The big night of the Rwandan music awards – 2016 Salax Awards – is around the corner, and we can’t wait to find out who the winners of this year will be.

Artiste of the Year is definitely the most coveted award with the likes of Aime Bluestone, Charly & Nina, David Icyishaka aka Davis D, Gaby Umutare, and Yvan Buravan, all vying for the title.

The red carpet event, which will take place on December 23 at 6p.m — in Kigali, will celebrate the best in local music and other areas of entertainment over the past year.

The voting process has already started.

According to Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, the chairperson of Ikirezi Group, the organisers for the Salax Awards, the ball is now in the hands of the public to determine the 2016 Salax winners.

Online voting can be done through the website www.salaxawards.rw or via SMS by writing the keyword of the category, adding the number of the artiste in that particular category, and then sending to 5000.

Ntirenganya said the songs that were considered are those released between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016.

This year’s awards are in 13 categories. The nominations were done by entertainment journalists and players in the creative arts.

Following is the full list of the nominees for the 2016 "Salax Awards” and the key words and number assigned to every nominee to help in the voting procedure:

Best Male Artiste Bruce Melody – male 1 Danny Vumbi – male 2 Mico the Best – male 3 Social Mula – male 4 Urban Boyz – male 5

Best Female ArtisteAllioni – fem 1 Charly & Nina – fem 2Jody – fem 3Oda Paccy – fem 4Young Grace – fem 5

Best Hip Hop SingerDanny Nanone – rap 1Green P – rap 2Jay Polly – rap 3Oda Paccy – rap 4Riderman – rap 5

Best R&B/POP SingerBruce Melody –rnb 1Edouce – rnb 2Peace – rnb 3Social Mula – rnb 4Yvan Buravan – rnb 5

Best Afro/POP SingerCharly & Nina – afro 1Danny Vumbi – afro 2Mico the Best – afro 3Senderi International Hit – Afro 4Urban Boyz – afro 5

Group of the YearActive – group 1Charly & Nina – group 2Super Brothers – group 3TBB – group 4Urban Boyz – group 5

Artiste of the YearAimé Bluestone – new 1Charly & Nina – new 2Davis D – new 3Gaby Umutare – new 4Yvan Buravan – new 5

Video of the YearIndoro – Charly & Nina –video 1My Love – Edouce – video 2Niba Ari Wowe – Oda Paccy – video 3Simparara – Mico the Best feat. Urban Boyz – video 4Till I die – Urban Boyz – video 5

Best Gospel SingerIsrael Mbonyi –gospel 1Janvier Kayitana – gospel 2Patient Bizimana – gospel 3Serge Iyamuremye – gospel 4Tonzi – gospel 5

Best Gospel ChoirAbahamya ba Yesu Choir – choir 1Abahetsi Choir – choir 2Alarm Ministries – choir 3Chorale de Kigali - Kigali – choir 4Jehovah Jireh – choir 5

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