AKA, Beatenberg, Cassper nominated for 2015 MTV MAMA

Celebrating the extraordinary evolution of African achievement, this year’s MAMA recognises contemporary artists and trailblazers in a range of music and lifestyle categories including Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Best Collaboration and Personality of the Year. A total of 70 nominees were revealed at the event, across 13 different categories. Nominees for additional categories, including the MTV Base Leadership Award and Best International Act, will be revealed at a later date.

Competing in the prestigious Best Male act category are AKA (South Africa), Davido (Nigeria), Diamond (Tanzania) and Sarkodie (Ghana), while female artists making their mark in the Best Female category include Bucie (South Africa), Busiswa (South Africa), Seyi Shay (Nigeria), Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania) and Yemi Alade (Nigeria).

Last year’s Video of the Year winner Clarence Peters (Nigeria) is hoping to repeat his 2014 success with a second nomination in this category for Bebe Cool’s music video Love You Everyday, competing against fellow directors Sesan (The Sound: Davido Featuring Uhuru & DJ Buckz), Adriaan Louw (Nafukwa: Riky Rick), Meji Alabi (Crazy: Seyi Shay Featuring Wizkid) and Ryan Kruger (Doors: Prime Circle).

MAMA 2015 Nominees:

Best Male

AKA (South Africa)
Davido (Nigeria)
Diamond (Tanzania)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Wizkid (Nigeria)

THE MAN. Rapper AKA discussed South African hip-hop, as well as rap at the awards launch. Picture: Al Nicoll

Best Female

Bucie (South Africa)
Busiswa (South Africa)
Seyi Shay (Nigeria)
Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best Group

B4 (Angola)
Beatenberg (South Africa)
Black Motion (South Africa)
P-Square (Nigeria)
Sauti Sol (Kenya)

Bucie. Picture: Al Nicoll

Best New Act Transformed by Absolut

Anna Joyce (Angola)
Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
Duncan (South Africa)
Patoranking (Nigeria)
Stonebwoy (Ghana)

Best Hip Hop

Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
K.O. (South Africa)
Phyno (Nigeria)
Olamide (Nigeria)
Youssoupha (DRC)

Cassper Nyovest. Image: Facebook

Best Collaboration

AKA, Burna Boy, Da LES & JR: All Eyes On Me (SA/Nigeria)
Davido featuring Uhuru & DJ Buckz: The Sound (Nigeria/SA)
Diamond & Iyanya: Bum Bum (Kenya/Nigeria)
Toofan & DJ Arafat: Apero Remix (Togo/Ivory Coast)
Stanley Enow & Sarkodie: Njama Njama Cow Remix (Cameroon/Ghana)

Song of the Year

Cassper Nyovest: Doc Shebeleza (South Africa)
Euphonik featuring Mpumi: Busa (South Africa)
DJ Fisherman & NaakMusiQ featuring DJ Tira, Danger & Dream Team: Call Out (South Africa)
K.O featuring Kid X: Caracara (South Africa)
Lil Kesh Featuring Olamide & Davido: Shoki Remix (Nigeria)
Mavins: Dorobucci (Nigeria)
Sauti Sol: Sura Yako (Kenya)
Toofan: Gweta (Togo)
Wizkid: Show You The Money (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade: Johnny (Nigeria)

Best Live

Big Nuz (South Africa)
Diamond (Tanzania)
Flavour (Nigeria)
Mi Casa (South Africa)
Toofan (Togo)

Video of the Year

Crazy – Seyi Shay Featuring Wizkid; Director: Meji Alabi
Doors – Prime Circle; Director: Ryan Kruger
Love You Everyday – Bebe Cool; Director: Clarence Peters
Nafukwa – Riky Rick; Director: Adriaan Louw
The Sound – Davido Featuring Uhuru & DJ Buckz; Director: Sesan

Best Pop & Alternative

Fuse ODG (Ghana)
Jeremy Loops (South Africa)
Jimmy Nevis (South Africa)
Nneka (Nigeria)
Prime Circle (South Africa)

Best Francophone

DJ Arafat (Ivory Coast)
Jovi (Cameroon)
Laurette Le Pearle (DRC)
Tour 2 Garde (Ivory Coast)
Toofan (Togo)

Best Lusophone

Ary (Angola)
B4 (Angola)
Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde)
NGA (Angola)
Yuri Da Cunha (Angola)

Personality of the Year

Basketmouth (Nigeria)
Bonang Matheba (South Africa)
OC Ukeje (Nigeria)
Trevor Noah (South Africa)
Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

FILE PICTURE: Bonang strutting her stuff on the red carpet at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards at the International Convention Centre in Durban, 7 June. Picture MTV Base Africa Instagram

The winners for the MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal 2015 will be revealed during the live TV broadcast on 18 July.

Tickets for the 2015 MAMA go on sale at Computicket from Thursday 18 June 2015 priced R267 (standing).