Rwanda’s Meddy fell short of scooping an MTV Africa Music Award 2016 following his nomination in the Listener’s Choice category.

The award went to Zimbabwe’s Jah Prayzah in a tightly contested category but nevertheless Meddy’s nomination in the prestigious awards marked a major milestone for Rwandan music.

The Listener’s Choice Award had the biggest number of nominees, 21 in total, including, Adiouza (Senegal), Bebe Cool (Uganda), Burna Boy (Nigeria), Den G (Liberia), EL (Ghana) and eventual winner Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe).

Others included Jay Rox (Zambia), Kansoul (Kenya), Kiss Daniel (Nigeria), Lij Michael (Ethiopia), LXG (Sierra Leone), Messias Marioca (Mozambique), Prince Kaybee (South Africa, Reda Taliani (Algeria) and Yamoto Band from Tanzania, among others.

Several Rwandans, including artistes, had led a campaign on different social media platforms to ensure that the U.S-based Rwanda RnB singer, real name Medard Ngabo, wins the prestigious accolade but it was never to be.

The Ntawamusimbura singer is the first Rwandan musician to be nominated for the annual prestigious continental awards.

During a colourful ceremony held in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nigeria’s Wizkid won big, scooping the Artiste of the Year, Male Artiste of the Year, and Best collaboration with DJ Maphorisa ft Wizkid& DJ Bucks.

Kenya’s Sauti Sol won Best Group award but generally the East African region performed poorly.

The likes of Diamond Platinumz (Tanzania), Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), Ali Kiba (Tanzania), Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania) and Bebe Cool (Uganda) did not manage to win on the night with Nigerian artistes dominating.

Nigeria’s Yemi Alade won the Best Female Artiste award for the second time in a row, edging compatriot Tiwa Savage, Tanzania’s Vanessa Mdee and Ghana’s MzVee, among others.

List of Winners

Best Group – Sauti Sol

Best Live Act – Cassper Nyovest

Best Alternative – Shekinah and Kyle Deutsch

Best Female Act – Yemi Alade

Best International Act – Drake

Africa Re-imagined – Vuvian Onano and Mary Taedzerwa

Legend Award – Hugh Masekela

Best Lusophone Act – C4 Pedro

Best Artiste (Francophone) – Serge Beynaud

Best Male Artist – Wizkid

Listener’s Choice – Jah Prayzah

Best Collaboration – DJ Maphorisa ft Wizkid & DJ Bucks

Video of the Year – Youssoupha (Niquer Ma Vie)

Personality of the Year – Caster Semenya

Best Hip-Hop Act – Emtee

Best Breakthrough Act – Tekno

Song of the Year – My Woman (Patoranking ft Wande Coal)

Artiste of the Year – Wizkid

editorial@newtimes.co.rw