Uganda: HiPipo Music Awards go virtual

The initial awards ceremony was scheduled for 16 March at Kampala Serena Hotel but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organisers said most of the programming that was planned for the original event would take place virtually with performances from Kenneth Mugabi, Roden Y Kabako, Triplets Ghetto Kids, Kian Banks and Triple S, and others.

"This live virtual event will reveal the winners in over 40 HiPipo Music Awards categories as voted by the music fans from across Africa," the organisers said. "It will run live on the HiPipo Facebook page on Friday 29 May at 8pm after which it will be uploaded on the official YouTube account and also shared with other media platforms that wish to re-air it. You will have the best of entertainment from the comfort of your homes."

This year, the organisers have added a number of new award categories, including Campaign Song of the Decade, Decade Afrotunes Lyricist, Best Global Act, and National Medal of Honor for Arts and Sports.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Africa Number 1

•  'Sunday' – Slick Stuart, DJ Roja & Allan Toniks
•  'Sabisubira' – Kabako
•  'Tweyanze' – Irene Namatovu
•  'Gutujja' – B2C & Rema 
•  'Love Yo' – Feffe Bussi 
•  'Signal' – Eddy Kenzo 

Africa Song of the Year

• 'Inama' – Diamond Platnumz ft. Fally Ipupa
• 'Mafia' – Mohamed Ramadan 
• 'Baby' – Joeboy 
• 'Parte After Parte' – BigTril 
• 'SMA' – Nasty C ft. Rowlene 
• 'Liberté' – Soolking ft. Ouled El Bahdja 
• 'Blow My Mind' – Davido & Chris Brown 
• 'Killin Dem' – Burna Boy x Zlatan 
• 'Joro' – WizKid 

Best Song from Francophone Africa

• 'C'est Pas Les Gbés Gbés Gbés' – Shan'l 
• 'Miami Vice' – Maître Gims 
• 'Yope' – Innoss'B 
• '#Katchua' – Ya Levis 
• 'Liberté' – Soolking ft. Ouled El Bahdja 
• 'Maria Pm' – Fally Ipupa 
• 'OU LÉ' – Toofan ft. Jacob Desvarieux & Kassav 
• 'Anita' – Salatiel 

Best Song from Western Africa

• 'Killin Dem' – Zlatan x Burna Boy 
• '49-99' – Tiwa Savage 
• 'Ololo' – Stonebwoy ft. Teni 
• 'Lucky' – Sarkodie ft. Rudeboy 
• 'Baby' – Joeboy 
• 'Audio Money' – Rudeboy 
• 'Risky' – Davido ft. Popcaan
• 'Joro' – WizKid

Best Song from Southern Africa

• 'Move For Me' – Cassper Nyovest feat Boskasie 
• 'Beautiful' – Roberto 
• 'Chuwana' – King Monada
• 'Sadza NeMuriwo' – Jah Prayzah 
• 'Main Ou's' – AKA ft. YoungstaCPT 
• 'SMA' – Nasty C ft. Rowlene
• 'John Cena' – Sho Madjozi 

Best Song from Northern/Arabic Africa

• 'Tamer Hosny' – Naseny Leh 
• 'Khatwa' – Mostafa Hagag
• 'Ya Betfaker Ya Bet7es' – Sherine 
• 'Mafia' – Mohamed Ramadan 
• 'Ma Gazelle' – Salma Rachid ft. Mok Saib 

Africa Fans Favorite Fresh Talent

• Simmy (South Africa)
• Innoss'B (DRC)
• Rosa Ree (Tanzania)
• Nviiri The Storyteller (Kenya)
• Vinka (Uganda)
• Sho Madjozi (South Africa)
• Teni (Nigeria)
• Mbosso (Tanzania)
• Joeboy (Nigeria)
• Natacha (Burundi)

Kenya Best Act

• Bensoul
• Otile Brown
• Nadia Mukami
• Redsan
• Masauti 
• Sauti Sol 
• Willy Paul 
• Zikki
• Miracle Baby 
• Chris Kaiga 

Tanzania Best Act

• Rayvanny 
• Nandy 
• Diamond Platnumz 
• Harmonize
• Mbosso 
• Vanessa Mdee 

Rwanda Best Act

• Bruce Melodie 
• Andy Bumuntu 
• Amalon 
• The Ben 
• Nari High 
• Butera Knowless 
• Deejay Pius 
• King James 
• Meddy 

Burundi Best Act

• Bantubwoy 
• Esther Nish 
• Double Jay
• Big Fizzo 
• Dr Claude 
• Kirikou Akili
• Natacha 
• Sat-B 

East Africa Super Hit

• 'Vazi' – The Ben 
• 'Extravaganza' – Sauti Sol ft. Bensoul, Nviiri, Crystal Asige & Kaskazini 
• 'Wamlambez' – Sailors 
• 'Parte After Parte' – Big Tril 
• 'Uno' – Harmonize
• 'The One' – Diamond Platnumz 
• 'Tetema' – Rayvanny Ft Diamond Platnumz
• 'Mmmh' – Willy Paul Ft Rayvanny
• 'Homba Homboka' – Deejay Pius
• 'That's For Me' – Vanessa Mdee ft. Distruction Boyz, DJ Tira, Prince Bulo

Artist of The Year

• Fik Fameica
• Sheebah
• John Blaq
• Spice Diana
• David Lutalo
• Eddy Kenzo

Best Female Artist

• Spice Diana
• Vinka
• Winnie Nwagi
• Sheebah

Best Male Artist

• John Blaq
• Eddy Kenzo
• David Lutalo
• Fik Fameica

Best Breakthrough Artist

• Recho Rey
• VIP Jemo
• Grenade Official
• John Blaq
• Fresh Kid

Best A Cappella Group

• Spring Gents
• Jehovah Shalom
• The Harmonics

Must Watch Talent

• Ring Rapper
• Zulanda
• Karole Kasita
• Shena Skies
• Jowy Landa
• Prince Omar
• Lydia Bless
• Kapa Cat
• Vivian Tendo

Best DJ

• DJ Fikie
• DJ Shiru
• DJ LL
• DJ Bryan
• Selector Jay
• DVJ Mercy
• DJ Slick Stuart & DJ Roja

Video of the Year

• 'Sunday – Slick Stuart, DJ Roja & Allan Toniks 
• 'Love Yo' – Feffe Bussi 
• 'Gutujja' – B2C & Rema 
• 'Tweyanze' – Irene Namatovu 
• 'Sabisubira' – Kabako 
• 'Signal' – Eddy Kenzo 

Song of the Year

• 'Sirwana' – Sheebah x Carol Nantongo 
• 'Bango' – Rickman x DT Timo 
• 'Semyekozo' – Eddy Kenzo 
• 'Do Dat' – John Blaq 
• 'Gutujja' – B2C & Rema 
• 'Parte After Parte' – BigTril 

Best Audio Producer

• T.O.N
• Bomba Beat
• Artin Pro
• Producer Ronnie
• Daddy Andre
• Nessim
• Diggy Baur

Best Video Director

• Zero One Media
• Zyga PixPest
• Marvin Musoke
• Aaronaire
• Jahlive Films
• Nolton And George (NG Filmz)

Best Songwriter

• Jamie Culture
• Daddy Andre
• Black Skin
• Yesse Oman 
• RafikNince Henry
• Ronnie
• Shena Skies

Best Hip Hop/Rap Song

• 'Omu Bwati' – Fik Fameica ft. Patoranking
• 'Level Up' – Flex D'paper 
• 'Sikyo' – Kapa Cat 
• 'Banteeka' – Fresh Kid 
• 'Parte After Parte' – BigTril 
• 'Cheating' – Recho Rey 

Best Soul Song

• 'Tondekangawo' – Shifah Musisi 
• 'Alemelako' – Nshuti Mbabazi 
• 'Mwisuka' – Sandra Nankoma 
• 'Oliwa' – Kenneth Mugabi 
• 'Laavu Eno' – Naava Grey 

Best Ragga/Dancehall Song

• 'Sweet Sensation' – Sheebah ft. Orezi 
• 'Sima' – Vip Jemo 
• 'Kingdom' – Ziza Bafana 
• 'Jangu Ondabe' – Spice Diana x Rosa Ree 
• 'Makanika' – John Blaq
• 'Boom Party' – Cindy Sanyu 
• 'Bango' – Rickman x Dt Timo 

Best Reggae Song

• 'Bwebinyuma' – Chris Evans 
• 'Squeeze' – Fille & Voltage Music 
• 'Obadde Wa' – Kenneth Mugabi 
• 'Reggea Music' – DJ Shiru ft. Bruno K & Josesax
• 'Mukama Taasa' – Trekxone 

Best Band Song

• 'Hajjati Wa Hajji' – Vivian Tendo 
• 'Mpedde' – Jovan Luzinda 
• 'Awululu' – Henry Mwanje ft. Namiiro Reachel 
• 'Call Me' – Chris Evans 
• 'Tugende' – David Lutalo 
• 'Gwe Manyi Gange' – Sasha Brighton 
• 'Ompuuba' – Carol Nantongo 

Best Contemporary Folk Song

• 'Ighe Olinaki' – Lily Kadima 
• 'Yanyiridde' – Irene Kayemba 
• 'Tweyanze' – Irene Namatovu 
• 'Bamungamba' – Da Agent ft. Betinah Fasie 
• 'Miluvu' – Afande Miah, Hoe ft. Yazo 

Best Kadongo Kamu Song

• 'Obuwangwa' – Gerald Kiweewa 
• 'Ffa Kubikwatako' – Kazibwe Kapo 
• 'Omwan'aninze' – Willy Mukabya 
• 'Stress Free' – Kasule Cereste
• 'Obufumbo bwekyavu' – Jackie Kizito 

Best Zouk Song

• 'Wankolera' – Lydia Jazmine 
• 'Yitayo' – Chozen Blood & Winnie Nwagi 
• 'Ebisembayo' – Geosteady ft. Chosen Becky
• 'Kyosaba' – Chosen Becky 
• 'Signal' – Eddy Kenzo 
• 'Gutujja' – B2C & Rema 

Best Afrobeat Song

• 'Sabisubira' – Kabako
• 'Omusheshe' – Spice Diana ft. Ray G
• 'Silwana' – Sheebah ft. Carol Nantongo
• 'Do Dat' – John Blaq
• 'Semyekozo' – Eddy Kenzo
• 'Love Yoo' – Feffe Bussi
• 'Nkuloga' – Grenade

Best Afropop Song

• 'Munda Dala' – Nina Roz
• 'Sikikukweeka' – Daddy Andre 
• 'Sure' – Vinka 
• 'Eat zote' – David Lutalo
• 'Am Different' –Fik Fameica 
• 'Ebyalagirwa' – John Blaq 
• 'Enyanda' – Sheebah 

Best Social Message

• 'Freedom Anthem' – Saava Karim
• 'Tebatusera' – Tip Swizzy 
• 'Ebizibu' – Ziza Bafana 
• 'Tobiloberamu' – Fik Fameica 
• 'Ensi' – David Lutalo

Best School Act

• Amasomero G'abazira Ba Cbs 
• Mumsa High School Mityana 
• Wakiso Muslim S.S
• Buddo S.S 
• Kyadondo Secondary School Matuga
• St. Peters S.S Bombo

Religious/Gospel Act

• Wilson Bugembe 
• John Marie 
• Baby Gloria 
• Robinsan 
• Levixone 
• Grace Nakimera 

Best Song from Eastern Region

• 'Nabushawo' – Peter Rymz
• 'Miluvu' – Afande Miah, Hoe ft. Yazo 
• 'Omoyo' – Jojo Laze 
• 'Twatambula' – Usher Roberts
• 'Kankinemu' – Irene Kayemba 
• 'Busoga Tuseteyo' – Menton Rass & Roo Ya Simba 

Best Song from Northern Region

• 'Anyaka Man' – Okeng Born Town 
• 'Big Nayaboli' – Original Lady Bella 
• 'Pililili Yoo Leng' – Romeo Odong 
• 'Private Dancer' – Pine Avenue5 
• 'Alur Mudhing'  –  W'ojok Dekoda 
• 'Between' – Prince Yubu ft. Daxx Kartel & Shim Dropa 
• 'Boli Free' – General Ice 
• 'Par Pira' – Professor Maros - Med MacBeepee 

Best Song from Southern Region

• 'Koi Koi Freestyle' – St. Maxi Mayne ft. Gnl Zamba 
• 'Nkooye Obwomu' – Mayor Chris Johnz 
• 'Silinda Leero' – Juicy Landy 
• 'Tundula' – Lindah Blessing 

Best Song from Western Region

• 'Kingambire' – Happi Freeman 
• 'Nfumbata' – Gen Geeon 
• 'Omusheshe' – Spice Diana & Ray G 
• 'Mpaka Mpaka' – Emily Kikazi 
• 'Kyahwire' – Amani Amaniga ft. Big Beats 
• 'Weeshe' – RemixRay G 
• 'Maama' – Medotex 
• 'Byansi byakuleka' – Kelon G 

Best Cinematography/Editing

• Jaylive Films 
• Marvin Musoke 
• Martin Beta 

Most Stylish Artist

• Eddy Kenzo
• Grenade
• Pia Pounds
• B2C
• Fik Fameika
• Nina Roz
• Lydia Jazmine
• Spice Diana

Best Rnb Song

• 'Nkulowooza' – Jamie Culture 
• 'Falling' – Allan Toniks & Fille
• 'Nkwagala Omu' – Navio ft King Saha
• 'Sunday' – Slick Stuart, DJ Roja ft. Allan Toniks
• 'Kayayana' – Cosign 
• 'Anjagala' – Maro