News
Omololu Refilwe Babatunde
Jun. 10, 2014 09:00AM EST

Who Won What At The MTV Africa Music Awards?

South Africa came out on top at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards, which featured performances by Miguel, Trey Songz and French Montana.

Sarkodie & Miguel at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards (photo via Sarkodie's twitter)

Over the weekend artists and performers from across the continent gathered at the Durban International Convention Centre for the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards. After a three-year hiatus, the star-studded event sponsored by MTV Base and KwaZulu-Natal Province brought out some of the continent's biggest names in music as well as a few acts from across the Atlantic, including Miguel, Trey Songz, and French Montana. Aside from the performances and award winners, twitter was abuzz with mass frustration over host Marlon Wayans' questionable brand of comedy at the continent's expense. Yet despite Wayans' problematic commentary, the show went on. Nigeria and South Africa each came out on top with six and five award winners respectively and a slew of crowd-pleasing performances. South African trio Mafikizolo kicked off the show with an electrifying performance of their dancefloor anthem “Khona.” Later on Simphiwe Dana paid tribute to Nelson Mandela, performing in front of a time-lapsed video of a Mandela-inspired mural painted by South African artist Rasty. In the most unexpected performance of the night, Ladysmith Black Mambazo reworked some of the biggest dancefloor hits over the past couple years, including D'Banj's "Oliver Twist" and Uhuru's “Y-tjukutja.” Peep the full list of winners (and their videos) below.

Artist of the Year: Davido (Nigeria)

Best Male: Davido (Nigeria)

Best Female: Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)

Best Group: Mafikizolo (South Africa)

Best New Act: Stanley Enow (Cameroon)

Best Live Act: Flavour (Nigeria)

Best Collaboration: “Y-tjukutja” – Uhuru ft. Oskido, DJ Bucks, Professor and Yuri Da Cunha (South Africa/Angola)

Best Hip Hop: Sarkodie (Ghana)

Best Francophone: Toofan (Togo)

Best Lusophone: Anselmo Ralph (Angola)

Song of the Year: “Khona” – Mafikizolo ft. Uhuru (South Africa)

Best Video: Clarence Peters (Nigeria)

Best Pop: Goldfish (South Africa)

Best International: Pharrell

Best Alternative: Gangs of Ballet (South Africa)

Personality of the Year: Lupita Nyong’o (Kenya)

MTV Base Leadership Award: Ashish J. Thakkar (Tanzania)

Transform Today Award by Absolut: Clarence Peters (Nigeria)

MAMAs mtv africa music awards
News Brief
Photo: Single cover art courtesy of Emerald East

Rema Welcomes 2021 With New Single 'Bounce'

The Don Jazzy produced track reminds us of why the Nigerian singer-songwriter is topping charts.

Nigerian golden boy Rema took his time on deciding how to start of 2021—and we're glad he did.

The afropop hitmaker is out with his first project of the year, "Bounce", after stunning fans with word of an upcoming album, and the cooks in this kitchen have not disappointed.

Keeping it in the Mavin Records family, legendary producer Don Jazzy sprinkles his magic on the track, while undoubtedly motivating the young singer-songwriter to be his best self. And with this track being like nothing we've heard from Rema before, one could say Jazzy succeeded. "Bounce", fast-paced and fierce, is a love song dedicated to bewitchingly beautiful and blessed bottoms. The candid declaration and hip shaking beat are a force duo and we can't help but love it.

Of the single and collaboration with head honcho Don Jazzy, Rema says, "This record was inspired by the luscious and magnificent body of the African woman. Furthermore, I'm really excited about this tune because it's my first single with the legendary Don Jazzy."

Honestly, when you start the year off with a banger, you get to make songs about butts.

Keep reading... Show less

get okayafrica in your inbox

popular.

Interview: Sincerely Ria Is Giving Guinean Fashion Its Flowers

And designer Mariama Diallo's NYFW debut celebrates the vibrancy and uniqueness of Guinea and its Fulani culture.