Organisers of the SALAX Awards have started their hunt for the best local artists. Famous radio presenters Lion Imanzi and Murenzi Kamatari, aka MC NZI, are expected to preside over the ceremony today at the Expo Ground in Gikondo. Imanzi has become a household name, presenting at various major events in the country.

The event starts at 5 p.m. Entrance fee is Rwf2000 for ordinary seats and Rwf10, 000 in the VIP section). From the Expo Ground, all roads will lead to Planet Club (KBC) for the After Party, with the entrance fee set at Rwf2500.  
"This is just a dream gig for me.

The energy, passion and talent of the Rwandan music scene are off the scale and I can’t wait to see the best artists showing the public what they can do,” Alex Manzi, a fan of local music said.

Ally Soudy Uwizeye, Vice Coordinator of Ikirezi Group and an official from the organising committee of SALAX Awards explained the reason why the initial venue of the event, Petit Stade, was changed at the last minute.

"We were forced to change the venue at the last minute because there is another event which would be taking place at the Petit Stade, at the same time of the awards.

So we had to immediately look for an alternative,” Uwizeye explained.

Dream Boys, Kitoko, Urban Boys, Riderman, Makanyaga Abdul, Gabi, Dominique Nic and Knowles are expected to perform.

SALAX Awards is an initiative started by Salus Relax, an entertainment show at Radio Salus. At the time, the show was hosted by Jean Michel Karangwa, Ally Soudy Uwizeye and Sandrine Isheja, who engineered the functioning of the event. The nominations are arranged in the following categories:

Best Male Artist
- Kitoko
- Meddy
- The Ben
- Tom Close

Best Female Artist
- Aline Gahongayire
- Liza Kamikazi
- Miss Jojo
- Miss Shanel

Song of the year
- Amahirwe ya Nyuma – The Ben
- Amayobera – Meddy
- Bya bihe – The Brothers
- Rahira – Liza ft The Ben
Best Album of the year
- Amahirwe ya mbere – The Ben
- Amayobera - Meddy
- Isaha ya Munani – K8
- Sibeza – Tom Close

Best Music Group
- Dream Boys
- Just Family
- The Brothers
- Urban Boys

Best Gospel Singer
- Aline Gahongayire
- Dominic Nic
- Ezra Kwizera
- Tonzi

Best Hip-Hop Singer
- Diplomate
- K8
- Paccy
- Riderman

Best R&B Singer
- King James
- Meddy
- The Ben
- Tom Close

Best Teen Artist
- Babou
- Lil G
- Lil Ngabo
- Princess Priscilla

Best Afrobeat Singer
- KNC
- Kitoko
- Rafiki
- Uncle Austin

Best New Artist
- King James
- Meddy
- Paccy
- The Rain

Best Producer
- Jay P
- Lik Lik
- Nicolas
- Pastor P

Best Video
- Byabihe – The Brothers
- Intimba y’urukundo – B Loon
- Nakutaka – Shanel
- Ndacyagukunda –Tom Close

Best African Artist
- Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
- Kidumu (Burundi)
- Good Lyfe (Uganda)
- Longombas (Kenya)
- Ali Kiba (Tanzania)

Ends