Malawi: 2018 UMP Awards announce nominees

6 déc 2018 - 10:17

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

The nominees for the 2018 edition of the Urban Music People (UMP) Awards have been released. The award ceremony will be held at Robins Park in Blantyre, Malawi, on 29 December.

Malawian rapper Suffix has received five nominations ahead of the 2018 UMP Awards. Photo: Facebook

Malawian musicians Gwamba and Suffix lead the nominees list with five nominations each. Gwamba was nominated in the Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Best Urban Gospel and Best Live Act categories. Suffix received nominations for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Urban Gospel, Best Hip Hop Artist/Group and Best Live Act.

Following the two with four nominations each are Fredokiss and Tay Grin. Fredokiss receives nominations in the Artist of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Best Hip Hop Artist/Group and Best Live Act categories, while Tay Grin is named in the Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Live Act categories,

R&B singer Teddy received three nominations while Sonye, Faith Mussa, Piksy and Seven O’ More sit with two nominations apiece. South African artists AKA, Cassper Nyovest, King Monada, Nasty C as well as Tanzania’s Diamond Platinumz will compete for the Best SADC International Act Award.

"The list comprises 18 of the 20 award categories and there are five nominees in each," UMP CEO Ken Zizwa told Music In Africa. "They were decided by votes from a panel of local urban music experts and popular votes from social media.

"As previously announced, the Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Lucius Banda, while the Humanitarian Award will be determined at a later stage. The final winners will be decided via SMS voting [codes to be announced later today on social media] and votes from the judges’ panel.”

Lucius Banda told Music In Africa that he was happy to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I feel honoured and it is a very rare occurrence hat you get honoured while you're still alive in Malawi. It’s such an honour, and I am not trying to beat my own drum, but honestly it’s been a long time coming and a lot people have said it should have been done yesterday. However, I thank God because he has his own time and I appreciate that,” the 48 year old musician said.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Artist of the Year