Nigeria’s Wizkid, SA’s Semenya take top MTV awards

Ugandans edged out as Nigeria’s Wizkid, SA’s Semenya take top MTV awards

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |

Nigerian afro-pop star Wizkid and South Africa’s Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya won top prizes at the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Wizkid was named artist of the year and best male musician and also won the prize for top collaboration at the awards, which celebrate pan-African music, youth culture and talent, with the winners chosen by public vote.

Semenya, who won gold in the women’s 800-metres at the Rio Olympic in August, received loud applause when she was crowned personality of the year.

“I would like to thank God for this precious talent. It’s been a fantastic year for me,” the runner, who has been dogged by questions around her gender, said.

The Saturday night ceremony was originally set to be hosted by South African comedian and US television star Trevor Noah, but he called in sick so South African TV personality Bonang Matheba stepped in.

South Africa’s jazz icon and Grammy award winner Hugh Masekela won the legend of the year award, and briefly rapped as he accepted his prize.

For a second consecutive year, Nigerian artist Yemi Alade walked away with the best female award trophy while Kenyan Afro-pop band Sauti Sol took the best group award.

Alex Okosi, senior vice president of Viacom International Media Networks Africa, which runs the MTV Awards said Saturday’s awards “brought the continent together, showcasing the amazing creativity and talent that Africa has to offer.”

A recent study has found growing demand for homegrown contemporary music across Africa, which is driving a creative boom in an industry otherwise battered by falling CD sales and rampant piracy.

The MTV Africa music awards were first staged in 2008 and have each year recognised iconic musicians from across the continent.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Black Coffee (South Africa)
• Diamond (Tanzania)
• Sauti Sol (Kenya)
• Wizkid (Nigeria) WINNER
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

BEST FEMALE
• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Mz Vee (Ghana)
• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
• Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania)
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria) WINNER

BEST BREAKTHROUGH
• Babes Wodumo (South Africa)
• Emtee (South Africa)
• Falz (Nigeria)
• Franko (Cameroon)
• Nasty C (South Africa)
• Nathi (South Africa)
• Raymond (Tanzania)
• Simi (Nigeria)
• Tekno (Nigeria) WINNER

BEST FRANCOPHONE
• Franko (Cameroon)
• J-Rio (Gabon)
• Magasco (Cameroon)
• Serge Beynaud (Ivory Coast) WINNER
• Toofan (Togo)

LISTENER’S CHOICE
• Adiouza (Senegal)
• Bebe Cool (Uganda)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Den G (Liberia)
• EL (Ghana)
• Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe) WINNER
• Jay Rox (Zambia)
• Kansoul (Kenya)
• Kiss Daniel (Nigeria)
• Lij Michael (Ethiopia)
• LXG (Sierra Leone)
• Meddy (Rwanda)
• Messias Marioca (Mozambique)
• Prince Kaybee (South Africa)
• Reda Taliani (Algeria)
• Saad Lamjarred (Morocco)
• Sabri Mosbah (Tunisia)
• Sidiki Diabate (Mali)
• Tamer Hosny (Egypt)
• The Dogg (Namibia)
• Yamoto Band (Tanzania)

SONG OF THE YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOOGLE
• “Shaktibobo” – Olamide (Nigeria)
• “Reggae Blues” – Harrysongz feat Olamide, Kcee & Iyanya, Orezi (Nigeria)
• “My Woman, My Everything” – Patoranking feat. Wande Coal (Nigeria) WINNER
• “Godwin” – Korede Bello (Nigeria)
• “Ngud” – Kwesta feat. Cassper (South Africa)
• “Roll Up Re-Up” – Emtee feat. Wizkid and AKA (South Africa/Nigeria)
• “Soweto Baby” – DJ Maphorisa feat. Wizkid (South Africa/Nigeria)
• “Baddest” – AKA feat. Burna Boy, Khuli Chana, Yanga (South Africa/Nigeria)
• “Wololo” – Babes Wodumo feat. Mampintsha (South Africa)
• “Coller la Petite“ – Franko (Cameroon)
• “Unconditionally bae” – Sauti Sol feat. Alikiba (Kenya/Tanzania)

 VIDEO OF THE YEAR
• “Jump” – Anatii & Cassper feat. Nasty C (South Africa); Director: Kyle Lewis
• “Caviar Dreams” – AL Bairre & PhFAT (South Africa); Director: Daniel Levi
• “If I Start to Talk” – Tiwa Savage feat. Dr Sid (South Africa); Director: Clarence Peters
• “Kisasi Kumi” – Sheeba (Uganda) – Director: Sasha Vybz
• “Niquer Ma Vie“ – Youssoupha (Congo) – Director: Antony Abdelli & Jose Eon WINNER

BEST HIP HOP
• Olamide (Nigeria)
• Kiff No Beat(Ivory Coast)
• Ycee(Nigeria)
• Emtee(South Africa) WINNER
• Ricky Rick(South Africa)

BEST COLLABORATION
• Patoranking ft. Sarkodie – No Kissing
• Sauti Sol ft. Alikiba – Unconditionally Bae
• AkA ft. Burna Boy,Khuli Chana & Yanga – Baddest
• Dj Maphorsia ft. Wizkid & Dj Buckz – Soweto Baby WINNER
• Nasty c ft. Davido & Cassper Nyovest – Juice Back Remix

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
• Drake WINNER
• Beyonce
• Adele
• Future
• Rihanna

BEST LUSOPHONE
• NGA
• Nelson Freitas
• C4 Pedro WINNER
• Lizha James
• Petro Show

BEST MALE
• Wizkid (Nigeria) WINNER
• AKA(South Africa)
• Patoranking(Nigeria)
• Black Coffee(South Africa)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

BEST LIVE ACT
• Flavour(Nigeria)
• Stonebwoy(Ghana)
• Cassper Nyovest(South Africa) WINNER
• Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
• Mafikizolo(South Africa)

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
• Linda Ikeji
• Wizkid
• Caster Semenya WINNER
• Pearl Thusi
• Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
BEST GROUP
• R2Bees(Ghana)
• Sauti Sol(Kenya) WINNER
• Toofan(Togo)
• Navy Kenzo (Tanzania)
• Mi Casa (South Africa)
 BEST POP
• Tresor
• TiMO ODV.
• LCNVL
• Desmond & The Tutus
• kyle deutsch & shekhinah WINNER