Davido, Wizkid make AFRIMA awards nominee list

Speaking at the conference, the president of the organising committee, Mike Dada, said AFRIMA was more than an awarding body. "It is also a tool for communication, a tool to change the narrative of our continent," he said.

Other members of the AFRIMA committee at the event included the director of Cameroon Radio Television, Bob Ekukole, Hadja Kobele, South Africa's Chris Syren, African Union representative Angela Martins, Nigerian media personality Olisa Adibua and David Tayorault, who worked with Magic System on the hit song '1er Gaou'.

The list released so far sees some of continent's biggest names in pop music go head to head. Two of Africa's most popular music stars, Davido and Wizkid, are up for the Best Male category in West Africa. South African rappers AKA and Nasty C are up for the same category in the southern Africa region, as is the great Hugh Masekela. In East Africa, Kenya's Octopizzo and Tanzanian multiple AFRIMA winner Diamond Platnumz are both nominated. Female acts Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade and Babes Wodumo are also nominated for their respective regions.

The full list of nominees for the 2017 All Africa Music Awards will be released over the next few days. The nominees in regional categories are below.

Central Africa (Best Female)

• Montess – Love Witta Gun Man (Cameroon)
• Reniss – Mamamuh (Cameroon)
• Ewube – Fall On You (Cameroon)
• Nsoki – Africa Unite ft DJ Maphorisa & Paulo Alves (Angola)
• Daphne – Calee (Cameroon)
• Mimie – Dance Fi You (Cameroon)
• Merveilee – Toi (Cameroon)
• Bussine – All Africa Party (Gabon)

Central Africa (Best Male)

• Maitre Gims – Tout Donner (DRC)
• Hiro – Ton Pied, Mon Pied ft Chidinma (DRC)
• Big Nelo – O Legado Da Lenda (Angola)
• Locko – Supporter ft Mr Leo (Cameroon)
• Fally Ipupa – Eleko Oyo (DRC)
• Jovie – Ou Meme (Cameroon)
• Anselmo Ralph – Casas Comigo (Angola)
• Ke Black – Bazardee (DRC)

East Africa (Best Female)

• Juliana Kanyamozi – I Am Still Here (Uganda)
• Chess Nthusi – Give It to You (Kenya)
• Victoria Kimani – Giving You ft Sarkodie (Kenya)
• Lady Jaydee – Sawa Na Wao (Tanzania)
• Vanessa Mdee – Cash Madam (Tanzania)
• Wayna Wondersonn – You Are Not Alone (Ethiopia)
• Nandy – One Day (Tanzania)

East Africa (Best Male)

• Diamond Platnumz – Eneka (Tanzania)
• Sinishaw Legesse – Selam Ethiopia (Ethiopia)
• Qritiqual – Malika (Kenya)
• Kibrom Birhane – Eskista ft Nassmbu Burasa (Ethiopia)
• Henok & Mehari Brothers – Firkir Yishala (Ethiopia)
• Alikiba – Aje ft MI Abaga (Tanzania)
• Octopizzo – TBT (Kenya)
• Mure K.E – Excuse my Language (Kenya)

Southern Africa (Best Female)

• Sally Boss Madam – Bimbim ft Busiswa (Namibia)
• Babes Wodumo – Family ft Maphorisa & Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
• Busiswa – Inggongo (South Africa)
• Lebo Segobela – Lion of Judah (South Africa)
• Amanda Black – Amazulu (South Africa)
• Ru – Down (Zimbabwe)
• Thandiswa – Nontsokolo (South Africa)

Southern Africa (Best Male)

• Hugh Masekela – Shango (South Africa)
• AKA – The World is Yours (South Africa)
• Nasty C – Down South ft Seyi Shay & Ma E (South Africa)
• Tay Grin – Tola ft Vanessa Mdee (Malawi)
• Emtee – We Up (South Africa)
• Jah Prayzah – Watora Mari ft Diamond Platnumz (Zimbabwe)
• Nduduzo Makhathini – Igagu (South Africa)

West Africa (Best Female)

• Oumou Sangare – Yere Faga ft Tony Allen (Mali)
• Aramide – Why So Serious (Nigeria)
• Viviane Chidid – Lon Kelen (Senegal)
• Yemi Alade – Tumbum (Nigeria)
• Seyi Shay – Yolo Yolo (Nigeria)
• Tiwa Savage – All Over (Nigeria)
• Becca – Na Wash ft Patoranking (Ghana)
• Zeynab – Noctambule ft Shadow Chris (Benin)

West Africa (Best Male)

• Runtown – Mad Over You (Nigeria)
• Sarkodie – Pain Killer (Ghana)
• Wizkid – Come Closer ft Drake (Nigeria)
• DJ Arafat – Agbangnan (Ivory Coast)
• Mr Eazi – Leg Over (Nigeria)
• MHD – La Puissnace (Guinea)
• YCee – Juice (Nigeria)
• Davido – Fall (Nigeria)
• Tekno – Rara (Nigeria)

North Africa (Best Female)

• Ibitssam Tiskat – Menak Wla Meni (Morocco)
• Zaho – Tant De Choses (Algeria)
• Assma Lmnawar – 3ndou Zine (Morocco)
• Sherine – Koul Maghani (Egypt)
• Zina Daoudia – Sayidati (Morocco)
• Cheba Maria – Kheltini (Algeria)

North Africa (Best Male)

• Fnaire – Ngol Mali (Morocco)
• Shayfeen – Wach Kayn Wader (Morocco)
• French Montana – Unforgettable (Morocco)
• Balti – Wela la (Tunisia)
• Tasmer Hosny – Ya Maley 3eny (Egypt)
• L'algerino – Les Monetess (Algeria)
• Saad Lmjarred – Ghaltana (Morocco)
• Lacrim – Collonel Carillo (Algeria)