By Modupe Gbadeyanka
In early 2016, Linda Ikeji and Wizkid were at loggerheads due to a story published by the former on her popular platform, www.lindaikejisblog.com about the latter being threatened with an eviction notice at his rented house in Lagos.
It took the intervention of the Lagos Police Command to settle their differences after Ms Ikeji reported the singer to the police over an alleged threat to her life.
Months after the fight was settled by the police, Wizkid and Ms Ikeji will lock horns together at the 2016 edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), which holds in Johannesburg later in the year.
They have both been nominated in the Personality of the Year category of the awards alongside Pearl Thusi, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabonese footballer) and Caster Semenya (South African Olympic gold medallist).
In the nominees list, Wizkid, Cassper Nyovest, AKA and Sauti Sol led the pack with an impressive nine nominations among them.
The MAMA is in partnership with Joburg Tourism, Absolut Vodka, Google, MTN and DStv.
Fifty MAMA nominees including artists and achievers from 18 countries were revealed in nine key music and lifestyle award categories by Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa and MTV Base (DStv channel 322) at a star-studded reception at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa last night.
At the front of the field is Nigerian star Wizkid with three nominations including nods in Best Male, Best Collaboration and Personality of the Year. Next in line with two nominations each are AKA (South Africa), Cassper Nyovest (South Africa) and Sauti Sol (Kenya).
The hotly contested Best Hip Hop category sees MAMA nominations for Emtee and Riky Rick of South Africa, who’ll be going head to head against Nigeria’s Olamide and Ycee, and Kiff No Beat (Ivory Coast).
An epic battle of the bands is in store in the Best Group category where Ghana’s R2bees face off against Kenya’s Sauti Sol, South Africa’s Mi Casa, Navy Kenzo from Tanzania and Togolese duo, Toofan.
The second round of nominations, comprising 7 additional award categories, including Artist of the Year, Best Female, Listener’s Choice, Best Breakthrough, Best Francophone, Song of the Year in partnership with Google, and Video of the Year, will be revealed at the Hard Rock Café, Lagos, Nigeria during Road to MAMA – Lagos 2016 (2 October 2016).
No nominations will be revealed for the MTV Base Reimagined award, and MAMA Legend.
Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, Mr Alex Okosi, while commenting on the awards, stated that, “The MAMA celebrates Africa’s incredible young musicians and trailblazers by breaking down barriers, driving engagement, and highlighting the continent’s rich and abundant talent.
“It’s an honour to be able to salute their achievements at MAMA 2016, and we offer our congratulations to all of the nominees as we look forward to the most exciting and diverse MAMA yet.”
Voting for MAMA 2016 opened at 10pm on Wednesday, September 21, at www.mtvbase.com and affiliated Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Additionally, fans can vote for Best Group and Best International Act from 21 September by simply searching for “MTV MAMA” on Google, with each Google account allowed 5 votes per category per day.
Google voting for Best Breakthrough and Song of the Year will open on 2 October. Voting in all categories closes at 10:59pm on October 19, 2016.
Guests at the MAMA 2016 nominations party were entertained with sizzling performances by Mi Casa, Nathi, Riky Rick, Shekinah, Khuli Chana and Lizha James, while DJs PH, Major League DJz, Tha Duchaz, Prince Kaybee and DJ Snypes kept the dance-floor packed to capacity.
The event was attended by a host of artists, celebrities and other glitterati, while MTV Base VJ Sandile and Nomzamo Mbatha were on point at the MAMA podium.
MAMA 2016 NOMINATIONS (PART 1)
Best Male
AKA (South Africa)
Black Coffee (South Africa)
Diamond (Tanzania)
Patoranking (Nigeria)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best Live
Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
Flavour (Nigeria)
Mafikizolo (South Africa)
Stonebwoy (Ghana)
Best Group
Mi Casa (South Africa)
Navy Kenzo (Tanzania)
R2bees (Ghana)
Sauti Sol (Kenya)
Toofan (Togo)
Best Collaboration in partnership with Absolut
AKA feat. Burna Boy, Khuli Chana & Yanga – “Baddest” (South Africa/Nigeria)
DJ Maphorisa feat. Wizkid & DJ Bucks – “Soweto Baby” ((South Africa/Nigeria)
Nasty C feat. Davido, Cassper – “Juice Back Remix” (Nigeria/South Africa)
Patoranking feat. Sarkodie – “No Kissing” (Nigeria/Ghana)
Sauti Sol feat. Alikiba – “Unconditionally Bae” (Kenya/Tanzania)
Best Hip Hop in association with MTN
Emtee (South Africa)
Kiff No Beat (Ivory Coast)
Olamide (Nigeria)
Riky Rick (South Africa)
Ycee (Nigeria)
Best Pop/Alternative
Desmond & The Tutus (South Africa)
LCNVL (South Africa)
Shekinah (South Africa) / Kyle Deutsch (South Africa)
Timo ODV (South Africa)
Tresor (DRC)
Best Lusophone
C4 Pedro (Angola)
NGA (Angola)
Lizha James (Mozambique)
Nelson Freitas (Netherlands/Cape Verde)
Preto Show (Angola)
Personality of the Year in association with DStv
Caster Semenya (South Africa)
Linda Ikeji (Nigeria)
Pearl Thusi (South Africa)
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best International
Adele (UK)
Beyoncé (USA)
Drake (Canada)
Future (USA)
Rihanna (Barbados)
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