Rapper AKA and DJ Tira chats up a storm at the launch. Picture: Al Nicoll
On May 21, Durban was chosen as the African city destined to carry the show this year. KwaZulu-Natal province, in association with Absolut and in partnership with the City of Durban, managed to clinch the deal for the awards’ return to the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) on Saturday, July 18.
Mama 2015 will celebrate African talent across 17 award categories such as Best Male, Best Female, Best Song and Best New Act Transformed by Absolut. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. In line with the Mama 2015 “evolution” theme and VIMN Africa’s 10-year celebration, this year’s show will also feature a special-edition Artist of the Decade category to recognise artists whose careers have flourished throughout the past 10 years.
Senior vice president and managing director for Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Alex Okosi, says: “We are thrilled that the MTV Africa Music Awards will be returning to Durban and KwaZulu-Natal on July 18, a date famous for being the birthday of Nelson Mandela. What better day could there be for staging this inspirational celebration of African achievement and creativity that showcases Africa’s best talent on the world stage.”
Desmond Golding, head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, says: “After the major success of the Mama in Durban last year, we are delighted to welcome back MTV Base and the awards to KwaZulu-Natal this July. By attracting ground-breaking events such as Mama to KwaZulu-Natal and Durban, we continue to make a significant contribution to economic growth and tourism in the region.”
Celebrating the pan-African scope of the show, the awards will have three events featuring Mama nominees and superstar DJs to be held in Durban (June 27), Lagos in Nigeria (July 3) and in Kenya (August 1). Another key element of the 2015 edition of the awards will be a workshop for aspiring musicians in the week prior to the awards.
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