The following is a list of the MTV Europe Music Award winners and nominees for Best African Act.
Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
Year | Artist | Nationality | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | |||
2Baba | Nigeria | [1] | |
Kaysha | Democratic Republic of the Congo | ||
Kleptomaniax | Kenya | ||
02 | Ghana | ||
Zamajobe | South Africa | ||
2006 | |||
Freshlyground | South Africa | [2] | |
Nameless | Kenya | ||
Juma Nature | Tanzania | ||
P-Square | Nigeria | ||
Anselmo Ralph | Angola | ||
2007 | |||
D'banj | Nigeria | ||
Chameleone | Uganda | ||
Hip Hop Pantsula | South Africa | ||
Jua Cali | Kenya | ||
Samini | Ghana |
The award was retired in favour of the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) starting in 2008.
The award returned in 2012, since Best Worldwide Act has been added to the EMAs.
The MTV Africa Music Awards were established in 2008 by MTV Networks Africa to celebrate the most popular contemporary music in Africa. The 2008 and 2010 events took place in Nigeria, first in Abuja and then in Lagos. The 2009 event happened in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya each of the premiere awards were created and executive produced by Alex Okosi and Jandre Louw.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Europe Music Awards in 1994. Originally called Breakthrough Artist (1994—1999), it was briefly retitled to Future Sounds in 2006 and the winner was chosen by their peers. In 2007 the category featured only European artists chosen by viewers in each region of Europe, every day the artist with the fewest votes was eliminated and the winner would play live at the EMAs. In 2008 the award was once again retitled, this time to its current name. The current holder by this award is Peso Pluma.
The MTV European Music Awards for the best UK & Ireland act has been a regional category since 1998 and have been won by 15 different acts
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Pop was first presented in 1998. British girl group the Spice Girls were the first ever act to receive the award. American singer Britney Spears was the first solo female artist to win the award in 1999, while American singer Justin Timberlake was the first male solo artist to win in 2003. South Korean boy group BTS are the first Kpop act to be nominated in this category in 2020. British boy band One Direction are currently the act with the most award wins in this category, receiving a total of three.
Camp Mulla was an alternative hip hop group originating from and based in Nairobi, Kenya. The group rose to prominence with the release of their single "Party Don't Stop" on 31 August 2010, with that and their subsequent works earning them a nomination for Best International Act (Africa) at the 2012 BET Awards. Following the release of their debut studio album, Funky Town, the group's lead singer Karun and rapper Taio both left the group to pursue higher education and solo careers. In September 2017 the main four members announced their reunion at The Wave performance at the Waterfront, Ng'ong racecourse, but soon after disbanded again. The group's musical style, fashion sense and origins have drawn comparisons to The Black Eyed Peas, while they have also been criticised for making "bubblegum music".
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is a blend of Afrobeats, afropop, R&B, afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and pop. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also spawned the singles "Tease Me/Bad Guys" and "Don't Dull".
David Adedeji AdelekeOON, known professionally as Davido, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most important Afrobeats artists of the 21st century, and for popularizing the genre globally.
The MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 took place on 7 June 2014, at the Durban International Convention Centre. The awards aired live across Africa on MTV Base and MTV. The ceremony was sponsored by KwaZulu-Natal Province, Absolut and the City of Durban. The show was hosted by American comedian and actor Marlon Wayans. The ceremony featured performances from artists such as Miguel, Trey Songz, Flavour N'abania, French Montana, Tiwa Savage, Davido, Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Oskido, Professor, Diamond Platnumz, Phyno, Yuri da Cunha, Sauti Sol, Sarkodie, Ice Prince, The Arrows, Khuli Chana, Dr SID, Fally Ipupa, Michael Lowman, Don Jazzy, DJ Clock, Beatenberg, DJ Kent, Big Nuz, Toofan, D'Banj, DJ Vigi, DJ Tira, DJ Buckz, and Burna Boy. On 27 May 2014, the nominees for the MTV Base Leadership Award were announced. On 28 May, MTV Base revealed Drake, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, and Miley Cyrus as the nominees for the Best International Act category. Davido and Mafikizolo received the most nominations with four each. Mi Casa and P-Square received three nominations. Diamond Platnumz and Wizkid were nominated twice for both Best Male and Best Collaboration.
Oluseye Desmond Sodamola, professionally known as Spinall, is a Nigerian disc jockey, record producer, and songwriter. He has released six studio albums and collaborated with artists that have included Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Asake, Joeboy among others. He has won numerous awards for his work, including All Africa Music Awards and The Beatz Awards. He is also the first Nigerian disc jockey to play at festivals such as Coachella, SXSW, and Glastonbury.
Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, known professionally as Nasty C, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
Augustine Miles Kelechi Okechukwu, popularly known as Tekno, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. His song “Enjoy” was the closing song in an episode of the Emmy-winning TV series Ted Lasso.
Chris Alvin Sunday professionally known as Krizbeatz or KrizBeatz the drummer Boy, is a Nigerian record producer best known for producing Tekno his first single "Pana". Ranked 3rd on Pulse Nigeria's 2016 list of "Top 5 Best Nigerian Music Producers", KrizBeatz has worked majorly with Yemi Alade including several artistes like Oyibo Rebel, Skales, Lil Kesh and Koker while also releasing his own single titled "Erima" and the hit single "911" featuring Yemi Alade and Harmonize which further pushed his career to limelight. The song "911" currently has over 20 million views on YouTube.
Sesan Ogunro is a Nigerian music video director based in the United Kingdom, often credited for his work as Sesan. He has directed music videos for Afrobeats genre artists such as D'Banj, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage and Davido. He is the CEO of Film Factory Nigeria, a video production company in Lagos; and Film Factory South Africa, in Johannesburg.