Wizkid has become the most nominated Nigerian act for All Africa Music Awards International Committee (AFRIMA) 2021 nominations, snagging six spots.
The shortlist consisted of more than 8,880 songs submitted for refereeing and includes more than 400 songs by artists in the 30 continental and 10 regional categories.
Other nominated Nigerian artistes like Omah Lay, Patoranking, Davido, Burna Boy, Tems, Olakira, Vector, Tiwa Savage, Bella Shmurda, Yemi Alade and the Cavemen.
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Leading the 2021 nominations is South Africa’s Blaq Diamond with eight slots for their song ‘SummerYoMuthi’.
Also from South Africa, Focalistic snagged seven nominations for his hit single ‘Ke Star’ (Remix) featuring Davido and Vigro Deep.
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With his hit song ‘Essence’ featuring Tems, Wizkid follows closely with six nominations including ‘Artiste of the Year in Africa’, ‘Best Male Artist in Western Africa’ and ‘Album of the Year’.
The Afrobeat singer’s other nominations are ‘Best African Collaboration’, ‘Song of the Year in Africa’, and ‘Best Artiste’, ‘Duo or Group in African R n B Soul’.
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Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania with “waah” with Koffi Olomide; Aya Nakamura from French-Mali with ‘Plus Jamais’ with Stormzy; Iba One from Mali for “Education”, with Oumou Sangare, and DJ Tarico from Mozambique for the monster hit “Yaba buluku” with Burna Boy, Preck and Nelson Tivane, each have five nominations.
Omah Lay got four nominations in ‘Artiste of the Year in Africa’; ‘Best Artiste in Western Africa’; ‘Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop’ and ‘Breakout Artiste of the Year’ categories.
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Davido (Nigeria); Fally Ipupa (DRC Congo); MHD (Guinea); Patoranking (Nigeria); and Rayvanny (Tanzania) were also nominated in four categories.
Ghanaian Gyakie, Bella Shmurda (Nigeria); Nikita Kering (Kenya); Nata (Sierra Leone); Abir (Morocco); Olakira (Nigeria); Burna Boy (Nigeria); Calema (Sao Tome and Principe); Cassper Nyovest (South Africa); DJ Moh Green (Algeria); Djelykaba Bintou (Guinea) has three nominations.
Idem Ferré Gola (DRC Congo); Gyakie (Ghana); Kamo Mphela (South Africa); Kelly Khumalo (South Africa); Loco (Cameroon); Lojay & Sarz (Nigeria); Makhadzi (South Africa); Nasty C (South Africa); Rebo (DR Congo); Tems (Nigeria); Tiwa Savage (Nigeria); and Vector (Nigeria).
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Shan’L (Gabon); Tayc (Cameroon); Isomers (Nigeria); T’neeya (Cameroon); Cavemen (Nigeria); Afrie (Uganda); Solking (Algeria); Ko-C (Cameroon); Salatiel & Rutshelle Guillaume (Cameroon); Djodje (Cape Verde); Adekunle Gold (Nigeria); Bensoul (Kenya); Blxckie (South Africa); Franck Biyong (Cameroon); and Innoss’B (DR Congo) have two nominations.
Others are Kidi (Ghana); Ladipoe (Nigeria); Major League DJZ (South Africa); Manal (Morocco); Mapara A Jazz (South Africa); Mi Casa (South Africa); Nandy (Tanzania); Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde); Nomcebo Zikode (South Africa); Sauti Sol (Kenya); Stonebwoy (Ghana); Toofan (Togo); Yaw Tog (Ghana); Yemi Alade (Nigeria) and Zuchu (Tanzania).
Hadja Kobele, member of the AFRIMA jury of 13 people, assured that the committee had given Africans and the world the best nominations and songs of the year under review.
Angela Martins, Head of Culture, AUC, also said the Legend award category will be announced at the awards show, while the best soundtrack in a film / series / documentary category has been on hold due to entries from poor quality for this year’s edition.
The award event will be broadcast live from Lagos on 84 TV stations in 109 countries from November 19 to 21.
