So the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards (Mamas) will be held on Mandela Day this year, 18th of July in Durban, the go-to-city for awards ceremonies seeing that the Metros were held there and the Loeries are also headed there. I am willing to bet that come the 18th the ceremony will be hyella bananas judging the by Nominees Party that our good friends at Total Exposure invited us to, the Nominees Party looked and felt like the actual awards, complete with all sorts of glitz and all sorts of Super Mega Doros. Sizwe Dhlomo and the beautiful Nomuzi Mabena did a stellar job as MCs, the vodka was absolutely flowing thanks to Absolut, one of the sponsors this year. If this article is starting to read like an advert that’s because I can’t contain my excitement, anyway, let me get to the point.

The purpose of the MAMAs is to celebrate the cream of Pan-African talent, and there is no disputing that…looking at the excellence and diversity of the nominees, from our very own Cassper Nyovest, AKA, K.O to Ghana’s Sarkodie, Nigeria’s Wizkid amongst others.Khuli Chana who has recently been unveiled as an ambassador for Absolut Vodka was there to announce the Best Newcomer category, Black Motion stole the show with their dance and pause choreography. Trevor Noah, Busket Mouth,Bonang Matheba, OC Ukeje and Yaya Toure are going toe to toe in the Personality of the Year category, but like Nomuzi said on the night, this might be an easy one for Trevor because “Trevor has unlocked the WORLD”. Man…I haven’t been this stoked in a minute, can’t wait for the 18th of July.

The awards will crown Africa’s best artists in 17 categories in a ceremony that will take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. The ceremony will be beamed to millions across the globe on MTV’s various partner channels. Here is a list of some of the nominees:
Best Male:
AKA (South Africa), Davido (Nigeria), Diamond (Tanzania), Sarkodie (Ghana) and Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best Female:
Bucie (South Africa), Busiswa (South Africa), Seyi Shay (Nigeria), Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania), and YemiAlade (Nigeria)
Best Group:
B4 (Angola), Beatenberg (South Africa), Black Motion (South Africa), P-Square (Nigeria) and Sauti Sol (Kenya)
Best New Act Transformed by Absolut:
Anna Joyce (Angola), CassperNyovest (South Africa), Duncan (South Africa), Patoranking (Nigeria) and Stonebwoy (Ghana)
Best Hip Hop:
CassperNyovest (South Africa), K.O. (South Africa), Phyno (Nigeria), Olamide (Nigeria) and Youssoupha (DRC)
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) and Stanley Enow&Sarkodie: “NjamaNjama Cow Remix” (Cameroon/Ghana)
Song of the Year:
CassperNyovest: “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: “SuraYako” (Kenya), Toofan: “Gweta” (Togo), Wizkid: “Show You The Money” (Nigeria) and YemiAlade: “Johnny” (Nigeria)
Best Live:
Big Nuz (South Africa), Diamond (Tanzania), Flavour (Nigeria), Mi Casa (South Africa) and 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: AdriaanLouw, “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) and 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), BonangMatheba (South Africa), OC Ukeje (Nigeria), Trevor Noah (South Africa) and YayaToure (Ivory Coast)