Rwanda's Charly and Nina lead nominations for 2016 Salax Awards

The nominees were unveiled on Saturday 6 August at the Lemigo Hotel in Rwanda.

Unlike in previous years, this year there will be no awards for artists in the diaspora, or for Gakondo artists. The organizers claim they were not able to identify artists who have been consistent in releasing work in these two categories.

Artists will thus battle out in 13 different categories. The dynamic duo of Charly and Nina have bagged nominations in six different categories: Best Female Artist, Best Afrobeat Singer, Best New Artist, Best Group of the Year, as well as Song of the Year and Video of the Year for their hit 'Indoro' ft Big Fizzo.

There were also numerous nominations for the likes of Knowless Butera, Dream Boyz and Urban Boyz.

The full list of the 2016 Salax Awards nominees is as follows:

Best Male Artist

• Bruce Melody
• Christopher Muneza
• Danny Vumbi
• King James
• Urban Boyz

Best Female Artist

• Allioni
• Charly & Nina
• Knowless Butera
• Oda Paccy
• Teta Diana

Best Hip-Hop Singer

• Danny Nanone
• Green P
• Jay Polly
• Oda Paccy
• Riderman

Best RnB Singer

• Bruce Melody
• Christopher
• King James
• Knowless Butera
• Peace Joli

Best Afrobeat Singer

• Charly & Nina
• Danny Vumbi
• Mico The Best
• Teta Diana
• Urban Boyz

Best New Artist

• Aime Bluestone
• Charly & Nina
• Davis D
• Gaby Umutare
• Yvan Buravan

Video of the Year

• '70' - Dream Boyz
• 'Indoro' - Charly & Nina
• 'Ko Nashize Knowless' - Knowless Butera
• 'Niba Ari Wowe' - Oda Paccy
• 'Teamo' - Knowless Butera ft. Roberto

Best Gospel Singer

• Israel Mbonyi
• Janvier Kayitana
• Patient Bizimana
• Serge Iyamuremye
• Tonzi

Best Gospel Choir

• Abahamya ba Yesu Choir - SDA Muhima
• Abahetsi Choir - ADEPER Remera
• Alarm Ministries - Remera
• Chorale de Kigali
• Jehovah Jireh - ULK Kigali

Most Valuable Player

• Eric Dusingizimana
• Ernest Sugira 
• Kwizera Pierrot
• Savio Dominique Nshuti
• Jean Bosco Nsengimana

Best Audio Producer

• Bob Pro
• Clement Ishimwe
• Junior Multi System
• Pastor P
• Piano the Grooveman
• Semderi

Best Group of the Year

• Active
• Charly & Nina
• Dream Boyz
• TBB
• Urban Boys

Song of the Year

• ‘Indoro’ - Charly& Nina ft Big Farious,
• ‘Naramukundaga’ - King James,
• ‘Ni Danger’ - Danny Vumbi,
• ‘Teamo’ - Knowless Butera,
• ‘Till I Die’ - Urban Boyz ft Riderman

Winners will also be revealed on the night for the Artist of the Year and Album of the Year categories.

Public voting is set to commmence this month. For more details visit the Salax Awards Facebook page.