Burundi: Voting opens for first Buja Music Awards

The new awards platform features 22 categories for recording artists, DJs, music producers, comedians, radio stations and presenters to compete in.

According to the official website, the awards aim to "acknowledge Burundi’s talented musicians and provide a platform for upcoming artists to showcase their talents.”

The inaugural event will take place on 7 July. The venue will be announced at a later stage.

Members of the public can vote for their favourite musicians here until 30 June 2019.

Leading the nominees list is Masterland with six nominations in the categories of Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Performance, Video of the Year, Best Male Artist and Best Music Producer.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Artist of the Year

• Sat-B 
• Vichou Love 
• B Face 
• Lolilo 
• Masterland

Song of the Year

• ‘No Love’ − Sat-B 
• ‘Iwawe’ − Akes Don ft Vichou love 
• ‘Kugatumba’ − Vichou ft Lady Jaydee
• ‘Utuntu’ − Dr Claude 
• ‘Mon Amour’ − Miss Erica 
• ‘Guitar’ − Lolilo
• ‘Sabwe’ − Masterland

 Best Collaboration

• ‘Iwawe’ − Akes Don ft Vichou love 
• ‘Only One’ − Mt Number One ft Sat-B
• ‘Kugatumba’ − Vichou love ft Lady Jaydee
• ‘NkuyaKuya’ − Best Life Music ft MB Data
• ‘Oloha’ by DJ Philbyte ft B Face
• ‘Koroka’ − El Coyotte ft Dr Claude

Best Hip Hop Song

• ‘Namba Moja’ − B Face 
• ‘Ex-Girlfriend’ − Kingorongoro ft Baraka the Prince
• ‘Unanimaliza’ − DJ Pro ft Big Fizzo
• ‘Cassava’ − K Muco ft Poro
• ‘Dogo’ − Fabilove
• ‘Cakira’ − Preeze 36 ft Big Fizzo

 Best Hip Hop Artist

• B Face
• Fabelove
• Preeze 36
• Kingorongoro
• Overdo

Best R&B/Afro Song

• ‘Mon Amour’ − Miss Erica  
• ‘Bararemvye’ − Kolly Da Magic  
• ‘Nalewa’ − Emery Sun
• ‘Guitar’ − Lolilo  
• ‘History’ − Vichou Love  
• ‘Destination’ − Nelson B

Best Music Duo/Group

• Overdo
• Swagg Team +257 
• Like Nos Flows
• Chris and Junior
• Best Life Music
• Mirror Team

Best Performance

• Vichou Love
• Mr Champagne
• Sat-B
• Masterland
• Lolilo
• Dr Claude

Best Male Artist

• Sat-B
• Akes Don
• Vichou Love
• Masterland
• Lolilo
• B Face

Best Female Artist

• Miss Erica
• Iry Tina
• Bernice
• Clementine Kavy

Best New Artist

• Nelson B
• Madiba Tha Classic
• Arnovic
• Msamalia Danielo
• Alvin Smith
• Aubin Lux

Video of the Year

• ‘Karabarya’ − Sat-B
• ‘Woza Wombona’ − Kingorongoro
• ‘Nzobikora’ − Masterland ft Fabelove
• ‘Mon Amour’ − Miss Erica
• ‘NkuyaKuya’ − Best Life Music ft Mb Data
• ‘You’ −  Ado Josan ft Urban Boyz

Best Music Producer 

• Kolly Da Magic 
• Masterland
• Peniel  
• Lil Evry

 Best Video Director

• John Elart
• Kent-P
• Andyllair
• Landry SB
• Brian Smith
• Hugues Bana

 Best DJ

• DJ Philbyte
• DJ Mario
• DJ Moses
• DJ Patman
• DJ Israel
• DJ Kicas
• DJ Zenobi

Best Diaspora Artist

• Mt Number One
• El Coyote
• Jelly Brown
• Ado Josan

 Best Comedian

• Kigingi
• Kabizi 
• Mukurukuru
• Kacaman Darcy 

Best Traditional-Modern Artist/Group

• Amagaba – Burundi
• Bernice – Iwacu
• Club Giramahoro – Umukenyezi
• Spoks Man – Burundi
• Vichou Love – Urukanwa

  Best Dancer Group

• TBA
• KOD
• BKM
• ABIRABURE
• Dream Team
• Force 257
• Arakara Team

 Best Radio Show

• Hit Connection/Buja FM
• Barakora/RFM
• Saturday Morning/Radio Culture
• Kumekucha Buja Fleva/CCIB FM
• Ahabona Moment/Radio Colombe

Best Radio Presenter

• Jean Patrick Kivodo
• Ami Pro
• Adrian Lavista
• Eddyson
• Judie Caelle

 Best Gospel Artist/Group

• Prince Mshindi
• GN
• MTC
• SMS
• Victorious Team
• Best Muzik

For more information, visit the BUMAs official website.