Singer Knowless Butera and fashion designer Joselyne Umutoniwase of Rwanda Clothing have been nominated for the 2016 Africa Youth Choice Award (AYCA).

The fourth edition of the annual awards is set for September 17 at the Eko Atlantic City, Lagos in Nigeria.

AYCA is a celebration of youth excellence and creativity in over 20 African countries and 50 university campuses across the continent.

Songbird Knowless was nominated under the ‘Best Female Artiste of the Year’ category and Umutoniwase as the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ and her fashion house, Rwanda Clothing, was nominated under the ‘Youth Company of the Year’ category.

Umutoniwase recently featured on CNN’s Africa Start-Up programme as a young entrepreneur who’s creating an African fashion line, taking inspiration from Rwandan traditional patterns.

Knowless, the Primus GumaGuma Super Star Season 5 winner is competing along with Uganda’s Irene Ntale, Tanzanian rapper Vanessa Mdee, and South Africa’s Busiwa, Victoria Kimani from Kenya, Efya and Wiyala of Ghana, as well Nigeria’s Seyi Shay, YemiAlade, Asa and Waje.

Unlike the previous editions of the awards, the 2016 AYCA has given more opportunity for females, and this, according to the organisers, is part of promoting women inclusiveness in Africa.

"The 2016 Africa Youth Choice Awards has more female focused categories.

"In fact the entire AYCA nominations guidelines had to be revised to allow core inclusion of females across all sectors across the region” reads part of the statement on the organisers’ website.

Eddy Kenzo, Ali Kiba, Nigeria’s Kiss Daniel, South Africa’s Casper Nyovest and Diamond Platnumz are among the big stars nominated in this year’s edition.

The aim of the awards is to inspire African youths to pursue sound investment in human capital through education, and entrepreneurial excellence to spur socio-economic development on the African continent.

Meanwhile, Knowless was selected to compete for the 11th Annual Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) and African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) for the ‘African Female Artist’ and ‘Best Female East Africa’ respectively.

NEA will take place on September 4, 2016 in New York City while the highly anticipated AFRIMMA will take place in Dallas, Texas on October 15, 2016.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw