NAMAs nominees announced

Upcoming singer Bradley Anthony leads the pack with eight nominations followed by Oteya and Adora who received seven and six nominations respectively. Other artists at the top of the nominations list include kwaito artist Gazza and newcomer Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen, who both received five nominations each, with Sally Boss Madam, Young T, Michael Pulse and NIA getting four nods apiece.

With so many awards ceremonies in Africa known for playback performances, the NAMAs announced that preference would be given to live bands at this year's event, “I am happy to announce that 75% of the performances will be done with a full band and 90% of the artists scheduled to perform at the main event will be newcomers,” NAMA executive chairperson Tim Ekandjo said.

Voting for NAMAs public categories can be done by sending an SMS to 66262 with the relevant codes, which can be found below or on the awards’ official website. SMSs cost 2 Namibian dollars (N$) each ($0.16c). Voting can also be done online.

It will be the first time that the awards ceremony will take place in Walvis Bay, a coastal town of about 100 000 inhabitants. Friday 28 April will host the invitation-only industry awards while the main awards will take place the following night. The main event will be screened live on NBC TV, Trace TV and SoundCity. It has been reported that the event will cost a whopping N$17m in total investments from MTC, NBC and various other sponsors.

List of nominees:

Best Album of the Year

• Adora –  As I Am
• Gazza – Pumumu
• Micheal Pulse – Pulsified
• T-Bozz & Staika – /Û Kham Tite
• Young T - Becoming King

Best Male Artist of the Year

• Bradley Anthony – ‘Forever Love’
• Dixon – ‘Happy Place’
• Gazza – ‘Pumumu’
• Jaleel – ‘Eversinseve’
• Micheal Pulse – ‘Pulsified’
• Sunny Boy – ‘Ependafule’

Best Female Artist of the Year

• Adora – ‘As I Am’
• Doris – ‘Self-Ish’
• Florence – ‘Stand Up’
• Monique English – ‘Since 1994’
• Oteya – ‘Ondeya’
• Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen – ‘Juicy’

Best Duo/Group of the Year

• Famaz Attak – ‘Rising Sun’
• House Guru Gang – ‘Father Bless Us’
• Ray x Kbrizzy – ‘The 48 Genius Summers’
• Satlam & M-Jay – ‘Oxula For Success’
• T-Bozz & Staika – ‘/Û Kham Tite’

Best Newcomer of the Year

• Adora – ‘As I Am’
• Bradley Anthony – ‘Forever Love’
• Jaleel – ‘Eversinseve’
• Micheal Pulse – ‘Pulsified’
• Monique English – ‘Since 1994’

Best Afrikaans

• Bradley Anthony – ‘Ruk Hom’
• Greg – ‘Vluister’
• G S – ‘My Alles ft S-Man’
• Swart Baster – ‘Skoon Pa In Skoon Ma’

Best Afro Pop (inclusive of Township Disco)

• Doris - ‘Boom’
• KK - ‘Ecstasy’
• Oteya - ‘All or Nothing’
• Tangeni Kid Mario - ‘When I Get Down ft House Guru Gang’
• Valentino Elago - ‘Feel It ft Amanda’

Best Collaboration

• Adora – ‘Ahawe’ ft Sally Boss Madam
• Famaz Attak – ‘We Revolve Around You’ (Shoulder to Shoulder) ft Dice
• Gazza – ‘Abangani Bako’ ft Emtee & Saudi
• N.I.A – ‘Change’ ft Monique English
• Oteya – ‘Sum o Dat’ with Cindy Sanyu

Best Damara Punch

• Dixon – ‘Soa e Ha e’
• Female Donkey – ‘Highlights’
• Ice Star – ‘Sexy’
• Tangeni Kid Mario – ‘Sa Xu / na Ha ft Kaptein Tzwazi’
• T-Bozz & Staika – //Nau !a ta ge ra sadu tsâsiba

Best Gospel

• Bradley Anthony – ‘The Love of Christ’ (Eloi)
• D-Naff – ‘Your Love Is’ ft Damiano 'Mwana Mfumu' Chilekwa & Chola Chola
• Khwezi – ‘Heaven's Gate’
• Maranatha – ‘In Your Presence’
• N.I.A – ‘The Prayer’ ft Monique English

Best House

• Cho-Cho – ‘Teka’ ft HHG
• Doris – ‘Jawbreaker’
• DJ Siya – ‘Uwe’
• Gazza – ‘Uzongikhumbula’ ft Professor & Bo Denim
• Jaleel – ‘Wella’ ft LMPC

Best Kizomba

• Bantusan Fari Dread & Omidi – ‘D'Afrique Ame Ou’
• Bradley Anthony – ‘Amor’ ft Joe-Kay
• Chiza – ‘Official Ladie’ ft Dama Monique
• Kallefa Tjiriange – ‘Can You Feel The Pain’ ft Abia Katuuo
• Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen – ‘Emperor’

Best Kwaito

• Barney & Tangoz – ‘Call My Name’
• Nyangaz – ‘Vamenhu’
• Satlam & M-Jay – ‘Sober’
• The Multi-talented – ‘Nelson Mandela’
• Young T – ‘Fesha’ ft Voster & Wizblack

Best Music Video

• Adora – ‘Chocolate’
• Famaz Attak & Dice – ‘We Revolve Around’ (Shoulder to Shoulder)
• Oteya – ‘All or Nothing’
• Sally Boss Madam – ‘Natural’
• Taylor Jaye – ‘Super Chikita’

Best Song with a Message

• Dixon – ‘Warrior’
• Oteya – ‘I'm Gone’
• Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen – ‘Love Yourself’
• Effy – ‘Gods Favorite Son’ ft Ann Singer & Author
• N.I.A – ‘Change’ ft Monique English

Best Oviritje

• Chicco Deebok – ‘Soho...Okey’
• DIOP – ‘Guitar Boy’
• GMN – ‘Ama Gi Boss’ ft MBM & Tjiurimo
• The Legends – ‘Uriya Muami’
• Triple T – ‘Triple T’

Best Producer of the Year

• Kallo on the Beat for Adora – ‘Ready to Fly’
• Kboz for Adora – ‘Ahawe’ ft Sally Boss Madam
• Sam E Lee Jones for Gazza –  ‘Pumumu’
• Ponti for Micheal Pulse – ‘When I Need Her’
• Stanley 'Staika' Hangara for T-Bozz & Staika – ‘//Nau !a ta ge ra sadu tsâsiba’

Best R&B

• Adora – ‘Ready To Fly’
• Bradley Anthony – ‘My Hero’
• Jericho – ‘Don't Change On Me’ ft Ponti
• Micheal Pulse – ‘When I Need Her’
• Monique English – ‘Work For It’

Best Rap/Hip Hop

• Gazza – ‘Abangani Bako’ ft Emtee & Saudi
• Jericho – ‘If Only’
• N.I.A – ‘Change’ ft Monqiue English
• Ray x Kbrizzy – ‘Rumour Has It’
• Young T – ‘Levels’

Best Reggae

• Bantusan Fari Dread & Omidi D'Afrique – ‘Apa Itamu Teya’
• Florence – ‘African Child’ ft Ras Sheehama
• Laukey – ‘You The One’ ft J-Kay
• Seun & Natalia – ‘I Love Jesus’ ft Moses
• Sunshine – ‘This Is Namibia’

Best Shambo

• Laviyalava – ‘ILeni Mutale’
• Ndawana – ‘Okandeshimwene’ ft Dama Monique
• Satlam & M-Jay – ‘Odula’ ft D-Kandjafa
• Sunny Boy – ‘My Baby’ ft Tequila, Swart Baster & Satlam
• Tunakie – ‘Efeinge’

Best Single

• Big Ben – ‘Efundula’
• Catty Catt – ‘Hi Five’
• Desmond – ‘Let The Music’
• Lady May, Dr Sid & Pex Africah – ‘I Can't Explain’
• Sally Boss Madam – ‘Natural’

Best Soukous/Kwasa

• DJ Siya – ‘Katima Mulilo’
• House Guru Gang – ‘Blessings’
• Laviyalava – ‘Manduke’
• Mnali – ‘Nkulungu’ (Hakoye) ft Tate Buti
• Oteya – ‘Village Boy’

Best Traditional

• Christmas – ‘Linima iiwanawa kiikala pamwe’ ft Kamati
• Doctor Peter H – ‘Victory Is Near’
• Omsaane Niihana – ‘Advice’
• Shawiza – ‘Mondabo’ ft Mabuza
• Tunakie – ‘Keumbo’

Radio Song of the Year

• Chester – ‘Sabi’
• Lady May, Dr Sid & Pex Africah – ‘I Can’t Explain’
• Promise – ‘Dogo Dogo’
• Sally Boss Madam – ‘Natural’
• Young T – ‘Fikulimwe’

Most Socially Responsible Artist of the Year

• Bradley Anthony
• EES
• Kavax The Black Chinese
• Lize Ehlers
• Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen

Public Vote Categories

Vote by SMSing the shortcode to 66262 (SMSs cost N$2)

Song of the Year

• Chester – ‘Sabi’(SOY1)
• Lady May, Dr Sid & Pex Africah – ‘I Can’t Explain’ (SOY2)
• Promise – ‘Dogo Dogo’ (SOY3)
• Sally Boss Madam – ‘Natural’ (SOY4)
• Young T – ‘Fikulimwe’ (SOY5)

Pan African Artist of the Year

• DJ Maphorisa (AAY1)
• Cassper Nyovest (AAY2)
• Yemi Alade (AAY3)
• Heavy K (AAY4)
• Runtown (AAY5)

Best Live Performance of the Year

• Adora - MS Diamond Festival (BLP1)
• Bradley Anthony – CD Launch (BLP2)
• KP Illest – 2016 Namibian Music Awards (BLP3)
• Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen – CD Launch (BLP4)
• Maranatha – Benjamin Dube Show (BLP5)

Best Musical Event of the Year

• Doctatainment – Windhoek Spring Fiesta All White Edition (BME1)
• KK – Kaleidoscope/Bermuda Music Album Release Party (BME2)
• Oteya – Ondeya/Vigo National Tour (BME3)
• Ras Sheehama – Birthday Bash (BME4)
• Sally Boss Madam – Woman Crush Wednesday (BME5)

Radio DJ of the Year

• Che Ulenga (RDJ1)
• DJ Maldini (RDJ2)
• Jan De Waal (RDJ3)
• Lukas Nambala (RDJ4)
• Nashawn (RDJ5)

Entertainment Journalist of the Year NBC

• Adolf Kaure (EJY1)
• June Shimuoshili (EJY2)
• Melba Chipepo (EJY3)
• Rukee Kaakunga (EJY4)