| Nyasa Music Awards | |
|---|---|
| Current: Nyasa Music Awards 2023 | |
| Awarded for | Outstanding achievements in the entertainment industry |
| Country | Malawi |
| Presented by | Malawi music industry coalition |
| Hosted by | Joy Nathu Priscilla Kayira |
| First awarded | January 13, 2017 |
| Last awarded | 2023 |
| Most awards | Faith Mussa |
Nyasa Music Awards are Malawian award show that was established in early 2017 to celebrate entertainers and other minorities in music, fashion and philanthropy. [1] [2] The annual presentation event that takes place in major cities of the country features performances by artists and they are one of the major Malawi's music industry awards. [3] The event recognizes Malawian music from all genres, including traditional, soul, and gospel. The awards also promote culture, with the 2017 event host of an African Print party that encourages people to showcase their traditional outfits. The awards include media sister awards and its categories are split into male and female. [4]
The 2018 inaugural ceremony was held at Comesa Hall in Blantyre. The 2019 NMA took place on December 14 at Crossroads Hotel in Blantyre, Malawi. [5] The ceremony included fashion and media categories. Ben Wandawanda won the Fashion Icon award, and Jai Banda won the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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| Year | Country | Host city | Venue | Host(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Malawi | Blantyre | Golf Club | Joy Nathu |
| 2018 | Malawi | Comesa Hall, Blantyre [8] | Golf Club | Chifundo Maganga |
| 2019 | Malawi | Lilongwe | BICC |
List of selected recipients and years:
| Category | Nominee / work (and year) | Result | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song of the Year | Faith Mussa (2017) Janta – Wangongole (2018) | Won | [9] |
| Best Hip Hop Artist | Fredokiss (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Gospel Artist | Faith Mussa (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best R&B Artist of the year | Kell Kay (2018) Kell Kay (2017) | Won | [9] [11] |
| Best Reggae Artist | Black Missionaries (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Secular Artist | Nepman (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Acoustic Artist | Faith Mussa (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Producer | AK on the board (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Male Artist | Tay Grin (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Female Artist | Zani Challe (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Afro pop Artist | Stitch Fray (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Group | Zathu Band (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Female Broadcaster | Jean Chalungama (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Live Act | Faith Mussa (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Best Video Director | Sukez (2018) | Won | [9] [10] |
| Album of the Year | Lawi – Sunset in the Sky (2018) | Won | [9] |
| Best New Comer | Episodes (2018) | Won | [10] |
| Best Dancehall artist of the year | Malinga Mafia (2018) | Won | |
| Best collaboration of the year | Tsidya lina – Hyphen ft Malinga Mafia (2018) | Won | |
| Best Live Act | Faith Mussa (2017) | Won |
On 29 March 2018, the Nyasa Music Awards faced public criticism when it selected the South African television personality Somizi Somgaga Mhlongo to host the year’s awards. [12] Homophobic Malawians slammed the awards choice as the host is known to be openly gay. [12] [13]
ZaniMichelle Chiumia is a Malawian artist, actress, model and former TV presenter. She gained international recognition in music when she collaborated with a Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter, Patoranking, on a song called "Single Tonight" released in 2016.
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Hilda Ulola, popularly known as Hilco, is a Malawian Afro pop singer. She was born on 14 February 1995 in a family of six children in Blantyre. She started doing music when she was young and became more active in music in 2015 and managed to release 4 songs in that year such as Ekizakitile, Chekecheke, Ndalema and Khofotabo (comfortable).
Chiyanjano Muheziwa popularly known as Annie Matumbi, and sometimes Nyakwawa, is a Malawian veteran musician, tv presenter, actor and politician. In 2017, Matumbi claimed he was the father of Malawi urban music. In 2018, Matumbi stood in a winning a parliamentary seat in 2019's general election under Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Candidate for Lilongwe City South West constituency.
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Chiku Malinga Chitsundi Banda, best known as Malinga Mafia, is a Malawian dancehall artist and songwriter. In 2018, he won a Nyasa Music Award as Best Dancehall artist of the year. His collaboration with Hyphen titled Tsidya lina won the Best collaboration of the year 2018. In 2017, he won the Best Music Video in Nyasa Music Awards. In 2016, he was awarded a UMP Award for Album of the Year as well as Best Reggae/Dancehall Act in years 2017 and 2018.
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