MAMA 2016 Awards: Meddy falls short

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. Meddy (R) with some of the top African artistes, including members of Kenya’s Sauti Sol, at the event. 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. Yemi Alade (middle) won Best Female award. 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. Wiz Kid won Artiste of the Year award. 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. Patoranking (R) won Song of the Year award 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

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MAMA 2016 Awards: Meddy falls short