All Africa Music Awards releases 2016 nominees

The list was made public on Tuesday 6 September, two weeks after an initial list for its regional categories was unveiled on Monday 22 August at a press conference in Lagos.

The 22 continental nomination categories include different music genres, as well as coveted categories of “Artiste of the Year in Africa”, “Best Video in Africa”, “Best Producer in Africa”, “Best Songwriter in Africa” and “Revelation of the Year in Africa”.

This year, the organisers have also introduced a new category, African Fans Favourite, to recognise African artistes who create “chartbusting, anthemic songs that propel the artistes to great popularity within and outside their respective countries and regions.”

Artists nominated in the category include D’Banj for ‘Emergency’, Cote d’Ivoire’s Kiff No Beat and Mozambican artist, Mr Bow. Several rising stars including Nigeria's house-music artist Niniola make the list of nominees. 

In partnership with the AUC and the official host city, Lagos, Nigeria, the third AFRIMA calendar of events for November 4-6, 2016 will include the Africa Music Business Summit on Friday, November 4, and the AFRIMA Music Village, an open concert-style festival featuring nominees and other top billed music stars. The grand awards ceremony holds on Sunday, November 6 with over 6,000 guests expected in Lagos, Nigeria for the various events.

For more information, visit the AFRIMA website.

Full list of nominees below.

Best African Collaboration Ahmed Soultan ft. Femi Kuti, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Mehdi Nassouli – Afrobian (Morocco) Amine Aub & Masta Flow – Feel the Same (Morocco) Amine Aub ft Papa Wemba and DJ Youcef - Kanya Ma Kan (Morocco) Eddy Kenzo Ft. Niniola - Mbilo Mbilo remix (Uganda) Flavour Ft Selebobo - Mmege Mmege (Nigeria) Francois Van Coke ft. Arno Carstens - Ek Weet Nie (South Africa) Okyeame Kwame Ft Mzvee - Small Small (Ghana) Sarkodie ft Pat Thomas – Bra (Ghana) Tiwa Savage ft Dr. Sid – If I Start to Talk (Nigeria)   Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Electro Black Coffee – Come With Me (South Africa) DJ Maphorisa – Soweto Baby (South Africa) Djeff Afrozila – So Blessed (Angola) Hatim Ammor – Alawal (Morocco) Mi Casa – Barman (South Africa) Renato Xtrova  - Love Affair (Angola) Such – You (Zimbabwe)   Best African Jazz Bokani Dyer – Vuvuzela (South Africa) Carmen Souza  - Cape Verdean Blues (Cabo Verde) Jimmy Dludlu – Ha Deva (South Africa) Kunle Ayo – Happy to Know You (Nigeria) Moreira Chonguica – Ngoma (Mozambique) Oum – Ah Wah (Morocco) Ray Lema Quintet – Head Bug (Democratic Republic of Congo)   Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall Agende - Ziza Bafana (Uganda) Anteneh Minalu – Wayo (Ethiopia) Cindy Sanyu – Still Standing (Uganda) Dufla Diligon ft Cindy Sanyu – Tempo (Kenya) Montess - In Love with A Gun (Cameroon) Patoranking – No Kissing Baby (Nigeria) Stonebwoy – Go Higher (Ghana) T-Smallz – Guewel (Gambia)   Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Hip-Hop AKA – Composure (South Africa) CiCi Bala – Lebanta (Botswana) E.L - King Without a Crown (Ghana) H-Name - Wach Rak Nachet? (Morocco) Jizzle - Man of the Year (Gambia) Jovi – Zélé (Cameroon) Sarkodie –Hand to Mouth (Ghana) Stanley Enow – Work Hard (Cameroon) YCEE - Omo Alhaji (Nigeria) Zona 5  - Pablo (Angola)   Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African RnB & Soul Aramide - I Don't Care  (Nigeria) Butera Knowless – Konashize (Rwanda) Henok & Mehari Brothers - Ewèdi Shalèhu (Ethiopia) Iyanya - Type of Woman (Nigeria) Kiss Daniel – Mama (Nigeria) Korede Bello ft Tiwa Savage – Romantic (Nigeria) Lira – Let There Be Light (South Africa) Niniola - J'ètè (Nigeria) Ric Hassani – Gentlemen (Nigeria) Sidikiba Diabaté - Fais Moi Confiance (Mali) Tjan – Aduke (Nigeria) Zonke – Reach It – (South Africa)   Songwriter of the Year In Africa Bulelwa Mkutukana -Imali  (Zahara, South Africa) Eddy Kenzo & Niniola - Mbilo Mbilo (Eddy Kenzo & Niniola, Uganda) Hatim Ammor - Alawal (Hatim Ammor, Morocco) Kwame Nsiah Apau - Small Small (Kwame Okyeame ft Mzvee, Ghana) Lerato Molapo - Let There Be Light (Lira, South Africa) Naseeb Abdul Juma - Utanipenda (Diamond Platnumz, Tanzania) Olawale Ashimi - In the City (Brymo, Nigeria) Sidikiba Diabaté - Fais Moi Confiance (Sidikiba Diabate, Mali) Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza - Colours of Africa (Mafikizolo, Diamond, DJ Maphorisa, South Africa) Unique - Njogereza (Navio, Uganda)   Producer of the Year DJ Coublon - Duro (Tekno, Nigeria) DJ Maphorisa - Soweto Baby (DJ Maphorisa Ft Wizkid & DJ Buckz, South Africa) DJ Van - #Woman (DJ Van & Tyrane, Morocco) Don Jazzy - If I Start To Talk (Tiwa Savage, Nigeria) Fortune Dane - Hand To Mouth  (Sarkodie, Ghana) Kuseim - Mbilo Mbilo remix (Eddy Kenzo Ft Niniola, Uganda) Masterkraft - Finally (Masterkraft Ft Flavour & Sarkodie, Nigeria) Sidikiba Diabaté - Fais Moi Confiance (Sidikiba Diabaté, Mali) Yung John -Baba Nla (Wizkid, Nigeria)   Revelation of the Year Amine Aminux - Makayen (Ma Morocco) E.L - King Without a Crown (Ghana) Emtee - Roll Up (South Africa) Falz - Bad Baddo Baddest (Nigeria) Simi - Love Don't Care (Nigeria) Yamato Band – Cheza Kwa Madoido (Tanzania) Zani Challe ft. Patoranking - Single Tonight (Malawi)   Song of the Year In Africa Alawal  - Hatim Ammor (Morocco) Duro – Tekno (Nigeria) Fais Moi Confiance - Sidikiba Diabaté (Mali) Final (Baba Nla) – Wizkid (Nigeria) If I Start to Talk - Tiwa Savage  (Nigeria) Imali – Zahara (South Africa) Mbilo Mbilo remix - Eddy Kenzo (Uganda) Njogereza – Navio (Uganda) Small Small - Okyeame Kwame ft Mzvee (Ghana) Soweto Baby - DJ Maphorisa Ft Wizkid & DJ Buckz (South Africa) Utanipenda - Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)   Album of the Year Ahmed Soultan - Music Has No Boundaries (Morocco) C4 Pedro - King C.K.W.A (Cameroon) Mi Casa – Home Sweet Home (South Africa) Sauti Sol - Live and Die in Afrika (Kenya) Sidikiba Diabaté - Diabateba Music Vol. 1 (Mali) Tiwa Savage – R.E.D (Deluxe Edition) (Nigeria) Yemi Alade – Mama Africa (Diary of An African Woman) (Nigeria) Zahara  - Country Girl (South Africa) Zonke - Work of Heart (South Africa)                                                   Artiste of the Year Black Coffee - Come With Me (South Africa) Diamond Platnumz – Utanipenda (Tanzania) Eddy Kenzo – Mbilombilo Remix (Uganda) Hatim Ammor – Alawal (Morocco) Navio - Njogereza (Uganda) Sarkodie -Hand To Mouth (Ghana) Sidikiba Diabaté - Fais Moi Confiance (Mali) Tekno - Duro (Nigeria) Tiwa Savage - If I Start To Talk (Nigeria) Wizkid - Final (Baba Nla) (Nigeria) Zahara  - Imali (South Africa)   Video of the Year Come With Me  - Stacey Lee (Black Coffee Ft Mque, South Africa) Dogo Yaro - Pascal Aka (VVIP Ft Samini, Ghana) Ek Weet Nie - Hunter Kennedy (Francois Van Coke Ft Arno Carstens, South Africa) Gentleman – Mex (Ric Hassani, Nigeria) King Without a Crown – Phamousphilms (E.L., Ghana) Mbilo Mbilo remix – Mex (Eddy Kenzo ft Niniola, Uganda) Mmege Mmege - Clarence Peters (Flavour ft Selebobo, Nigeria) School Your Face - Damola Adelaja (Temi Dollface, Nigeria)   Most Promising Artiste Amine Aub - Feel the Same (Morocco) Antenehminalu – Wayo (Ethiopia) Bisa Kdei – Mansa (Ghana) Butera Knowless – Konashize (Rwanda) Elzo Jamdong - Assiko Flow (Senegal) Nuru - All in a Moment (Ghana) Ric Hassani – Gentlemen (Nigeria) Sat B – Nyampinga (Burundi)   Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Pop Amine Aminux - Makayen Ma (Morocco) Amine Aub - Feel the same (Morocco) Diamond Platnumz – Utanipenda (Tanzania) Jose Chameleone – Agatako (Uganda) Tekno – Duro (Nigeria) Wizkid - Final (Baba Nla) (Nigeria)   Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Rock Amine Aub & Masta Flow – Kanya Ma Kan (Morocco) Dark Suburb ft Wiyaala – Mama (Ghana) Francois Van Coke ft Arno Carstens - Ek Weet Nie (South Africa) Jano Band – Darigne (Ethiopia) Kanyeki – Murata (Kenya) Lionel Loueke Trio - Wacko Loco (Benin) Loki Rothman - Under the Stars (South Africa) M' Vula - Tristezas E Alegrias ( Angola)   Best African Group Jano Band – Darigne (Ethiopia) M' Vula - Tristezas E Alegrias (Angola) Mafikizolo - Colours of Africa ( South Africa) Mi Casa – Barman (South Africa) Sauti Sol - Live and Die In Afrika (Kenya) Toofan - Eledji (Togo) VVIP - Dogo Yaro (Ghana) X-Maleya – Mon Mariage (Cameroon)   Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African Traditional Alokè – Gbétoho (Benin) Binakoumaré & Madou Diabate - N'djaba (Mali) Bioma - Ovedje Ayonuwe (Nigeria) Dizu Plaatjies - Inkomo (South Africa) Mabiisi - Awine (Ghana & Burkina Faso) Stypak Samo - Woyo hoooo (Cameroon) Zeynab - Bolojo (Benin)   Best Artiste/Duo/Group/Band In African Contemporary Adiouza – Daddy (Senegal) Ahmed Soultan - Afrobian (Morocco) Eddy Kenzo - Mbilo Mbilo Remix (Uganda) Flavour - Mmege Mmege (Nigeria) Okyeame Kwame ft Mzvee - Small Small (Ghana) Reniss - La Sauce (Cameroon) Tiwa Savage - If I Start To Talk (Nigeria) Zahara  - Imali (South Africa)   Best Female Artiste in Inspirational Evelyn Wanjiru – Nikufahamu (Kenya) Mercy Masika – Nikupendeze (Kenya) Naomi Achu - Busy Body (Cameroon) Oum - Ah Wah (Morocco) Sinach - Way Maker (Nigeria) Yemi Alade - Na Go De (Nigeria)   Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational Benjamin Dube - I Know Only You (South Africa) Denno Ft Bahati – Story Yangu (Kenya) Icha Kavons – Testimony (Democratic Republic of Congo) Kanyekiz – Murata (Kenya) Mike Abdul – Korede (Nigeria) Papa Dennis & Rigan Sarkozi Olalo (Kenya)   African Fans Favourite D’Banj  - Emergency (Nigeria) DJ Hamida Ft H Magnum - Pina Colada (Morocco) H Magnum ft Black M - Aucun Mytho (Cote d’Ivoire) Kiff No Beat - La Vie De Louga (Cote d’Ivoire) Maitre Gims Ft Nsika -  Sapés Comme Jamais (Democratic Republic of Congo) Mr. Bow - Vida Boa (Mozambique) Nyashinki - Now You Know (Kenya) Phyno Ft Olamide - Fada Fada (Nigeria)   REGIONAL CATEGORIES   Best Male Artiste Central Africa  C4 Pedro - Spetxa One (Angola)  Ferre gola – Tucheze (DRC)  Franko - Coller La Petite (Cameroon)  Jovi - Zele (Cameroon)  Nelson Freitas - Miuda Linda (Angola)  Wax Dey - Saka Makossa (Cameroon)  Werasson - Yo Te (DRC)   Best Female Artiste, Central Africa  Bruna Tatiana - Pometo Mudar (Angola)  Daphne Ndolo – Ndolo (Cameroon)  Mani Bella - Qui Cherche Tronve (Cameroon)  Naomi Achu - Busy Body (Cameroon)  Reniss - La Sauce (Cameroon)  Syssi Mananga - Juste Un Peu (DRC)   Best Male Artiste,  Eastern Africa Alikiba - Aje (Tanzania) Bebe Cool – Kabulengane (Uganda) Diamond Platinumz – Utanipenda (Tanzania) Eddy Kenzo - Mbilo Mbilo Remix (Uganda) Jose Chameleone – Agatako (Uganda) Navio - Njogereza (Uganda)   Best Female Artiste, Eastern Africa Avril - No Stress (Kenya) Cindy Sanyu - Still Standing (Uganda) Fikeraddis Nekatebeb – Misekir (Ethiopia) Irene Ntale - Omukwano Gw’ekilo (Uganda) Juliana Kanyomozi - Twalina Omukwano (Uganda) Victoria Kimani - Booty Bounce (Kenya)   Best Female Artiste, Northern Africa Amal Maher -Ezay Fatetny (Egypt)  Angham - Wahda Kam La (Egypt)  Latifa - Ya Hayati (Tunisia)  Samira Said – Mahassalsh (Morocco)  Sarah Ayoub -  Nachid Al Houb (Morocco) Zina Daoudia -  La Waheed Wala Million (Morocco)   Best Male Artiste, Northern Africa  Ahmed Soultan - Afrobian (Morroco)  Ahmed Chawki – Tsunami (Morocco)  Amir Diab - Al Qahira Cairo (Egypt) Ayman Alatar - Fi Galbi Kalam (Libya) DJ Van ft Tyrane - #Woman (Morocco)  Hatim Ammor - Alawal (Morocco)  H-Name - Wach Rak Nachet (Morocco)   Best Female Artiste, Southern Africa Lira - Let there be Light (South Africa) Lizha James – Chocolate (Mozambique) Palu Chihera – Nemoyo (Zimbabwe) Sally Boss Madam – Natural (Namibia) Zahara – Imali (South Africa) Zonke - Reach it (South Africa)   Best Male Artiste, Southern Africa AKA – Composure (South Africa) Anatii & Cassper Nyovest – Jump (South Africa) Black Coffee - Come with me (South Africa) Dizu Plaaties – Inkomo (South Africa) DJ Maphorisa - Soweto Baby (South Africa) Jay Prayzah – Hello (Zimbabwe)   Best Female Artiste, Western Africa Adiouza – Daddy (Senegal) Aramide  - I don’t care (Nigeria) Niniola - J’ete (Nigeria)  Josey - Diplome (Ivory Coast)  Seyi Shay - Right Now (Nigeria)  Temi Doll Face - School Your Face (Nigeria) Tiwa Savage - If I Start to Talk (Nigeria) Yemi Alade - Na Go De (Nigeria)   Best Male Artiste, Western Africa Brymo - In The City (Nigeria)  Flavour – Dance (Nigeria)  Okyeame Kwame - Small Small (Ghana)  Sarkodie – Hand to Mouth (Ghana) Sidikiba Diabate - Fais Moi Confiance (Mali)  Tekno -Duro (Nigeria)  Wizkid - Final Baba Nla (Nigeria)