African Music Artists Honored at the 2016 MAMA Awards

The 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) show will be remembered as a night full of live music, glamour, and excitement. This year’s show, which was held at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa, was the 6th time since its launch in 2008 that MTV has recognized Africa’s top musical talents.

It was a big night for some of the continent’s biggest acts in contemporary music and pop culture. The Vanguard reports that the night opened with a powerful rendition of Korede Bello’s song “Godwin,” which was performed by the internationally renowned Soweto Gospel Choir.

Nigerian superstar Wizkid, who enjoyed hit collaborations with international superstars such as Drake and Chris Brown in 2016, walked away with three awards, including Artist of the Year. Three other Nigerians also took home awards; Tekno won an award for Best Breakthrough Act; Patoranking received the coveted award for Song of the Year; while songstress Yemi Alade, who was also the co-host for the show, won Best Female Artist for the second year in a row.

South African rappers Cassper Nyovest and Emtee won Best Live Act and Best Hip Hop respectively, while jazz  legend and Grammy Award winner Hugh Masakela accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the growth of music on the continent.

Caster Semenya, the South African Olympic gold medalist in the 800 meter women’s final in Rio, beat four other nominees  to win Personality of the Year. Semenya, who has endured a difficult year following harsh speculation about her gender, was greeted with a loud applause from the audience as she received her award.

Other countries with winners from the night include the Ivory Coast, Angola, Congo, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

Organizers were forced to scramble for a new host after comedian Trevor Noah pulled out of hosting duties due to illness, barely 48 hours before the show. Replacement host Bonang Matheba did not disappoint, bringing great energy to the show.

This year’s show featured performances from Falz, Yemi Alade, Cassper Nyovest, and Patoranking, with American hip-hop star Future also making an appearance.

The MAMA awards is organised by MTV Africa to celebrate Africa’s popular music culture, its creativity, and the energy and potentials of its youth.

See the full list of winners below:

BEST FEMALE

Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

BEST MALE

Wizkid (Nigeria)

BEST GROUP

Sauti Sol (Kenya)

BEST BREAKTHROUGH ACT

Tekno (Nigeria)

BEST LIVE ACT

Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)

BEST FRANCOPHONE

Serge Beynaud (Ivory Coast)

BEST LUSOPHONE

C4 Pedro (Angola)

BEST POP / ALTERNATIVE

Shekinah & Kyle Deutsch (South Africa)

BEST HIP HOP in association with MTN

Emtee (South Africa)

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Drake (USA)

LEGEND AWARD

Hugh Masekela

BEST COLLABORATION in partnership with ABSOLUT

DJ Maphorisa ft Wizkid & DJ Buckz (SA/NG)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Youssoupha (Congo) – “Niquer Ma Vie”

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR in association with DStv

Caster Semenya (South Africa)

AFRICA RE-IMAGINED AWARD

Vivian Onano & Mary Taedzerwa

SONG OF THE YEAR in partnership with Google

Patoranking ft Wande Coal – “My Woman, My Everything (Nigeria)

LISTENER’S CHOICE AWARD

Jah Prayzah