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MTV awards nominees, Kel and MI seem to be looking forward to the D-day. Photo: NEXT

MI, 2Face and Kel receive MTV nominations

By Jayne Usen

August 24, 2009 07:20PM

As the countdown to the MTV (Africa Music Awards) MAMA Awards which holds on October 10 in Nairobi Kenya begins, major sponsors of the event, MTV and ZAIN have disclosed the contenders for the awards at a Nomination press conference in Lagos on August 24.

The nominees were revealed by Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, TV Networks Africa and Norman Moyo, Zain Group Marketing Director-Strategy and Programmes. South Africa and Nigeria top the nominations list with 15 nominations, while host country Kenya follows closely with six.

During the conference highpoints of the inaugural awards which was held in Abuja were shown to the delight of the guests.

Side attractions of the event include short performances by two Nigerian nominees, Kel (Best Female Act) who performed her hit track ‘Wa Wa Alright' and 2face (nominated in 4 categories) who thrilled the audience to his song ‘Free' which drew a standing ovation by the visibly excited guests.

MI who has been nominated as the best Hip Hop Act said: "The nomination makes one feel great, especially being nominated in the same category as Jay-Z - is an amazing feeling. It is also gladdening to be included in a platform that brings people together."

So why were foreign acts nominated alongside Nigerian artists, especially since the awards have been dubbed an African Music Video Awards? Okosi said: "It is because the said genres are international. We feel we should nominate our (Nigerian) artists alongside the foreign acts because we feel our artists are sometimes even better than most foreign acts."

The show will be hosted by Hip-Hop legend Wyclef Jean and will feature performances by Lira, MI, Samini and Wahu. The winners will be unveiled on October 10 at the Indoor Arena, Moi International Sports Center, and Nairobi Kenya.
2009 MTV MAMA Awards Nominees

Best Male

2 Face (Nigeria)
HHP (South Africa)
D'Banj(Nigeria)
Da L.E.S (South Africa)

Best New Act

M.I (Nigeria)
A.Y (Tanzania)
STL (Kenya)
Bigiano (Nigeria)
Rhythmic Elements (South Africa)

Best Hip Hop

M.I (Nigeria)
A.Y (Tanzania)
Zulu Boy (South Africa)
Jay-Z (USA)
Kanye West (USA)

Best Female

Kel (Nigeria)
Amani (Kenya)
Lira (South Africa)
Zamajobe (South Africa)
Lizha James (Mozambique)

Best Performer

P-Square (Nigeria)
D'Banj (Nigeria)
Samini (Ghana)
Nameless (Kenya)
Blu*3(Uganda)

Best RnB

2 Face (Nigeria)
Darey Art Alade (Nigeria)
Loyiso (South Africa)
Beyonce (USA)
Akon (USA)

Best Group

P-Square (Nigeria)
Blu*3(Uganda)
Gang of Instrumentals (South Africa)
Mo Hits Allstars (Nigeria)
Gal Level (Namibia)

Artist of the year

2 Face (Nigeria)
Dbanj (Nigeria)
Lira (South Africa)
HHP (South Africa)
Nameless(Kenya)

Best Alternative

Green Day(USA)
Coldplay(UK)
Cassette(South Africa)
Zebra&Giraffe(South Africa)
Aking(South Africa)

Best Video

2Face-Enter The Place (Nigeria)
XOD-I Want You Back (Uganda)
HHP-Mpitse (South Africa)
Da L.E.S-We on Fire (South Africa)
Wahu Feat Bobi Wine-Little Things You Do (Kenya)

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Reader Comments (28)

Posted by Kofi on Aug 25 2009

I think Samini of Ghana deserves morethan one nomination.One nomination wasnot fair

Posted by jude on Aug 25 2009

i think 2face deserves to win the best vedio enter the place

Posted by Mariam on Aug 25 2009

2face should have the best video

Posted by okezie "paddy" chucks on Aug 25 2009

personally i don't see any reason why foreign artists and african artists should be enlisted in the same category. the name MAMA was it considered before the enlistment.

Posted by annabel akatu on Aug 25 2009

i think all the artist nominated are cooled, i 2face deserves to win the best vedio enter the place and the best RnB. all the best

Posted by Dom diweke on Aug 25 2009

I strongly believe that there are far better videos to represent Nigeria than 2face's enter the place

Posted by Ujor Joseph on Aug 25 2009

I believe 2face will have no problem winning the best video with enter the place

Posted by Wisey on Aug 26 2009

YeahOkezie, You are very correct. No point nominating foreign acts alongside Nigerian or African acts. If its for Africa, it should be for Africans. What i think they should do is to maybe create an award for foreign acts seperately not mixing them up with their african counterparts. Well said!

Posted by joyce on Aug 26 2009

i belive p-square should win d best performer & d best group, up p-square, best 4 life, gud luck 2 u guys

Posted by joyce on Aug 26 2009

i think & belive that 2-face don't deserve 2 win any award

Posted by Mr.C on Aug 26 2009

Jay-Z Best Hip-Hop.

Posted by cletus (clear boy) on Aug 26 2009

thats two face not three, he has promise to make me smile, keep it on my guy u no get wahala

Posted by sule on Aug 26 2009

2face deserves all these nominations. Believe me or not, he opened the eyes of most of these new artists . I am sure he going to win most of the nominations. 2 baba for life!

Posted by obaino on Aug 26 2009

i think 2face deserve 2 win d best video with enter d place and MI is d best up coming artist of d year. Peace....

Posted by eleshin on Aug 27 2009

2baba deserves everything that comes his way,he has already pay his due in the industry not just as a musician but as a pacesetter in the african music industry.big up 2face ujah idibia.

Posted by Aniakor Nzube (Dr. AirNz) on Aug 28 2009

Kel is d best female. D best video nomination is dame wrong. 4 hip pop MI is d best. Best group Mo hit. Best R'n B Darey & Akon got a tie.

Posted by veekey dan on Sep 03 2009

Mister Incredible MI....deserves to be the best hip hop act and is definitely Nigerias best new act...with lyrics that make sense and flows that are incredble...ive got much love for the ''short black dude'' will definitely be voting MI

Posted by izu naeto on Sep 07 2009

i think bracket deserves a nomination

Posted by Bana on Sep 08 2009

I THINK 2BABA DERSERVE TO WIN BEST VIDEO AND R'n B and artist of the year because the Guy 2much !!! nothing do you my broda

Posted by abu on Sep 08 2009

2face is the best anytime

Posted by kemwilly on Sep 14 2009

well,i tink tuface deserves d nominations.and i hope he brings sumtin back.for MI i dnt see him getting dat award...cos JAY Z and Kanye re hot...except we just want to make a joke of it.@dom iweke...wat other video re u suggesting...enter d place is tight.i wish darey luck nd

Posted by michael on Sep 19 2009

yall cant be putting m.i wer kanye and jay z are.... he needs more years in the game...

Posted by Niyi on Sep 26 2009

Wazz up naija. I thnk kokomaster dsave artist of d year.

Posted by little k on Oct 17 2009

lovely 2face he deserve it mi too d banj nice

Posted by Famsy on Oct 18 2009

Yeah i think MI shul gat them all, cos his swagga is too much to compare to any other artiste.

Posted by Kehinde on Oct 21 2009

What's up naija i think 2baba deserv it. D guy 2 much

Posted by kola on Oct 22 2009

2 baba u too much,u are the best in everything....u get mouth....bad sharp nigga

Posted by Ateko on Dec 01 2009

2 face deserves all dat he got, am also proud of M.I. They are making Nigeria great.