Sami Dan leads nominations for Ethiopia’s Leza awards

Newcomer reggae artist Sami Dan leads with six nominations. Henok Mehari follows him closely with four nominations.

Four artists - Sami Dan, Lij Mikael, Ras Mule and Bisrat Hailemariam - are set to battle it for the Artist of the Year, while 15 bands and solo artists will compete for the Album of the Year award. Musicians will also be awarded in two other categories - Best Music Video and Best Single. Unlike in 2015, this year there will be no Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards, according to journalist and awards founder Berhanu Digaffe, will be held in September. The date for the awards will be announced at a later date.

The Leza Awards were established in 2011 to recognize outstanding work by Ethiopian artists in music and film, setting it apart from other awards that are typically part of festivals. Besides the music-related categories, the awards honours top Ethoipian film talent in categories for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Movie.

The voting system, where the general public is involved in the process of selecting the winning artists in the various categories, also sets the Leza Awards apart from other awards in Ethiopia.

The full list for the music nominees at the sixth Leza Awards is as follows:

Best Single

• ‘Ewedeshalehu’, Henock Mehari
• ‘Yekiray Bet’ Henock Mehari
• ‘Habesha Negn’, Ras Mule
• 'Alehulesh', Ras Mule
• ‘Ab Edey Zela Shibo’, Solomon Haile
• ‘Wede Lay’, Sami Dan
• ‘TefaYemileyen’, Sami Dan
• ‘Helina’, Bisrat Hailemariam (Berry)
• ‘Toseshen’, Tadele Roba,
• ‘Washew Ende’, Alemeye Getachew
• ‘Yene Habesha’, Abi Lakew
• ‘Mare’, Esubalew Yetayew
• ‘Sebebe’, Kuku Sebsebe,
• ‘Shi 80’, Wendi Mak
• ‘Yene Mar’, Wendi Mak
• ‘Libesh Yefka’ Zerubabel Mola
• ‘Wegegena Nech’, Zerubabel Mola
• ‘Arada’, Zerihun Demese
• ‘Nama’, Dina Antenehe
• ‘Wezamey’, Dawit Nega
• ‘Yenegal’, Jano
• ‘Darene Shenkore’, Jano Band
• ‘Wey Bire’, Gete Aneley
• ‘Yekey Tikur Teyim’, Gete Aneley
• ‘Abet Yachin Let’, Tsedeniya Gebremarkos

Best New Artist

• Lij Mikael
• Ras Mule
• Sami Dan
• Bisrat Hailemariam (Berry)

Best Music Video

• ‘Esikalehu’, Halima Abdurahman
• ‘Ewedeshalehu’, Henock Mehari
• ‘Yekiray Bet’, Henock Mehari
• ‘Des Alew Liben’, Ras Mule
• ‘TefaYemileyen’, Sami Dan
• ‘Helina’, Bisrat Hailemariam (Berry)
• ‘Liben Moqotal’, Bisrat Hailemariam (Berry)
• ‘Zhewa Zhwe’, Abdu Kiar
• ‘Yene Mar’, Abdu Kiar
• ‘And Bota’, Wendimu Jira
• ‘Sime Nesh’, Wendimu Jira
• ‘Miseker’, Fikeraddis Nekatebeb

Best Album

• Semay, Halima Abduraheman
• Zare Yehun Nege, Lij Michael
• 790, Henok &Mehari Brothers Band
• Ye Gud Mewded, Marta Ashageri
• Enderase, Ras Mule
• Keras Gar Negeger, Sami Dan
• Kemen Netsa Lewta, Sami Dan
• Akelaletew, Alem Kebede
• Tikur Ambesa, Abdu Kiar
• Endegena, Eferaim Tamiru
• Tafache Kal, Wendimu Jira
• Ayzon, Zeleke Gesese
• Melkshe Aybelteshem, Gete Anley
• Yefiker Girma, Tsedenia G/markos
• Miseker, Fikeraddis Nekatebeb

For more information or to vote for the nominees, visit the awards website.