Best male nominees Sarkodie & AKA (still from the video for "Special Someone")

Late in May we reported the 2015 edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards (aka the MAMAs) would be taking place in Durban on Saturday, July 18th, to coincide with Nelson Mandela's birthday. Now in its fifth year, the award show will be presented by MTV Base alongside Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa at Durban’s International Convention Center.

This year's nominees were announced earlier today at a reception in Harem, Johannesburg. Speaking at the event, VIMN's Senior Vice President & Managing Director Alex Okosi said, “As Viacom International Media Networks celebrates its first 10 years in Africa, we are thrilled to pay tribute to the dynamism, creativity and passion of all the MAMA 2015 nominees. Applauding music and achievement all over the continent, the MAMA recognises the contribution of both enduring icons on the African music scene, and new and emerging talents of the future.”

See below for the list of 70 nominees from all thirteen categories that have been announced, which you can vote for here, and tweet your picks at us with the hashtag #MAMA2015.

THE MAMA 2015 NOMINEES:

Best Male

AKA (South Africa)

Davido (Nigeria)

Diamond (Tanzania)

Sarkodie (Ghana)

Wizkid (Nigeria)

Best Female

Bucie (South Africa)

Busiswa (South Africa)

Seyi Shay (Nigeria)

Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania)

Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best Group

B4 (Angola)

Beatenberg (South Africa)

Black Motion (South Africa)

P-Square (Nigeria)

Sauti Sol (Kenya)

Best New Act Transformed by Absolut

Anna Joyce (Angola)

Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)

Duncan (South Africa)

Patoranking (Nigeria)

Stonebwoy (Ghana)

Best Hip Hop

Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)

K.O. (South Africa)

Phyno (Nigeria)

Olamide (Nigeria)

Youssoupha (DRC)

Best Collaboration

AKA, Burna Boy, Da LES & JR: “All Eyes On Me” (SA/Nigeria)

Davido featuring Uhuru & DJ Buckz: “The Sound” (Nigeria/SA)

Diamond & Iyanya: “Bum Bum” (Kenya/Nigeria)

Toofan & DJ Arafat: “Apero Remix” (Togo/Ivory Coast)

Stanley Enow & Sarkodie: “Njama Njama Cow Remix” (Cameroon/Ghana)

Song of the Year

Cassper Nyovest: “Doc Shebeleza” (South Africa)

Euphonik featuring Mpumi: “Busa” (South Africa)

DJ Fisherman & NaakMusiQ featuring DJ Tira, Danger & Dream Team: “Call Out” (South Africa)

K.O featuring Kid X: “Caracara” (South Africa)

Lil Kesh Featuring Olamide & Davido: “Shoki Remix” (Nigeria)

Mavins: “Dorobucci” (Nigeria)

Sauti Sol: “Sura Yako” (Kenya)

Toofan: “Gweta” (Togo)

Wizkid: “Show You The Money” (Nigeria)

Yemi Alade: “Johnny” (Nigeria)

Best Live

Big Nuz (South Africa)

Diamond (Tanzania)

Flavour (Nigeria)

Mi Casa (South Africa)

Toofan (Togo)

Video of the Year

“Crazy” - Seyi Shay Featuring Wizkid; Director: Meji Alabi

“Doors” - Prime Circle; Director: Ryan Kruger

“Love You Everyday” - Bebe Cool; Director: Clarence Peters

“Nafukwa” - Riky Rick; Director: Adriaan Louw

“The Sound” - Davido Featuring Uhuru & DJ Buckz; Director: Sesan

Best Pop & Alternative

Fuse ODG (Ghana)

Jeremy Loops (South Africa)

Jimmy Nevis (South Africa)

Nneka (Nigeria)

Prime Circle (South Africa)

Best Francophone

DJ Arafat (Ivory Coast)

Jovi (Cameroon)

Laurette Le Pearle (DRC)

Tour 2 Garde (Ivory Coast)

Toofan (Togo)

Best Lusophone

Ary (Angola)

B4 (Angola)

Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde)

NGA (Angola)

Yuri Da Cunha (Angola)

Personality of the Year

Basketmouth (Nigeria)

Bonang Matheba (South Africa)

OC Ukeje (Nigeria)

Trevor Noah (South Africa)

Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)