By Ogbonna Amadi
Nameless (Kenya) and M.I. (Nigeria) were the big winners of the evening at the MTV Africa Music Awards. The two artistes took home two trophies each at the pan-African music celebration, held at the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani, Kenya on 10 October 2009.
Nameless won the coveted Best Male Artist category at the awards, which honour and celebrate Africa’s contemporary music stars, as well as the Listener’s Choice category which recognizes the biggest radio hits of the year. M.I. clinched an impressive duo, scoring for Best New Act and Best Hip Hop.
Best Female prize went to Kenyan star Amani, making it two in a row for Kenyan female performers after Wahu’s win in Abuja in 2008.
Ghanaian star Samini put dancehall firmly on the map with a win for Best Performer, a fitting tribute to his trademark high energy live performances. Artist of the Year went to D’Banj showing the Nigerian star remains at the top of his game after a triple win in 2008 and his MTV Europe Music Awards win in 2007.
African artistes scored three awards: MAMA Legend (Lucky Dube), HHP (Best Video) and Zebra & Giraffe (Best Alternative).
Host Wyclef Jean set the uplifting tone for the evening with an electrifying live set, including monster hits ‘Sweetest Girl’, ‘No Woman No Cry’ and ‘Ready or Not’. Hip hop phenomenon Akon, making a long anticipated trip to Kenya, rose to the challenge, rousing the crowd with a show stopping version of his track, Beautiful.
In keeping with the show’s purpose of bringing Africa together, the MAMA awards featured multiple collaborations between artistes from different countries and music genres – mixing up hip hop with R&B, alternative, soul and dancehall, among others.
Among the collaborations thrilling the 4,000 strong crowd was a three way tie-up featuring HHP, Brickz and 2FACE, and a stunning collaboration between Kenyan Divas Amani and Wahu and Tanzania’s A.Y. and a dramatic hip-hop/rock mash-up between Zebra & Giraffe and Da LES.
The evening closed with a moving performance of Michael Jackson’s crowd pleaser ‘Wanna Be Starting Something’ with Akon and all the other performers.
The My Video Award was won by Patricke-Stevie Moungondo from Congo Brazzaville, who beat thousands of amateur singers to win the coveted MAMA trophy, in the form of a ‘retro/futuristic’ microphone balanced on top of a globe of the world with Africa poised symbolically at the top.
Among the many show highlights were Wyclef’s opening number and a touching tribute to MAMA Legend Award winner Lucky Dube by Wyclef, Nameless and Samini, in honour of the iconic South African reggae star tragically killed in 2007.
The ‘One Time’ star also called attention to the plight of the 17 million people in East Africa affected by drought and famine.
Performers at MAMA 2009 included Akon, Wahu, M.I., Samini, HHP, Da L.E.S, Zebra & Giraffe, Lizha James, STL, Amani, Nameless, A.Y., Lira, 2FACE and Blu3. Guest presenters included Zamajobe, Kel, Redsan, Churchill, the cast of the MTV Staying Alive Ignite TV series, Shuga.
MAMA ‘09 Winners
Best Female                                             Amani (Kenya)
Best Male                                                Nameless (Kenya)
Best Performer                                     Samini (Ghana)
Best Group                                              P Square (Nigeria)
Best Alternative                                   Zebra and Giraffe (South Africa)
Best Hip Hop                                           M I (Nigeria)
Best R&b                                                 Darey Art Alade (Nigeria)
Artist of the Year                                  D’Banj (Nigeria)
Best New Act                                           M I (Nigeria)
Best Video                                               HHP (South Africa)
Legend Award                                       Lucky Dube (South Africa)
My Video Award                                   Patricke_Stevie Moungondo
(Congo Brazzaville)
Listeners Choice Award                    Nameless (Kenya).
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