Soundcity MVP Awards Festival

Soundcity MVP Awards Festival
Awarded for	Crowning the hardest working talents in Africa
Presented by	Soundcity TV, Soundcity Radio Network and Soundcity Digital
First award	2016
Website	http://soundcitymvp.com/
Television/radio coverage
Network	Soundcity TV and Soundcity Radio Network

The Soundcity MVP Awards Festival ("TheMVPs" or "MVP") is an event presented by Soundcity TV which awards plaques to musicians and performers across Africa. Since 2007, the winners are chosen by the viewers and fans by visiting #TheMVPs' website ^[1] and a select committee of the industry stakeholder. The first MVPs ceremony was held in December 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria. ^[2]

The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on Soundcity TV on DStv, GOtv, TalkTalk UK, Soundcity Radio Network and Soundcity Android and iOS app as well as online on the SoundcityTV website, YouTube and other social media accounts.

The maiden ceremony (2016)

The MVPs award ceremony was announced by Soundcity TV when teaser radio and TV promo began to run in the first week of November on Soundcity Radio Network and Soundcity TV tagged 'Soundcity MVP Awards Festival' and announced as 'crowning the hardest working talents in Africa'. The maiden ceremony is to take place at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos, Nigeria, on 29 December 2016 and hosted by comedian Basketmouth. ^[3] Nominated artistes range from Wizkid with eight nominations including African artiste of the year, Davido, South Africa's Emtee, Nasty C, Mafikizolo to Ghana's Mz Vee, Sarkodie and Tanzania's Diamond Platnumz and Vanessa Mdee. The event would be broadcast live across Africa via cable TV, Soundcity Mobile App, Facebook and YouTube. ^[4]

Since the maiden edition, Soundcity MVP Award Festival has witness different edition of the award. ^[5]

Second edition (2017)

The second edition of the Soundcity MVP Awards was held at the Eko Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, and was hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu. This edition was in fourteen categories. ^[6] which Davido won three out of the categories; Song of the Year, Video of the Year, and African Artist of the year. ^[7]

Winners are highlighted in bold.

Best Male MVP	Best Female MVP
Diamond Platinumz Davido Runtown Sarkodie Navio 2Baba Wizkid Shatta Wale Olamide	Tiwa Savage Niniola Babes Wodumo Simi Becca Seyi Shay Yemi Alade Bucie Vanessa Mdee
Best Hip Hop	Best Pop
Cassper Nyovest M I Sarkodie Olamide Nasty C Falz Kwesta AKA	Maleek Berry Kizz Daniel Tiwa Savage Simi Davido Niniola Wande Coal Reekado Banks
Best Collaboration	Digital Artiste of the Year
PAIN KILLER–SARKODIE FT RUNTOWN PARTICULA – MAJOR LAZER & DJ MAPHORISA FT. ICE PRINCE, JIDENNA, NASTY C MA LO – Tiwa Savage Ft Wizkid TONIGHT – R2bees Ft Wizkid MA GIRL – Toofan Ft. Patoranking AKANAMALI – Sun El Musician Ft. Samthing Soweto TELLI PERSON – Timaya Ft. Phyno & Olamide BOOTY LANGUAGE – Skales Ft Sarkodie JUICE – Ycee Ft Maleekberry DON’T FORGET TO PRAY – Aka & Anatii NA WASH – Becca Ft Patoranking ISKABA – Wande Coal / Dj Tunez LOVE AGAIN – C4 Pedro Ft Sauti Sol	Wizkid Davido Cassper Nyovest AKA Vanessa Mdee Yemi Alade Shatta Wale
Video of the Year	Best Group or Duo
IF - Davido MA LO – Tiwa Savage FT Wizkid YOU RAPPERS SHOULD FIX UP YOUR LIFE – MI COME CLOSER – Wizkid UoK – Nasty C 10 FINGERS – AKA & Anatii WHOLE THING – Frank Casino & Riky Rick BEEN CALLING – Maleek Berry KOLOLO – Banky W ALL HAIL – Khuli Chana	DISTRUCTION BOYZ Sauti Sol Toofan Mafikizolo Micasa VVIP R2Bees Navy Kenzo
Song of the Year	Best New Artiste
IF – Davido PENALTY – Small Doctor WO – Olamide SEDUCE ME – Alikiba QOBISIQOLO – Bhizer Ft Busiswa, Sc Gorna, Bhepepe GAGA SHUFFLE – 2face Idibia AKANAMALI – Sun El Musician Ft. Samthing Soweto MAD OVER YOU – Runtown COME CLOSER – Wizkid JOROMI – Simi LEG OVER – Mr Eazi	Maleek Berry Mayorkun Dice Ailes Small Doctor Nadia Nakai Aslay
Viewers Choice	Listeners Choice
MAD OVER YOU – Runtown WO – Olamide IF – Davido LIVING THINGS – 9ice YEBA – Kizz Daniel ISKABA – Wande Coal, Dj Tune TONIGHT – Nonso Amadi GAGA SHUFFLE – 2baba	WO – Olamide GAGA SHUFFLE – 2baba NASTY C – UOK GOBISIQOLO – Bhiser MAD OVER YOU – Runtown MARADONA – Niniola YOLO YOLO – Seyi Shay IF – Davido
African Producer of the Year	African Artiste Of The Year
Young John Kidominant DJ Maphorisa Masterkraft Julz	Davido Sarkodie Cassper Nyovest Wizkid Tiwa Savage Shatta Wale

Third edition

The third edition took place at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos on 5 January 2019. Burna Boy won four awards out of the categories. Special award category was also presented to individuals for Innovation and Excellence in their various fields of work. ^[8]

Best Male MVP	Best Female MVP
Burna Boy Nasty C Mr Eazi Olamide AKA Shatta Wale Harmonize Diamond Platnumz Davido Wizkid	Busiswa Simi Niniola Tiwa Savage Yemi Alade Shekhinah Efya Becca Lady Zamar Maua Sama
Best Hip Hop	Best Pop
AKA M.I Khaligraph Jones Nasty C Kwesi Arthur Phyno Sarkodie kwesta Falz Medikal	Davido Kizz Daniel Fally Ipupa Tiwa Savage Yemi Alade Diamond Platnumz Mayorkun Wizkid Kuami Eugene Mr Eazi
Best Collaboration	Digital Artiste of the Year
SOCO – Starboy FT Wizkid, Terri, Spotless & Ceeza Milli MAKHE – Dj Maphorisa, DJ Simba FT Moonchild Sanelly JIBEBE – Diamond Platnumz, Mbosso, Lava Lava KATIKA – Navy Kenzo FT Diamond Platnumz ISSA GOAL – Naira Marley, Olamide, Lil Kesh SPIRIT – Kwesta FT Wale FAKE LOVE – Wizkid AND Duncan Mighty CLUB CONTROLLER – Prince Kaybee FT Lasoulmates SAID – Nasty C & Runtown AMAKA – 2face Idibia FT. Perruzi	Mr Eazi Davido Tiwa Savage Burna Boy Cassper Nyovest Vanessa Mdee Falz Wizkid Diamond Platnumz Yemi Alade
Video of the Year	Best Group or Duo
HEAL THE WORLD – Patoranking GRINGO – Shatta Wale MIDNIGHT DRUM – A Pass, Rouge, Fik Fameica SHORT N’ SWEET – Sauti Sol YE – Burna Boy FEVER – Wizkid SURRENDA – Adekunle Gold SCIENCE STUDENT – Olamide KING – Nasty C FT A$ap Ferg KSAZOBALIT – CASSPER NYOVEST	Navy Kenzo Distruction Boiz Sauti Sol Micasa Mafikizolo Show Dem Camp R2BEES Toofan Gold Fish Reggie N’ Bollie
Song of the Year	Best New Artiste
YE – Burna Boy SHORT & SWEET – Sauti Sol FT AFRICAN BEAUTY – Diamond Platnumz FT. Omarion SOCO – Starboy FT Wizkid, Terri, Spotless & Ceeza Milli KATIKA – Navy Kenzo FT. Diamond Platnumz MAKHE – DJ Maphorisa, DJ Simba FT Moonchild Sanelly SKELETON MOVES – Master Kg ASSURANCE – Davido AMAKA – Tuface Idibia KWANGWARU – Harmonize FT. Diamond Platnumz	Teni Kidi Sho Madjozi Odunsi Peruzzi Kida Kudz Shane Eagle King Promise Kwesi Arthur Mbosso
Viewers Choice	Listeners Choice
SOMISO – Wande Coal YE – Burna Boy DROGBA – Afro B SCIENCE STUDENT – Olamide FEVER – Wizkid SOCO – Starboy FT Wizkid, Terri, Spotless & Ceeza Milli KUPE DANCE – A Star MAGUN (RMX) – Niniola FT. Busiswa AVAILABLE – Patoranking TIWA’S VIBE – Tiwa Savage	YE – Burna Boy CLUB CONTROLLER – Prince Kaybee FT Lasoulmates KATIKA – Navy Kenzo FT. Diamond Platnumz SOCO – Starboy WETIN WE GAIN – Victor AD KWANGQARU – Harmonize FT Diamond Platnumz FAKE LOVE – Wizkid & Duncan Mighty CONFUSION – Kuami Eugene CCTV – King Promise FT. Mugeez, Sarkodie ASKAMAYA – Teni
African Producer of the Year	African Artiste Of The Year
Phantom Killertunes Julz Sars Nahreel Northboi DJ Tira Speroachbeatz Fresh Vdm Kel P	Burna Boy Davido Sarkodie Yemi Alade AKA Tiwa Savage Wizkid Diamond Platnumz Nasty C Olamide
African DJ of the Year	Innovation and Excellence
DJ Neptune Black Coffee DJ Spinall DJ Mic Smith DJ kaywise DJ Xclusive Prince Kaybe DJ Arafat DJ Maphorisa DJ Vyrusky	Sports - Ahmed Musa Business Entrepreneur - Ladipo Lawani Fashion - Papa Oyeyemi Social Entrepreneurship and Digital Influence - Bolatito Ovia Community and Socio-political development - Ebenezar Wikina Creative Arts - Clarence Peters

References

1. "Voting Begins Now". SoundcityTV. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
2. Pride, Dominic (December 2, 2016). Maiden Soundcity MVP Awards Festival (#TheMVPs) Set to Move African Music Forward. BellaNaija . Retrieved December 2, 2016.
3. Dro, Ameh (28 November 2016). "Basketmouth announced as Host". BellaNaija. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
4. Solanke, Abiola (28 November 2016). "Soundcity MVP Awards: Wizkid leads the pack with a whooping 8 nominations". Pulse NG. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
5. "Soundcity MVP Awards: Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, others battle for artiste of the year". Punch Newspapers. 2020-01-10. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
6. Taiwo, Jide (2018-01-14). "Review: SoundCity MVP Awards Saved 2017 From Being A Heartbreaking Year For Nigerian Music". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
7. "Olamide, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, win big at 2017 Sound City MVP Awards". premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
8. Nigeria, Guardian (2019-01-05). "Complete List Of Winners At The 2018 Soundcity MVP Awards". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-12-07.