• MTV Africa Music Awards return virtually live
• DJ Khaled to host
• A number of SA Artists and Genre’s represented
• See all the nominations

The iconic, annual MTV Base celebration, MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs), which showcases the ultimate in African culture, music, and creativity, returns after a four-year hiatus. This year, it will be held in a re-imagined virtual format in partnership with Uganda on February 20th, 2021. The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be broadcast as a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage feature.

Grammy-winning producer, DJ and record exec, DJ Khaled, will host the MTV MAMAs 2021, broadcasting globally for the first time on MTV on Feb. 20. Owing to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Khaled will host the virtual ceremony from his home in Miami.

South Africa’s brightest and most talented stars have staked out their places in virtually all the nominated categories, being competed for by artists from 15 African countries. Most notable is how local SA genre Amapiano has garnered such successful regional crossover appeal, as seen by nominated artists: DBN Gogo & DJ Dinho,  John Vuli Gate ft. Ntosh Gazi & Colano, MFR Souls ft. Major League DJs, Sho Madjozi  and Busiswa as well as Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa. South Africa’s urban cultural relevance also found its appeal with Hip-hop Acts nominated including Folcalistic, Casper Nyovest, AKA  and Nasty C.

“Jerusalema” star Master KG is second in terms of overall nominations including Song of the Year, Best Male Artist and Artist of the Year as well as Best Collab for “Jerusalema Remix” with Burna Boy, feat. Nomcebo Zikode.

The MAMAs 2021 will be broadcast on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130) on 20^th February 2021. The repeat show will also be aired on BET Africa, BET International and MTV channels across multiple continents.

The full list of nominations are: 

Best Breakthrough Act

• Elaine (South Africa)
• Tems (Nigeria)
• Omah Lay (Nigeria)
• Zuchu (Tanzania)
• John Blaq (Uganda)
• Sha Sha (Zimbabwe)
• Focalistic (South Africa)

 Best Hip Hop 

• Nasty C (South Africa)
• Suspect 95 (Cote d’Ivoire)
• Khaligraph Jones (Kenya)
• Kwesi Arthur (Ghana)
• NGA (Angola)
• OMG (Senegal)

 Best Ugandan Act

• Sheebah
• Bebe Cool
• John Blaq
• Vinka
• Daddy Andre
• Spice Diana

 Best Lusophone Act

• Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)
• Preto Show (Angola)
• Anna Joyce (Angola)
• Mr Bow (Mozambique)
• Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde)
• Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)

Best Francophone Act

• Innoss’B (DRC)
• Suspect 95 (Cote d’Ivoire)
• Dip Doundou Guiss (Senegal)
• Stanley Enow (Cameroon)
• Fally Ipupa (DRC)
• Gaz Mawete (DRC)

Alone Together: Best Lockdown Performance

• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – Africa Day Benefit Concert
• Black Motion (South Africa) – Red Bull Rendezvous
• Niniola ft Busiswa (Nigeria/SA) – Africa Day Benefit Concert
• Singuila (Congo) – DCDR Series
• AKA (South Africa) – AKA TV
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria) – Poverty (live session)

Contact CSA to align your brand with any of  South Africa’s best Music Artists.