The 10th annual Channel O Africa Music Award nominations reveal an open field in one of Africa’s most prestigious music awards and celebrate a decade of recognising the best African contemporary music talent.
Namibia’s Eric Sell, better known as Ees, last year’s Most Gifted Kwaito Music Video Award winner for the song ‘Ayoba’, featuring Mandoza has been nominated again this year in the same category and is Namibia’s sole nominee.
Even though he was up against some of the biggest names in Kwaito music last year, stars like Big Naz, Kabelo and The Dogg, he still managed to bag the prestigious award.
Ees has for years pushed and redefined the Namibian Kwaito industry with his quirky, high octane style and his constant devotion to making sure that Namibian artists are well recognised internationally.
“I was excited when I logged onto Twitter and saw my name in the list of nominees. I know that it’s a tough competition with the likes of Kabelo but I am going to do this because as Namibians we have powerful music and that needs to be recognised. I’m the only artist representing Namibia this year but I am happy that at least one of us is going to represent the nation. People should come out in numbers and vote. I know people do not have a lot of money to SMS and vote but those who can should vote constanly online,” an ecstatic Ees said when visiting The Namibian earlier this week.
His song ‘Woza December’ is in the running for Most Gifted Kwaito Song of the Year in the awards dominated by South African artists. However, the Kwaito star has set his sights on winning again this year, saying he had a feeling that he was going to be nominated.
He is again up against top South African acts; L’Vovo Derrango featuring Professor with ‘Palessa’, Professor featuring Oskido and Character with ‘Finger Prints’, Kabelo with ‘Impilo’ and DJ Tira featuring Big Nuz and Joocy with ‘Summertime’.
Channel O has for years provided a spectacular glimpse into the diversity of sounds that currently define Africa’s music scene.
Ees continued to encourage his fellow Namibian artists. “For all the other artists that have been overlooked this year, continue to work hard because as Namibian artists we get over looked a lot of times and do not get special treatment but we have on many occassions shown Africa and South Africa that Kwaito does not belong to them.”
Whether its in the hitting categories, or the genre and regional categories. This year’s Channel O Africa Music Awards have all the makings of a seriously thrilling affair.
The Most Gifted Video of the Year category includes hotshot newcomers, among them Kenya’s Xtatic whose track with Priddy Ugly and AKA, ‘Hit ‘Em Up’ is making a strong bid for the title (as well as Most Gifted Duo Group or Featuring). AKA himself is making his presence felt at this year’s awards: alongside his featuring spots with Xtatic and Zeus, his video ‘Jealously’ is in the running for Most Gifted Video of the Year and Most Gifted Hip Hop Video.
Another nominee in the Most Gifted Video of the Year category is Kenya’s STL whose ‘Stella Stella Stella’ has also put her in contention for Most Gifted Female where she’s up against Lizha James ‘Vais Rochar’, South Africa’s Zonke ‘Feelings’ and Toya DeLazy ‘Heart’ as well as Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage ‘Without My Heart’ featuring Don Jazzy.
Most Gifted Male includes Botswana’s Zeus featuring AKA and Tumi, ‘#Datswasup’ (also in the running for Most Gifted Video of the Year) along with Nigeria’s Iyanya ‘Flavour’ and Wizkid ‘Azonto’, South Africa’s Donald ‘Over The Moon’ and Tanzania’s Ay featuring Marco Chali ‘Party Zone’.
The awards ceremony will be held on 30 November at the Walter Sisulu Square, in Kliptown, Soweto, South Africa.
Just who will win Africa’s biggest awards on the night is now in the hands of fans!
The Channel O Africa Music Video Awards official hashtag is #CHOAMVA.
Vote for Ees
Voting already opened and closes on Thursday, 21 November at midnight (CAT) and can be done on three different platforms – via SMS: 10C to +2783142100415. Standard SMS rates apply on the web and WAP at www.channelo.tv
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