Nominees for the 2015 Leza Awards unveiled

The nominees will be awarded in nine different categories including best film of the year, Best music album of the year and the Lifetime Achievement Award. Six music artists will battle it out for the best Album title. The six albums nominated are 'Siwedlat' by Madingo Afework, ‘Astaraki' by Abinet Agonafir, Yosef Gebre's 'Meche New', Dan Admasu's 'Zebenay', Tsehaye Yohanis' 'Yeneta' and Biruktawit Getahun’s (Betty G) 'Manew Fitsum'.

The eight songs battling for this year's best single are Seba Dereja (Teddy Afro), Sidet (Yegna), Seifhen Ansa (Zeritu Kebede), Alsemam (Jacky Gossy), Mal Naweya (Abinet Agonafir), Hagere (Mahmoud Ahmed) and Yefikir Girma (Tsedenya Gebremarkos).

Seven music videos released in early 2015 and made it to the final round of the nomination include ‘Shik Bilesh’ by Yosef Gebre, Astaraki and Manew Yalew by Abinet Agonafir, Tangut by Madingo Afework, Nana Demaye by Betty G and Keza Sefer by Tamirat Desta.

Leza also awards upcoming singers whose brand new albums managed to achieve success in the market. This year's nominees are Dan Admasu in his new album 'Zebenay', Hana Girma’s ‘Ewnet’. Hana Girma was first discovered at the Ethiopian Idols. Other nominees in this category are Betty G for her album ‘Manew Fisum’ and reggae artist, Ras Janny for his recent album 'Selamta'.

The awards also includes the best film score of the year and the artists nominated for this category are: Tsedenya Gebremarkos in 'Hareyet', Anteneh Minalu in 'Lamba', Matias Yilma in 'Yaye Yifredew', Kasahun Eshetu in 'Shefu 2', Elias Husein in 'Fikir ena Genzeb' and Hailu Amerga in 'Zetegn Mot'.

In 2014 the awards included the category of Lifetime Achievement Award to honor pioneering musicians. Maritu legesse, Alemayehu Eshete, Bahta Gebrehiwot, Dawit Yifru, Girma Beyene, Girma Negash and Yohannis Afework will be compete for the award for the first time.

The finalists were selected based on public vote which was conducted for a period of one month.