The MTV Africa Music Awards (also known as the MAMAs) were established in 2008 by MTV Networks Africa (now

Viacom International Media Networks Paramount International Networks (PIN) is the international division of Paramount Global. The division oversees the production, broadcasting and promotion of key Paramount's brands outside of the United States. These brands include Paramount Net ...

Africa) to celebrate the most popular contemporary music in Africa. The 2008 and 2010 events took place in

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

, first in

Abuja Abuja () is the capital and eighth most populous city of Nigeria. Situated at the centre of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is a planned city built mainly in the 1980s based on a master plan by International Plann ...

and then in

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

. The 2009 event happened in

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ha ...

, capital of

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each of the premiere awards created and Executive Produced by Alex Okosi and Jandre Louw. After these three initial events, the show had a three-year hiatus, returning for 2014 and 2015 in

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

, South Africa. The 2016 show was in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

. It is scheduled to resume in 2021, from

Kampala Kampala (, ) is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,680,000 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Ruba ...

History

The MTV Africa Music Awards was conceived and created by the SVP and MD of the MTV Networks in Africa, Alex Okosi alongside the Head of Events of MTV Networks Africa at the time Jandre Louw and Head of Production Dudu Qubu. Earlier, African artists had been included in the

MTV Europe Music Award The MTV Europe Music Awards (originally named MTV European Music Awards, commonly abbreviated as MTV EMA) are awards presented by Paramount International Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture. It was originally conceived as an al ...

where MTV Base Africa viewers voted for Best African artist in the 2006 and 2007

MTV Europe Music Awards The MTV Europe Music Awards (originally named MTV European Music Awards, commonly abbreviated as MTV EMA) are awards presented by Paramount International Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture. It was originally conceived as an al ...

. The first awards show was held at the Velodrome, Abuja in

on 22 November 2008 and was broadcast around the world on 29 November in conjunction with Airtel and local television channels in Africa. The show was hosted by

Trevor Nelson Trevor Ricardo Nelson, MBE (born 7 January 1964) is an English DJ and presenter. Early life Born in the London Borough of Hackney to a family of St Lucian heritage, Nelson attended Central Foundation Boys' Grammar School (now known as Centr ...

. The awards were preceded by four concerts celebrating the musicians nominated for the awards. There were concerts featuring international and local nominees, which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa on 5 November, Nairobi, Kenya on 9 November, the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...

on 13 November and Lagos, Nigeria on 15 November 2008. The Award categories included Artist of the Year, Best Alternative, Best Female, Best Group, Best Hip-Hop, Best Live Performance, Best Male, Best New Act, Best R&B, Video of the Year and the MY Video Award which allows viewers to make their own version of a music video. The 2009 event took place in

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

at the Moi International Sports Centre in October 2009. In 2010, the awards were again held in Nigeria, at Eko Expo Hall in Lagos. This year, some award categories were to better reflect the music of the entire continent, hence creating awards for Best Anglophone, Best Lusophone and Best Francophone artists. After a 3-year hiatus (2011, 2012 and 2013), Viacom International Media Networks Africa announced that the MTV Africa Music Awards would return on 7 June 2014. The fifth event took place at the ICC, Durban,

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...

on 18 July 2015, and on 23 August 2016 it was announced that the sixth edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards would take place in Johannesburg, South Africa on 22 October 2016 at the Ticketpro Dome. In 2017 the popular award didn't hold again. Alex Okosi, Executive Vice President of Viacom International Media Network Africa said the company is working to reinvent the MAMA to create a deeper music experience for the 2018 edition of the award.

Host cities

Winners

2008

*Artist of the Year:

D’Banj Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (born 9 June 1980), better known by his stage name D'banj, is a Nigerian singer and rapper and the founder of Mo' Hits Records with producer Don Jazzy. He has won several music awards, including the awards for ''Best ...

*Best Video:

Ikechukwu Ikechukwu Onunaku, known professionally as Ikechukwu and Killz is a Nigerian singer, rapper, and actor. He was a cast member in '' The Wedding Party'' and '' The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai''. Onunaku was born in Manassas, Virginia to Ni ...

— "

Wind Am Well Wind is the natural movement of air or other gases relative to a planet's surface. Winds occur on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heating of land surfaces and lasting a few hou ...

" *Best Female:

Wahu WAHU may refer to: * WAHU-LD, a low-power television station (channel 31) licensed to serve Crozet, Virginia, United States; see List of television stations in Virginia * WVIR-CD WVIR-CD (channel 35) is a low-power, Class A television station ...

*Best Male: De Boss *Best Group:

P-Square P-Square is a Nigerian music duo consisting of the twin brothers Peter Okoye and Paul Okoye. They produced and released their albums through Square Records (now Square Root Entertainment) In December 2011, they signed a record deal with Akon's ...

*Best New Act:

Naeto C Naetochukwu Chikwe, stage name Naeto C, is a Nigerian rapper, Afrobeat artist and record producer. Early life He was born in Houston, Texas and is of Nigerian origin. The Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha appointed Naeto C, as his Speci ...

*Best Alternative:

Seether Seether are a South African rock band founded in 1999 in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. The band originally performed under the name Saron Gas until 2002, when they moved to the United States and changed it to Seether to avoid confusion wit ...

*Best Hip-Hop:

9ice 9ice, born Alexander Abolore Adegbola Akande (born 17 January 1980), is a Nigerian musician, songwriter and dancer. He is known for his powerful use of the Yoruba language in his music as well as his proverbial lyrics and unique style of deliv ...

*Best R&B:

Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...

*Best Live Performer:

Jozi Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a Megacity#List of megacities, megacity, and is List of urban areas by p ...

*Listener's choice award:

— "Why Me" *MAMA legend award:

Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the p ...

*My Video: Jide Rotilu, Adetoro Rotilu, Razor BleeG

2009

*Artist of the Year:

D'banj Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (born 9 June 1980), better known by his stage name D'banj, is a Nigerian singer and rapper and the founder of Mo' Hits Records with producer Don Jazzy. He has won several music awards, including the awards for ''Best Af ...

(Nigeria) *Best Video: HHP — " Mpitse" *Best Female: Amani (Kenya) *Best Male: Nameless (Kenya) *Best Group:

(Nigeria) *Best New Act: M.I. (Nigeria) *Best Alternative:

Zebra & Giraffe Zebra & Giraffe (abbreviated to Z & G) is an alternative rock band from South Africa. The band's debut album, ''Collected Memories'', was released on 5 May 2008. History Greg Carlin Carlin grew up in Midrand, a suburb outside Johannesburg, Sou ...

(South Africa) *Best Hip Hop: M.I. (Nigeria) *Best R&B: 2face Idibia (Nigeria) *Best Live Performer:

Samini Emmanuel Andrews Sammini (born 22 December 1981 in Accra, Ghana), known by his stage name Samini (formerly as Batman Samini), is a Ghanaian Reggae and Dance hall recording artiste from Wa, Ghana. His genre of music is a melodious mixture of h ...

(Ghana) *Listener's Choice: Nameless — "Sunshine" (Kenya) *My Video: Patricke-Stevie Moungondo *Legend Award:

Lucky Dube Lucky Philip Dube (pronounced ''duu-beh'';
luckydubemusic.com, Retrieved 19 October 2007 3 August 1964 – 18 October 20 ...

(South Africa)

2010

*Best Anglophone –

Daddy Owen Owen Mwatia popularly known as Daddy Owen was born on Friday 1, 1982, is a Kenyan contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist and songwriter from Kakamega, Kenya. Owen is the brother to Kenyan Award-winning gospel musician Rufftone. He is a member ...

(Kenya) *Best Francophone –

Fally Ipupa Fally Ipupa N'simba (born December 14, 1977), known by his stage name Fally Ipupa, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, philanthropist, guitarist and producer. From 1999 until 2006, he was a member of Quartier Latin International, the music ...

(DRC) *Best Lusophone – Cabo Snoop (Angola) *Artist of the Year – 2Face (Nigeria) *Best Female – Sasha (Nigeria) *Best Male – 2Face (Nigeria) *Best Video –

(DRC): "Sexy Dance” *Best Group –

(Nigeria) *Brand New Act –

Mo'Cheddah Modupe-Oreoluwa Oyeyemi Ola (born October 16, 1990), known by her stage name Mo'Cheddah (sometimes stylized as Mocheeda or Mocheddah), is a Nigerian rapper and singer. She released her debut studio album, ''Franchise Celebrity'' (2010), while signe ...

(Nigeria) *Best Performance –

Big Nuz Big Nuz was a South African Kwaito trio from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, founded in 2002. The group was composed of three members known by their stage names Mampintsha, R Mashesha, and Danger. History 2003–2006: Early years The founding membe ...

(South Africa) *Song of the Year –

Liquideep Liquideep was a soul music, soul and House music, House duo formed in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2007. The group was formed by Ziyon (artist/songwriter/producer) and Ryzor (DJ/producer). Its members were signed to independent record label Ment ...

(South Africa): "Fairytale” *MAMA Legend –

Miriam Makeba Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including African popular music, Afropop, jazz, a ...

(South Africa) *Best International –

Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...

(USA)

2014

*Best Francophone – Toofan (Togo) *Best Lusophone –

Anselmo Ralph Anselmo Ralf Andrade Cordeiro (born March 12, 1981), better known as Anselmo Ralph, is an Angolan singer. He is one of the better internationally known Angolan singers and is commonly known for producing romantic songs. Biography Anselmo Ralp ...

(Angola) *Artist of the Year –

Davido David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), popularly known by his stage name Davido, is an American-Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. His music blends traditional African elements with global mainstream pop. Davido is widel ...

(Nigeria) *Best Female –

Tiwa Savage Tiwa Savage (born 5 February 1980) is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and performing artist. Born in Isale Eko, she relocated to London at the age of 11 for her secondary education. Five years later, she began her music career doing backup voc ...

(Nigeria) *Best Male –

(Nigeria) *Best Video –

Clarence Peters Clarence Abiodun Peters (born 27 July 1978) is a Nigerian music video director, filmmaker and cinematographer. He is the founder and CEO of Capital Dream Pictures, a production company that specialises in the realms of the performing arts, fil ...

(Nigeria) *Best Group –

Mafikizolo Mafikizolo is a South African Afro-pop music duo formed in 1996, consisting of composer Theo Kgosinkwe and lead singer Nhlanhla Nciza. The duo rose to fame after they released their singles "Ndihamba Nawe kuphela", "Kwela Kwela", "Sibongile", "U ...

(South Africa) *Best New Act – Stanley Enow (Cameroon) *Best Live Act – Flavour (Nigeria) *Song of the Year –

ft Uhuru (South Africa): "Khona” *Best International –

Pharrell Williams Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he ...

(USA) *Best Hip Hop – Sarkodie (Ghana) *Best Collaboration – Uhuru Ft. Oskido, DJ Bucks, Professor and Yuri Da Cunha (South Africa/Angola) : "Y-tjukutja" *Best Alternative – Gangs of Ballet (South Africa) *Best Pop – Goldfish (South Africa) *Personality of the Year –

Lupita Nyong'o Lupita Amondi Nyong'o (, ; ; born 1 March 1983) is a Kenyan-Mexican actress. She is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Lupita Nyong'o, several accolades, including an Academy Awards, Academy Award, and nominations for ...

(Kenya) *MTV Base Leadership Award – Ashish J. Thakkar (Tanzania) *Transform Today Award by Absolut –

(Nigeria)

2015

*Best Francophone – DJ Arafat (Ivory Coast) *Best Lusophone – Ary (Angola) *Artist of the Decade –

(Nigeria) *Best Female –

Yemi Alade Yemi Eberechi Alade (born 13 March 1989), is a Nigerian Afropop singer, songwriter, actress and activist. She won the ''Peak Talent Show'' in 2009 after which she signed to Effyzzie Music Group, and had a hit with her single " Johnny" in 2014. ...

(Nigeria) *Best Male –

Wizkid Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. A prominent figure in the modern-day Afrobeats music scene, Wizkid is regarded as one of the biggest and most influential Afri ...

(Nigeria) *Best Video –

Riky Rick Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado (20 July 1987 23 February 2022), known professionally as Riky Rick, was a South African rapper, singer and producer. He was also the founder and owner of record label Cotton Club Records and a member of Boyz N Buck ...

(South Africa) : "Nafukwa" *Best Group –

(Nigeria) *Best New Act –

Patoranking Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie (born 27 May, 1990), better known by his stage name Patoranking, is a Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Ijegun-Egba Satellite Town, Patoranking hails from Onicha, Ebonyi State. He starte ...

(Nigeria) *Best Live Act –

Diamond Platnumz Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack (born 2 October 1989), popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, is a Tanzanian bongo flava recording artist, dancer, philanthropist and a businessman of Ha heritage. He is the founder and CEO of WCB Wasafi R ...

(Tanzania) *Song of the Year – Mavins (Nigeria): "Dorobucci” *Best International –

Nicki Minaj Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated flow in her rapping, alter egos and accent ...

(USA) *Best Hip Hop –

Cassper Nyovest Refiloe Maele Phoolo (born 16 December 1990), professionally known as Cassper Nyovest, is a South African rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, record producer and amateur boxer. Born and raised in Mahikeng, North West, he is regarded as one of the ...

(South Africa) *Best Collaboration – AKA, Burna Boy, Da LES & JR (South Africa/Nigeria) : "All Eyes On Me" *Best Pop & Alternative –

Jeremy Loops Jeremy Thomas Hewitt (born March 4, 1984) known by his stage name Jeremy Loops, is a South African singer, songwriter, and record producer. In 2011, Loops released his self-titled EP. His debut album ''Trading Change'' was released March 2014 ...

(South Africa) *Personality of the Year –

Trevor Noah Trevor Noah (born 20 February 1984) is a South African-born comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and former television host. He was the host of ''The Daily Show'', an American late-night talk show and satirical news progra ...

(South Africa) *MTV Base Leadership Award – Saran Kaba Jones & S’Bu Mavundla (Uganda & South Africa) *MAMA Evolution –

(Nigeria)

2016

*Best Live Act –

(South Africa) *Best Lusophone –

C4 Pedro Pedro Henriques Lisboa Santos (born 7 July 1983), better known by his stage name C4 Pedro, is an Angolan kizomba musician. Biography Son of the singer Lisboa Santos, C4 Pedro was born in Luanda on 7 July 1983, but grew up in Belgium, where he r ...

(Angola) *Legend Award –

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for ...

(South Africa) *Best Female Award –

(Nigeria) *Best Francophone Award –

Serge Beynaud Serge Beynaud (real name Guy Serge Beynaud Gnolou but sometimes also called Beynaud; born 19 September 1987 in Yopougon, Abidjan) is an Ivorian singer, songwriter and music producer, associated with styles such as Coupé-Décalé and Loko loko. ' ...

(Ivory Coast) *Best Group – Sauti Sol (Kenya) *Best Pop & Alternative – Kyle Deutsch & Shekhinah (South Africa) *Best International Act –

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals * A male duck People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name * Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * ...

(Canada) *Best Male Act –

(Nigeria) *Listeners Choice –

Jah Prayzah Mukudzeyi Mukombe (born 4 July 1987), better known as Jah Prayzah, is a Zimbabwean contemporary musician and lead member of the band ''Third Generation''. He is popularly referred to by fans and media as "Musoja", the Shona word for "soldier", a ...

(Zimbabwe) *Video of the Year – Youssoupha Niguer Ma Vie (Congo) *Best Collaboration –

DJ Maphorisa Themba Sonnyboy Sekowe (born ), known professionally as DJ Maphorisa, is a South African DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter. As a record producer with a blend of house music, amapiano and afropop, he has worked with and has received ...

& DJ Bucks (South Africa & Nigeria) *Personality of the Year –

Caster Semenya Mokgadi Caster Semenya OIB (born 7 January 1991) is a South African middle-distance runner and winner of two Olympic gold medals and three World Championships in the women's 800 metres. She first won gold at the World Championships in 2009 ...

(South Africa) *Best Hip Hop –

Emtee Mthembeni Ndevu, better known by his stage name Emtee (stylized as eMTee) is a South African rapper. He was born in Matatiele and grew up in Rockville, Soweto, where he was involved in talent shows. His career began at the age of 17 and his deb ...

(South Africa) *Best New Act – Tekno (Nigeria) *Song of the Year –

Wande Coal Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe (born 18 October 1985), popularly known as Wande Coal, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Early life Wande Coal was born on 18 October 1985 in Lagos Island, Lagos state, Nigeria, to Chief Ibukun Olufunto and Omolara ...

(Nigeria) *Artiste of the Year –

(Nigeria)

References

External links

MTV Africa Music AwardsWebsite
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mtv Africa Music Awards Music video awards African music awards

History

Host cities

Categories

Winners

2008

2009

2010

2014

2015

2016

References

External links