Preparations for this year’s SALAX Awards are on a higher gear as Ikirezi Group Ltd, the official organisers of the music awards, on Sunday evening, announced the nominees for the awards ceremony slated for March 31, at the Petit Stade in Remera.Winners of the 4th edition of the awards stand to receive prestigious prizes compared to the previous editions, Mike Karangwa, Chairman of Ikirezi Group Ltd told The New Times."We intend to award all the winners in their respective categories, but the overall Best Artiste of the Year will obviously get the biggest prize. It is expected to be between U.S $ 1,000— 2,000, depending on the sponsorship we shall receive.” Overall, the main categories will include Male Artiste of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Upcoming Artiste of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year and Traditional Artist of the Year. This year’s awards will also see the addition of a Diaspora segment to the categories with awards for the Male/ Female Diaspora Artiste. This, obviously, would be welcome news for Rwandan artistes in the Diaspora. The public will soon start to vote for their favourite artistes through SMS.The nominations were carried out by showbiz journalists from various media institutions in the country.Speaking at the event, Karangwa said that it was important for showbiz journalists to conduct the nominations as they are well conversant with the artistes.Some of the criteria for selecting a nominee were as follows: the artiste/group must be Rwandan, whose studio work was produced between January1— December 2011; their songs must not have featured in the previous editions.SALAX Awards are intended to honour the most successful artistes in Rwanda’s music industry. The nomineesMale Artiste of the Year King James Jay Polly Riderman Kamishi Female Artiste of the YearKnowles Miss JoJo Paccy Young GraceGroup of the YearDream Boys Urban Boys Just Family TNP Hip-hop Artiste of the YearJay Polly Rider Man Danny Nanone Paccy Afrobeat Artiste of the YearKitoko Kamishi Uncle Austin Rafiki R&B/Pop Artiste of the YearKing James Tom Close Emmy Knowles Upcoming Artiste of the YearKhizz TNP ChristopherJozy Gospel Artiste of the YearDominic Nic Aline Gahongayire The Blessed Sisters Liliane Kabaganza Audio Producer of the YearLick lick (Unlimitted Records & The Focus Production)Clement Ishimwe (Kina Music)Junior (Line-Up Studio & Bridge Records) Pastor P (Narrow Road Studio & Rafiki Records)Video Director of the YearBernard (The Zone)Gilbert K. (The Benjamins) Arnauld (Arnold Films)Meddy Saleh (Press it)Song of the Year"Aho ruzingiye” by Kamishi "Bella” by Dream Boys feat. Kitoko "Mumutashye” by Dream Boys feat. Jay Polly"Twanze gutoberwa amateka” by Kizito Mihigo Traditional Artiste of the YearInganzo ngari Jules Sentore Tuyisenge Indangamirwa Best Video Clip of the Year"Warambeshye” by Kamishi "Umfatiye runini” by Urban Boys "Bella” by Dream Boys feat. Kitoko "Inshuti” by Danny feat. Knowles Album of the Year"Umuvandimwe” by King James "Umugabirwa” by Kamishi "Igicaniro” by Rider Man "Iwacu” by Jay Polly.