzy – ‘Surulere’ (Nigeria)
KCee – ‘Limpopo’ (Nigeria)
Mafikizolo feat Uhuru ‘Khona’ (South Africa)
Mi Casa- ‘Jika’ (South Africa)
P Square – ‘Personally’ (Nigeria)
Yuri Da Cunha -‘Atchu Tchu Tcha’ (Angola)
Best Hip Hop:
AKA (South Africa)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
Khuli Chana (South Africa)
Olamide (Nigeria)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Best Pop:
Danny K (South Africa)
Fuse ODG (Ghana)
Goldfish (South Africa)
LCNVL (South Africa)
Mathew Mole (South Africa)
Best Alternative:
Gangs of Ballet (South Africa)
Michael Loman (South Africa)
Nakhane Toure (South Africa)
Parlotones (South Africa)
Shortstraw (South Africa)
Best Francophone:
Arielle T (Gabon)
Espoir 2000 (Ivory Coast)
Ferre Gola (DRC)
Toofan (Togo)
Youssoupha (Congo)
Best Lusophone:
Anselmo Ralph (Angola)
JD (Angola)
Lizha James (Mozambique)
Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde)
Yuri Da Cunha (Angola)
NON MUSIC CATEGORIES
Personality of the Year:
Chimamanda Adiche – Writer (Nigeria)
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Actress (Nigeria)
Trevor Noah- Comedian (South Africa)
Lupita Nyong’o – Actress (Kenya)
Yaya Toure – Soccer Player (Cote d’Ivoire)
