MTV Europe nominates Ali Kiba, Black Coffee, Wizkid and others

Ali Kiba (Tanzania), Black Coffee (South Africa), Cassper Nyovest (South Africa), Olamide (Nigeria) and Wizkid (Nigeria) will each have a chance to emerge triumphant at this event designed to celebrate the hottest artists from around the world.

All of the nominated artists are also up for awards at the sixth edition of MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) scheduled for 22 October. They have also been prominent in their respective countries and across the continent.

Ali Kiba is best known for hits such as ‘Aje’, ‘Mwana’, ‘Chekecha Cheketua’, ‘Cinderella’ and others. He collaborated with US superstar R. Kelly and other African musicians on the ‘ONE8’ project.

Cassper Nyovest has become the first South African artist to sell out the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa and continues his rapid rise to international prominence. He has been featured on a track by American rapper Talib Kweli called ‘F**k The Money’.

Olamide emerged YouTube’s most watched Nigerian artist in 2015. His single ‘Bobo’, from his fifth solo album Eyan Mayweather, was number 1 on the list. His countryman Wizkid, has done collaborations with some of the world’s biggest artists including, Drake, Chris Brown and R.Kelly.

Black Coffee, is the first South African artist to win a BET Award in the US. He recently worked on an official remix of American star Alicia Keys’ ‘In Common’.

“It is wonderful to see African artists nominated at the 2016 MTV EMAs on the same platform as global superstars of the calibre of Rihanna, Beyoncé, Drake, Kanye West and more,” says Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director at Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa.

In the general categories, Beyoncé and Justin Bieber lead the pack with five nominations each. Adele follows closely with four nods, alongside Best Rock nominees Coldplay, Best New Act nominee Lukas Graham and Best Male candidate Shawn Mendes. Rihanna and Drake earn three nods each, including a Best Song nomination for their hit collaboration ‘Work’.

The 2016 MTV EMAs will air live on MTV (DStv channel 130) and MTV Base (DStv channel 322) on Sunday 6 November at 22:00 CAT from the Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Visit the MTV EMA website to vote now. Social media voting categories Biggest Fans and Best Look will go live at a later date, with full details and voting procedures to be announced.