Wyclef to host MTV Africa award in Kenya

The 2nd edition of MTV Africa award is here again. You remember the first edition last year held in Abuja, Nigeria. In last year's awards, we saw Dbanj emerging as the artist of the year. This year's edition of the award is here again and will be travelling to East Africa, Kenya.
Remember Wyclef Jean? That short serious-looking Haitian man who was ‘Gone till November’? He’s going to be hosting the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) with Zain in Nairobi in October! Yeah Baby!


The musician, writer, Haitian, producer and Haitian prolific artistic will touch down in Nairobi on October 10.

Organisers said in a statement on Tuesday that they are counting on Wyclef’s ‘legendary showmanship, outrageous sense of humour and infinite enthusiasm’ to create a vibrate atmosphere at the Moi International Sports Complex Arena.
The cherry on the top of the event is that Wyclef will perform alongside Kenya’s Wahu, Nigeria’s M.I., South Africa’s Lira and Ghana’s Samini, who have been confirmed as performers at the awards ceremony.

MTV and Zain have disclosed the contenders for the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain, the global celebration of African contemporary music talent and youth culture. The nominees, from across the continent's contemporary music spectrum, were revealed by Alex Okosi, SVP and MD, MTV Networks Africa and Mwambu Wanendeya, Zain Group communications director - Africa, at a star-studded bash at The Loft in Nairobi, Kenya.

The nominations for the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain are:

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

Best New Act
M.I. (Nigeria)
Shaa (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 R&B
2 Face (Nigeria)
Darey Art Alade (Nigeria)
Loyiso (South Africa)
Beyoncé (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)
D'banj (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 ft Bobi Wine - Little Things You Do (Kenya).

The winners of the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain will be unveiled on 10 October 2009 at the Indoor Arena, Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, Kenya. The broadcast of the show, hosted by hip hop legend Wyclef Jean, and featuring performances by Wyclef Jean, Lira, M.I., Samini and Wahu will air to a potential TV audience of 1 billion viewers around the world, via African pay-TV channel MTV base (DStv Channel 322), MTV partner networks around the world and African terrestrial channels including RTGA (Democratic Republic of the Congo), TV3 (Ghana), CTV (Kenya), AIT (Nigeria), STV (Nigeria), TBC 1 (Tanzania), ZNBC (Zambia) and WBS (Uganda), from 17 October 2009.South Africa Afro Soul goddess Lira, who is scheduled to perform at the awards, topped the list of female nominees, earning two nods for Best Female and Artist of the Year. Other contenders in a strong Best Female line-up include Kel (Nigeria), Amani (Kenya), Zamajobe (South Africa) and Lizha James (Mozambique).

Uganda and Tanzania made a strong showing, contributing 5 nominations between them including two accolades for Ugandan female trio Blu*3 (Best Performer, Best Group) and a Best Video nomination for XOD - I Want You Back. Tanzanian artists were recognised in two categories including Best New Act (Shaa) and Best Hip Hop (A.Y.). Ghanaian star Samini is a hot contender in the Best Performer category after narrowly missing out to Jozi in the Best Live category in the 2008 Awards.