Tiwa Savage and Tekno top Nigerian Entertainment Awards nominations

Now in its eleventh year, the NEA was created with the aim of recognising the contributions of Nigerian entertainers. It also includes categories for non-Nigerians on the continent.

This year the event takes place on Sunday 4 September in New York, USA.

Among the front-runners is Tiwa Savage, who receives four nominations, including one for her album R.E.D and another for her feature on ‘Romantic’, the duet with her Mavin Records labelmate Korede Bello.

Afropop singer Tekno meanwhile receives three nominations, including one for the video ‘Duro’ as directed by Patrick Elis. 

Like Tekno, rapper Lil Kesh is also nominated for three albums, including Best Album for his debut album Y.A.G.I.  Kiss Daniel is nominated for Hottest Single as his frequent collaborator, DJ Coublon, is nominated for Best Producer. Iyanya and Falz, who recently was nominated for the BET Awards, are among nominees.

Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist Stonebwoy is nominated in the African Male category. As is his countrymen Sarkodie and Bisa Kdei. Kenya’s Sauti Sol, who are reportedly shooting a video for a song with Nigeria’s 2 Baba, are also nominated in the category as is Liberia's F.A. The female equivalent of the category will see Tanzania’s Vanessa Mdee square up against Rwanda’s Knowless Butera. Also nominated are South Africa's Lira, who is set to perform at the Johannesburg club Bassline on 25 June; Senegal's Adiouza; and Uganda's Sheebah Ndiwanjawulo.

The NEA also includes categories for DJs, film, comedy, radio and television personalities.

Nominees in the music-related categories are as follows:

Best Album

• Y.A.G.I – Lil Kesh
• Applaudise – Iyanya
• Eyan Mayweather – Olamide
• Ghetto University – Runtown
• R.E.D. – Tiwa Savage
• Stories that Touch – Falz
• Seyi or Shay  – Seyi Shay
• Mama Africa – Yemi Alade

Hottest Single

• 'Osinachi' – Humblesmith
• 'Duro' – Tekno
• 'Baba Nla' – Wizkid
• 'Lagos Boys' – Olamide
• 'Mama' – Kiss Daniel
• 'Jagaban' – Ycee

Best Song

• 'Pick Up' – Adekunle Gold
• 'Oluwa Ni' – Reekado Banks
• 'The Vow' – Timi Dakolo
• 'You Suppose Know' – Bez
• 'Type of Woman' – Iyanya
• 'Go On' – Niyola

Afropop Artist

• Tekno
• Wiz Kid
• Tiwa Savage
• Kiss Daniel
• Chidinma
• Davido

R&B Artist

• Waje
• Niyola
• Praiz
• Seyi Shay
• Dare
• Iyanya

Rap Act

• Vector
• MI
• Phyno
• Olamide
• Reminisce
• CDQ

Gospel Artist

• Uche Agu
• Frank Edward
• Nikki Laoye
• Sammy Okposo
• Obiora Obiwon
• Onos Brisibi

Dancehall Artist

• Patoranking
• Timaya
• Cynthia Morgan
• Ceeza
• Burna Boy
• Ketchup

Indigenous Artist

• 9ice
• Flavour
• Tillaman
• Jaywon
• Olu Maintain
• Kcee

Alternative Artist

• Temidollface
• Bez
• Mystro
• Brymo
• Aramide
• Timi Dakolo

Best New Act

• Niniola
• Ycee
• Adekunle Gold
• Humblesmith
• Mz Kiss
• Toby Grey

Most Promising Act to Watch

• Shobzy
• Mr. Eazi
• Teeblaq
• Spyz
• Terry Apala
• Coco Benson

Diaspora Artist

• Shiikane
• Ayojay
• Mr. Eazi
• Lioness
• Duncan Daniels
• Stylezz

Best Collabo

• 'Moniegram' – Mr. 2Kay feat. Timaya
• 'Romantic' – Korede Bello feat. Tiwa
• 'My Woman, My Everything' – Patoranking feat. Wande Coal
• 'Yaya Oyoyo' – Lil Kesh feat. Davido
• 'Reggae Blues' –  Harry Song feat. Olamide, Iyanya, Orezi
• 'Your Number' – Ayojay feat. Fetty Wap
• 'Sekem' – MC Galaxy feat. Swizz Beats
• 'Finally' – Masterkraft feat. Sarkodie, Flavour

Best Live Performer

• Omawumi
• Tuface
• Solidstar
• Yemi Alade
• Dbanj
• MC Galaxy

Best Music Video

• 'Emergency' – Dbanj, Dir: Unlimited LA
• 'Right Now' – Seyi Shay, Dir: Meji Alabi
• 'Condo' – Kuammy, Dir: Moe Musa
• 'Karishika' – Falz, Dir: Aje Films
• 'Duro' – Tekno, Dir: Patrick Elis
• 'If I Start to Talk' – Tiwa, Dir: CP
• 'Quality' – Pasuma, Dir: HG2
• 'Sisi' – Sexy Steel, Dir: Chad Tennies

African Male Artist (non-Nigerian)

• Stonebwoy (Ghana)
• FA (Liberia)
• Sarkodie (Ghana)
• Sauti Sol (Kenya)
• Deng (Liberia)
• Papa Denis (Kenya)
• Bisa Kdei (Ghana)
• Eric Geso (Liberia)

African Female Artist (non-Nigerian)

• Vannessa Mdee (Tanzania)
• Efya (Ghana)
• Lira (South Africa)
• MZ Vee (Ghana)
• Sheebah Ndiwanjawulo (Uganda)
• Adiouza (Senegal)
• Victoria Kimani (Kenya)
• Knowless Butera (Rwanda)

Music Producer

• DJ Coublon
• Masterkraft
• Young John
• Cobhams
• Mystro
• Jay Pizzle

Male Disc Jockey

• DJ TTB
• DJ Kelvin
• DJ Enimoney
• DJ Vinnie
• DJ Tunez
• DJ Gavpop

Female Disc Jockey

• DJ Lambo
• DJ Mystelle
• DJ Nana
• DJ Sensei Lo
• DJ Switch
• DJ Soupamodel

Disc Jockey Collabo

• DJ Shabsy ft. Kiss Daniel – 'Raba'
• DJ Kaywise ft. Oritsefemi – 'Warn Dem'
• DJ Xclusive ft Cassper Nyovest, Sakordie, Anatii & Banky W. - 'Cash Only'
• DJ Spinall ft. Yemi Alade – 'Pepe Dem'
• DJ Jimmy Jatt ft Wizkid – 'Feeling The Beat'
• DJ Kentalky ft. Lil Kesh – 'Blessings'

African(Non Nigerian) Disc Jockey

• DJ Lebbie (Sierra Leone)
• DJ Bossman (Liberia)
• DJ Mensah (Ghana)
• DJ Joe Mfalme (Kenya)
• DJ Slick Stuart & Roja (Uganda)
• DJ Vyrusky (Ghana)

Music Executive

• Don Jazzy – Mavin
• Ubi Franklin – MMMG
• E-Money – Five Star
• Ossy Chiori – Achievas
• Steve Baba Eko – Xtreme
• Okwudili Umenyiora – Eric Manny

Radio OAP

• Teddy Don-Momoh – Star FM
• Tisan – Raypower
• Toke Makinwa – Rhythm
• N6 – Cool FM
• Ushbebe – Naija FM
• Igos – Wazobia

For the full list of nominees (including the Film, TV, Fashion and Comedy categories), visit the NEA website.