Nominees for the 2014 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards were announced in Johannesburg last Thursday.
Dominating the nominations this year are South African rappers Cassper Nyovest and K.O, as well as Nigeria’s Davido with five nominations each.
Nyovest is nominated for most gifted male video, most gifted newcomer video, most gifted hip-hop video, most gifted southern video as well most gifted video of the year categories for Doc Shebeleza.
Davido represents West Africa with nominations for Aye in the categories of most gifted male video, most gifted afro pop video, most gifted west video and most gifted video of the year, while Skelewu earned him the most gifted dance video nomination.
Teargas’s Caracara starring K.O is currently one of the most popular songs played on radio and television. K.O makes his nominee début as a solo artist in the categories of most gifted male video, most gifted duo/group or featuring video, most gifted hip-hop video, most gifted southern video and most gifted video of the year.
The awards take place on Saturday November 29 at Nasrec Expo Centre in Soweto.
“The quality of music videos we have seen over the past few years is testament to the way music videos are playing an increasingly important role in the promotion of African music,” says Channel O’s director Nkateko Mabaso.
“It is refreshing to see newcomers go against industry veterans in this year’s eclectic nominees list, and this proves that there is no barrier to making an impact on the music scene. The music as well as the videos produced on our African soil is of the same, if not even better, quality as that of those produced internationally and most of our nominees are no stranger to performing on global stages.”
Voting, which is free, takes place via www.channelo.tv and WeChat. Voters are allowed to vote up to 100 times on both platforms. Voting starts on Thursday at 7pm and closes on November 23 at midnight.
Full list of nominees:
Most gifted male
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza
Davido – Aye
Riky Rick featuring Okmalumkoolkat – Amantombazane
K.O featuring Kid X – Caracara
Sarkodie – Illuminati
Most gifted female
Thembi Seete – Thuntsha Lerole
Bucie featuring Heavy K – Easy To Love
Lizha James featuring Uhuru – Quem Ti Mandou
Tiwa Savage featuring Don Jazzy – Eminado
Seyi Shay – Irawo
Most gifted newcomer
Dream Team featuring Tamarsha, AKA and Big Nuz – Tsekede
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza
Emmy Gee featuring AB Crazy and DJ Dimplez – Rands and Nairas
Diamond – Number One
Patoranking – Girlie O (Remix)
Most gifted duo/group or featuring artist
Uhuru featuring Oskido and Professor – Y-Tjukutja
DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg – Pluto (I Remember)
R2Bees featuring Wizkid – Slow Down
K.O featuring Kid X – Caracara
KCee featuring Wizkid – Pull Over
Most gifted dance
Uhuru featuring Oskido and Professor – Y-Tjukutja
Davido – Skelewu
DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg – Pluto (I Remember)
P-Square – Personally
Busiswa featuring various artists – Ngoku
Most gifted ragga dancehall
Buffalo Souljah – Basawine
Orezi – Rihanna
Jesse Jaggz featuring Wizkid – Bad Girl
Patoranking – Girlie O (Remix)
Shatta Wale – Everybody Likes My Ting
Most gifted Afro pop
Davido – Aye
Mafikizolo featuring May D – Happiness
Diamond – Number One
Flavour – Ada Ada
Iyanya – Jombolo
Most gifted kwaito
Uhuru featuring Oskido and Professor – Y-Tjukutja
Character featuring Mono T and Oskido – Inxeba Lendoda
Big Nuz featuring Khaya Mthethwa – Incwadi Yothando
DJ Vetkuk VS Mahoota – Khaba Lenja
DJ Cndo – Yamnandi Into
Most gifted R&B
2Face featuring T-Pain – Rainbow
Jimmy Nevis featuring Kwesta – Balloon
GB Collective featuring Brian Temba and Reason – Chocolate Vanilla
Donald – Crazy But Amazing
Niyola – Toh Bad
Most gifted hip-hop
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza
Khuli Chana featuring DA L.E.S and Magesh – Hape Le Hape 2.1
Phyno – Alobam
K.O featuring Kid X – Caracara
AKA – Congratulate
Most gifted Southern artist
DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg – Pluto (I Remember)
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza
AKA – Congratulate
Zeus – Psych
K.O featuring Kid X – Caracara
Most gifted West artist
R2Bees featuring Wizkid – Slow Down
Davido – Aye
Burna Boy featuring D’Banj – Won Da Mo
Olamide – Turn Up
Dr Sid featuring Don Jazzy – Surulere
Most gifted East artist
Sauti Sol – Nshike
Diamond – Number One
Navio – No Holding Back
Eddy Kenzo – Sitya Loss
Elani – Kookoo
Most gifted video of the year
Emmy Gee featuring AB Crazy and DJ Dimplez – Rands and Nairas
Davido – Aye
K.O featuring Kid X – Caracara
Burna Boy – Run My Race
Tiwa Savage featuring Don Jazzy – Eminado
Dr Sid featuring Don Jazzy – Surulere
Riky Rick featuring Okmalumkoolkat – Amantombazane
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza
Sarkodie – Illuminati
DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg – Pluto (I Remember)
AKA – Congratulate
Diamond – Number One
Rhodé Marshall is the Mail & Guardian’s arts, culture and entertainment content producer. Follow her on Twitter: @rhodemarshall