Kora Awards

Last updated
KORA Awards
Awarded forOutstanding musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa
CountryVarious
First award1996
Website koraawards.com/en/
Television/radio coverage
Network Channel O

The KORA All Africa Music Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. The awards were founded in 1994 by Benin born businessman, Ernest Adjovi, after a discussion in Namibia with the country's President Hage Geingob who was then a Prime Minister. [1] The award is named after the kora, a West African plucked chordophone.

The awards have been subject to several postponements since 1994 with a variety of reasons given. Problems have arisen with contracts signed, large sums of monies have been paid and the event postponed. [1]

In 2011 Adjovi was detained by the Nigerian Police Force with allegations he defrauded three Nigerian bodies. In 2008 Adjovi allegedly accepted [US]$2.5 million for the 2008 Awards to be hosted by the Cross River State Government. He later allegedly struck an agreement with the Lagos State Government for US$7.5 million but the awards were not staged until 2010 in Burkina Faso. At those awards brothers PSquare were named Artiste of the Year and were awarded a cash prize of $1 million but the prize was not forthcoming. [2]

The 2015 awards were to be held 13 December in Namibia [3] and a launch event was held in Namibia in May 2015. [4] They were postponed to March 2016 and Adjovi was paid N$23,5 million. The awards did not take place and the whereabouts of Adovi is unknown. Namibia is trying to recover the money. [5]

Since its inception, the KORA Awards has been staged eleven times on the African Continent. For the first ten years (1996-2005 - 9 Awards), the ceremony took place in South Africa. It has since moved to Burkina Faso (2010) and Côte d’Ivoire (2012). [6]

Winners have come from many different countries: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comores, Côte d'Ivoire = Ivory Coast, Republic of the Congo = Congo, England, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, île de la Reunion, Kenya, Mali, Mauitius, Morocco, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Réunion, Rwanda, Senegal, Seyschelles, South Africa, Sweden, Tchad, Togo, Uganda, United States and Zimbabwe.

Winners

Source: [7]

AwardWinnerAwardWinnerAwardWinnerAwardWinner
1996
Best Male Artist of Africa Youssou N'Dour (Senegal)Best Male Artist of Africa Papa Wemba (DRC)Best Female Artist of Africa Miriam Makeba (South Africa)Most promising Male Artist of Africa Lokua Kanza (DRC)
Most promising Female Artist of Africa Brenda Fassie (South Africa)Best Artist of North Africa Cheb Mami (Algeria)Best Artist of West Africa Meiway (Côte d'Ivoire)Best Artist of Central Africa Awilo Logomba (DRC)
Best Musician of Africa Bheki Mseleku (South Africa)Best Group of Africa Bayete (South Africa)Best Arrangement of AfricaDenzil Waela (South Africa)LifeTime Achievement Award Miriam Makeba (South Africa)
1997
Best Male Artist of Africa Ismael Lo (Senegal)Best Female Artist of Africa Angélique Kidjo (Benin)Most promising Male Artist of Africa Cheikh Lô (Senegal)Most promising Female Artist of Africa Khadja Nin (Burundi)
Best Male Artist of North Africa Cheb Khaled (Algeria)Best Female Artist of West Africa Cesaria Evora (Cape Verde)Best Artist of Central Africa Awilo Logomba (DRC)Best Male Artist of East Africa Ziskakan (île de la Reunion)
Best Artist of Diaspora Europe / Caribbean Edith Lefel (France)Best Traditional Artist of Africa Angélique Kidjo (Benin)Best Traditional Group of AfricaNigui Saff K-Dance (Côte d'Ivoire)Best Arrangement of AfricaBoncana Maïga (Mali)
1999
Best Male Artist of Africa Femi Kuti (Nigeria)Best Female Artist of Africa Brenda Fassie (South Africa)Most promising Male Artist of AfricaAxel Govinda (Côte d'Ivoire)Best Artist of North Africa Takfarinas (Algeria)
Best Male Artist of West Africa Femi Kuti (Nigeria)Best Artist of Central Africa Bozi Boziana (DRC)Best Artist of East Africa Khadja Nin (Burundi)Best Artist from Southern AfricaRingo (South Africa)
Best Artist of Diaspora USA Lauryn Hill (United States)Best Artist of Diaspora Europe / CaribbeanNatali Lorio (France)Best Group of Africa Bisso Na Bisso (Congo)Best Traditional Group of AfricaNigui Saff K-Dance (Côte d'Ivoire)
Best Arrangement Bisso Na Bisso (Congo)Best Video Bisso Na Bisso (Congo)Lifetime Achievement Award

Michael Jackson (USA)

2000
Best Male Artist of Africa Wes (Cameroon)Best Female Artist of AfricaZenzi (South Africa)Most promising Male Artist of Africa Kaysha (DRC)Most promising Female Artist of AfricaZenzi (South Africa)
Best Male Artist of West Africa Kojo Antwi (Ghana)Best Male Artist of Central AfricaAndré Marie Tala (Cameroon)Best Male Artist of East Africa Jean Marc Volcy (Seychelles)Best Male Artist from Southern Africajabu khanyile (South Africa)
Best Artist of Diaspora USA Sisqo (USA)Best Group of Africa Extra Musica (Congo)Best Traditional Artist of Africa King Mensah (Togo)Best Arrangement of AfricaValerie Kimani (Kenya)
LifeTime Achievement Award Kofi Annan (Ghana)Best Video of Africa Wes (Cameroon)
2001
Most promising Female Artist of Africa Rokia Traoré (Mali)Best Artist of North AfricaRhany Kabbadj (Morocco)Best Female Artist of Africa Coumba Gawlo (Senegal)Best Male Artis of Africa Werrason (DRC)
Best Artist of Southern Africa Mandoza (South Africa)Best Artist of Diaspora USA Bebe Winans (USA)Best Group of Africa Bongo Maffin (South Africa)Best Female Artist of West AfricaCoumba Gawlo (Senegal)
Best Video of Africa Sawt el Atlas (Morocco)Jury Special Award Brenda Fassie (South Africa)Best Traditional Artist of Africa Meiway (Côte d'Ivoire)Best Arrangement of Africa Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South Africa)
Most promising Male Artist of AfricaErnie Smith (Côte d'Ivoire)Most Promising Female Artist of AfricaFelia Mballo (Senegal)Best Female Artist of East Africa Sandra Mayotte (Mauritius)Jury Special Award Awilo Logomba (DRC)
2002
Most promising Female Artist of Africa Annie-Flore Batchiellilys (Gabon)Most promising Male Artist of Africa Blak Twang (England)Best Artist of East Africa Eric Wainaina and Henrie Mutuku (Kenya)Best Group of Africa Makoma (DRC)
Best Arrangement of Africa Meyway (Côte d'Ivoire)Best Male Artist of Central Africa Koffi Olomidé (DRC)Best Female Artist of West Africa Suzanna Lubrano (Cape Verde)Best Female Artist of Africa Judith Sephuma (South Africa)
Best Traditional Artist of Africa King Ayaovi Mensah (Togo)Best Artist of Diaspora USA Shaggy (USA)Best Video of Africa Koffi Olomidé (DRC)Best Arrangement of Africa Koffi Olomidé (DRC)
Jury Special Award Koffi Olomidé (DRC)
2003
Best Artist – West Africa – Male Kojo Antwi (Ghana)Best Artist – West Africa – Female Suzanna (Cape Verde)Best Artist – East Africa – MaleGeorge Okudi (Uganda) Best Artist – East Africa – Female Chamsia Sagaf (Comores)
Best Artist – Central Africa – MaleDouleur (Cameroon) Best Artist – Central Africa – Female Mbilia Bel & Tshala Muana (R.D.Congo)Best Artist – Southern Africa – Male Oliver Mtukudzi ( Zimbabwe) Best Artist – Southern Africa – Female Busi Mhlongo(South Africa)
Best Artist Or Group TraditionalMachesa Traditional Group (Botswana)Best African Group Quartier Latin International (D.R. Congo) & nti-Palu (Ivory Coast)Best African Video Jeff Maluleke ( South Africa)Best African Arrangement Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South Africa)
Best African Gospel Female ArtistRebecca (South Africa)Best African Gospel Male Artist Lundi (South Africa)Best African Gospel GroupNotre Dame de la Salette (Gabon)Most Promising African Female Artist Barbara Kanam (D.R.Congo)
Most Promising African Male Artist Jean-Paul Samputu (Rwanda)Most Promising African GroupMacase (Cameroon)Revelation Of The YearEben & Family (Gabon)Most Promising Artist of the African American Diaspora Ludacris (USA)
Best Female Artist of the African American Diaspora Angie Stone (USA)Best Male Artist of the African American Diaspora R Kelly (USA)Best Video of the African American Diaspora R Kelly (USA)Life Time Achievement Award Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe)
Europe/ Caribbean Diaspora Avalon (Mohombi & Djo Moupondo) (Sweden)Special Judge AwardSoumbil (Ivory Coast) & Notre Dame de la salette (Gabon)
2004
Best Traditional Artiste King Mensah (Togo)Best West African FemaleKamaldine (Guinea)Best West African MaleKunle (Nigeria)Best African GroupJJC&419 Squad (Nigeria)
Best African Video Reggie Rockstone (Ghana)Best Gospel GroupSchekina (Ivory Coast)Promising Male ArtistMadson Junior (Burkina Faso)Best East African Female Achieng Abura (Kenya)
Best East African MaleBig Pin (Kenya)Best Gospel Male ArtistKunle (Nigeria) DNG (Kenya)Best East African Female Tsedenia Gebremarkos (Ethiopia)Best Central African Male Félix Wazekwa (DRC) & Werrason (DRC)
Best Male African Artist Werrason (DRC)Promising Female ArtistDinally (Cameroon)Best S.A. Male Artist Kabelo Mabalane (South Africa)Best S.A. Female Artist Thandiswa Mazwai (South Africa)
Best African Group Malaika (South Africa)Best Gospel Female Deborah Fraser (South Africa)Best Traditional GroupMahube (South Africa)Promising Female ArtistSwazi (South Africa)
Best African Video Zola (South Africa)Best ArrangementWanda Baloyi (South Africa)Revelation of the Year Malaika (South Africa)Best African Female Thandiswa Mazwai (South Africa)
2005
Best Male Artist of AfricaHugh Masekela (South Africa)Best Female Artist of AfricaAdja Soumano (Mali)Most Promising Male Artist of Africa 2 Face Idibia (Nigeria)Most Promising Female Artist of Africa Kaz (Kenya)
Best Male Artist of West AfricaMartin Hod (Benin)Best Male Artist of West AfricaNeji (Nigeria)Best Female Artist of West Africa Zeinab (Benin)Best Female Artist of Central AfricaNaneth (Gabon)
Best Female Artist of East AfricaNeema (Kenya)Best Male Artist of East AfricaAlain Auriant (Mauritius)Best Video of AfricaAfrotenors (South Africa)Best Group of West Africa and AfricaAde Bantu (Nigeria)
Best Group of East Africa Longombas (Kenya)Best Female Artist of Southern Africa Perola (Angola)Best Group of West Africa Praye (Ghana)Best Arrangement of Africa Toumani Diabate (Mali)
Best Artiste of Diaspora USA Will Smith (USA)Best Male Artist of Central Africa Werrason (DRC)Best Artist of Diaspora Europe / Caribbean Kaysha (France)Best Gospel Group of AfricaMaximum Melodies (Kenya)
Best Female Artist of West AfricaAdja Soumano (Mali)LifeTime Achievement Award Koffi Olomide (DRC)
2010
Best Female Artist of Africa Asa (Nigeria)Best Traditional Artist of Africa Bassekou Kouyate (Mali)Best Ragga Group of AfricaChronik 2H (Senegal)Best Group of Diaspora Europe / CaribbeanMc Malcriado (Cape Verde)
Best Reggae Artist of Africa King Wadada (Nigeria)Best Traditional Group of Africa Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa)Best Arrangement of Africa Toumani Diabate (Mali)Best Male Artist of Africa P Square (Nigeria)
Best Gospel Male Artist of AfricaSammie-Okposo (Nigeria)Best Hip Hop Artist of Africa Smockey (Burkina Faso)Best Reggae Artist of AfricaSasha Marley (Ghana)Most Promising Female Artist of Africa Chidinma (Nigeria)
Best Gospel Female Artist of AfricaNoellie (Togo)LifeTime Achievement AwardPierre Akendegue (Gabon)LifeTime Achievement Award Cesaria Evora (Cape Verde)Best Gospel Group of AfricaBlack Diamond (Senegal)
Best Group of Africa P Square (Nigeria)Best Video of Africa P Square (Nigeria)Best Female Artist of Diaspora Europe/CarrebeanFelia (Senegal)Best Female Artist of Diaspora USA Alicia Keys (Kenya)
2012
Best Artist of Africa DJ Arafat (Côte d'Ivoire)Best Traditional Female Artist of AfricaAida Samb (Senegal)Best Artist of North Africa Cheb Khaled (Algeria)Best Female Artist of West Africa Chidinma (Nigeria)
Most Promising Male Artist of Africa Davido (Nigeria)Best Female Artist of North AfricaHasna El Necharia (Algeria)Best Female Artist of East Africa Juliana Kanyomozi (Uganda)Best Male Artist of East AfricaKidum (Burundi)
Best Male Artist of Central AfricaLord Ekomy Ndong (Gabon)Best Male Artist of West Africa DJ Arafat (Côte d'Ivoire)Best Female Artist of Central AfricaMounira Mitchala (Tchad)Best Gospel Group of AfricaSeraphim Songs (Burundi)
Best Gospel Male Artist of Africa Yvan(Benin)Best Female Artist of Southern Africa Zahara (South Africa)Best Group of AfricaMagic Systeme (Côte d'Ivoire)Best Female Artist of Diaspora Europe/CaribbeanSega El (Reunion)
Most Promising Female Artist of AfricaSessime (Benin)Best Traditional Male Artist of AfricaStanlux (Togo)Best Male/Group of Diaspora Europe/Caribbean Sexion D'Assaut (France)Best Male Artist of Diaspora USA Chris Brown (USA)
Best Female Artist of Diaspora USA Rihanna (USA)Best Traditional Group of AfricaLes Freres Guedehoungue (Benin)Best Director of AfricaGelongal (Senegal)Best Male Artist of Southern Africa The Dogg (Namibia)
Best Gospel Female Artist of AfricaSoeur Lydie (DRC)

References

  1. 1 2 "Buying into Adjovi's empty dream by Wonder Guchu 4 March 2016". The Nambibian. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. "Kora Awards Chairman Ernest Adjovi Arrested By Lagos Police by Osagie Alonge 15 August 2011". Net. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. "Kora Awards return with million dollar grand prize by In-house team 29 May 2015". Music Africa. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  4. "Koras boss reveals struggle by Patience Bambalele 23 May 2015". Sowetan Live. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  5. "Kora founder Adjovi vanishes by Ndapewoshali Shapwanale 1 June 2016". The Nambibian. Retrieved 19 May 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. "Kora Awards [host countries]". Kora Awards. Retrieved 19 May 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. "Winners". Kora Awards. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.