New categories added to Uganda’s HiPipo awards

9 Feb 2018 - 16:01

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Uganda’s HiPipo Music Awards has introduced three new female categories.

Eddy Kenzo and Sheebah are the most nominated artists ahead of the 2018 HiPipo Awards.

This year's ceremony will honour winners in these new categories: Raising Diva Stand Out Act, East Africa Best Female Artist and Africa Best Female Artist. The addition is intended to celebrate female accomplishment in music.

Furthermore, HiPipo has also added Best Song from Western Africa and Best Song from Southern Africa in a bid to expand its coverage in celebrating music in those regions and promote cultural integration on the continent.

Speaking to Music In Africa, CEO HiPipo Music Awards Innocent Kawooya said the body is committed to celebrating, honouring, and sustaining African music’s past, present, and future.

“The women HiPipo music awards is presenting to the world are the standing voices that speak for millions of women across the globe,” he said. “At HiPipo, we believe the earlier we celebrate these women by giving them a platform to standout, the better for Africa. Creating these opportunities in one of the best ways to achieve this.”

“We envision a developed Africa” he added. “ Recognizing outstanding women means that another woman can create the kind of life she wishes to lead, unconstrained by limiting norms and stereotypes.”

Kawooya says the nominated females are adding flavour and creativity to art: “You will see when you watch these women music videos, many of them are so inspiring not only to the fans but to the entire creative arts industry. For instance, if the African film industry is to grow much faster, it must rely on such celebrated women in music, first, to a greater extent.”

The 2018 nominee list from over 15 countries has been announced and official voting opened on 22 December, 2017. Voting closes on the gala night.

Public votes constitute 70% of the votes cast. Fans can either vote via the HiPipo website or social media channels Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For WhatsApp and SMS, fans are to use +256778087194. 30% of the votes will be provided by HiPipo music assembly made up of selected previous winners and nominees and media personalities.

Here is the complete list of nominees:

Africa Song of the Year

Alikiba – Seduce Me
C4 Pedro Ft Sauti Sol – Love Again
Cassper Nyovest – Tito Mboweni
Darassa Ft. Ben Pol – Muziki
Davido – IF
Diamond Platnumz Ft. Ne-Yo – Marry You
Eddy Kenzo – Jubilation
Jah Prayzah Ft. Mafikizolo – Sendekera
Major Lazer & DJ Maphorisa – Particula (ft. Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking & Jidenna)https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/dj-maphorisa
Roberto – Into You
Runtown – Mad Over You
Sheebah – John Rambo
Wizkid – Come Closer Ft. Drake

Africa Video of the Year

AKA – Caiphus Song
Davido – Fall
Diamond Platnumz Ft. Morgan Heritage – Hallelujah
Flavour – Baby Na Yoka
Mafikizolo – Love Potion
Major Lazer & DJ Maphorisa – Particula (ft. Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking & Jidenna)
Eazi – Leg Over
Sarkodie – Pain Killer Ft. Runtown
Sauti Sol Ft. Patoranking – Melanin
Sheebah – The Way
Tekno – Rara
Tiwa Savage – All Over
Toofan – Terre