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The definitive annual celebration of African and international talent and achievement, the MTV Africa Music Awards recognise and reward musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year.

The ceremony will feature performances from African and international artists along with the show’s signature cross-genre and cross-border collaborations.

MAMA 2016 will celebrate African talent across 17 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song and Best Collaboration by Absolut. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. Additional categories include the Africa Re-Imagined Award and Personality of the Year. The nominations for the awards will be revealed in September 2016.

Speaking at the launch in Joburg, Nabintu Petsana, Head of Joburg Tourism, said: “We are thrilled to welcome MAMA 2016 to Joburg for the first time, and look forward to hosting this extraordinary cultural experience which will play a key part in enhancing Joburg’s profile on the international stage. In line with Joburg Tourism’s DomesticTourism Awareness Campaign [#Welcome2Jozi] which encourages locals to go the extra mile in showing all our visitors a good time, this event provides an ideal opportunity to remind Joburgers that ‘Leisure is Our Tourism Business’, contributing significantly to our local economy.”

Melanie Campbell, Head of Marketing: White Spirits and Rum, Pernod-Ricard, said: “We are very excited and proud to be collaborating with the MTV Africa Music Awards once again for the ultimate showcase in African talent; ABSOLUT sets itself apart by challenging conventions and pushing boundaries of contemporary culture through creative collaborations with cutting-edge artists. This year we will see the brand celebrating artists who are original and aspire to greater heights through the power of collaboration. The Best Collaboration Award by Absolut honours the African musicians, achievers and trailblazers who source add, curate and collaborate the music we love.Absolut is ready to rock Jozi.”

Monde Twala, Vice President, BET, Youth and Music, VIMN Africa, added: “The sixth edition of the MAMA promises to be our biggest and most ambitious yet. All roads will lead to the TicketPro Dome for an explosive evening of spectacle and music, while millions of music fans will enjoying the TV broadcast. Our viewers are passionate about African music and achievement, and we look forward to channelling and conveying that passion to an international audience.”

Celebrating the pan-African scope, the awards will encompass two Road to MAMA events to be held in Durban and Lagos featuring MAMA nominees and superstar DJs. Another much-anticipated element of MAMA 2016 will be a music industry workshop for aspiring musicians on the eve of the awards (21 October).

First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards have recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and gamechangers such as 2Face Idibia, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Davido, D’Banj, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet, HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Mafikizolo, Lira, Nameless, LupitaNyong’o, Clarence Peters, Diamond Platnumz, Anselmo Ralph, Sarkodie, P-Square, Tiwa Savage, Cabo Snoop, Toofan, Trevor Noah, Zebra & Giraffe, Uhuru, Wahu, Yemi Alade, and many more.

MAMA 2016 Award Categories
1. Best Male
2. Best Female
3. Best Group
4. Best New Act
5. Best Live Act
6. Best Francophone
7. Best Lusophone
8. Best Pop/Alternative
9. Best Hip Hop
10. Best International
11. Legend Award
12. Best Collaboration in association with Absolut
13. Video of the Year
14. Song of the Year
15. Artist of the Year
16. Personality of the Year
17. MTV Base Africa Re-Imagined Award