African Entertainment Awards USA unveil nominees

The awards, launched in 2015, aim to support, celebrate, promote, and uplift the achievements of African musician in the continent and the diaspora.

"We use entertainment as a platform to showcase an Africa that is united, self-sufficient, and willing and able to evoke social change that matters most in the communities of Africans and Africans in the Diaspora world-wid," reads a statement on the awards's website.

The 2016 awards ceremony will take place at the Liberty Theater Elizabeth in New Jersey in the US. The organisers have promised live performances from some of Africa’s top artists although no names have been announced yet.

The full list of nominees is as below:

Best Male Single • Amr Diab – Gamalo • Diamond Platnumz – Utanipenda • Eddy Kenzo-Maria • MC Galaxy- Hello • Olamide – Bobo • Sarkodie – hand to mouth • Wiz Kid-Baba Nla   Best Female Single • Lady Ponce-Me NdiguiYem • Seyi Shay – Right Now • Vanessa Mdee – Never Ever • Victoria Kimani-Booty Bounce • Zhara – Country Girl • Selmor Mtukudzi- Zvidikidiki   Best Female artist • Akothee • Anna Joyce • Linah Sanga • Neyma • Tiwa Savage • Victoria Kimani • YemiAlade   Best Collaboration • Ali Kiba and Christian Bella – Nagharamia • AY ft. Diamond Platnumz – Zigo Remix • Kiss Daniel ft. Davido,Tiwa Savage – Woju • Obrafour ft. Bisa Kdei – Pimpinna • To Semedo ft Boss AC- Porqueteamo • Yemi Alade ft. Selebobo – Na Gode   Best Hip hop artist • Aka Sim Dope • E.L • Joh Makini • Jovi • MHD • Rahiz • Wale   Community Award • Cameroom American Council • FundacaoLwini • Kuki Ndinho Foundation • Miss Africa Tri State • Missy BK • The Iya Project • UFC Cote D’Ivoire   Best DJ • DJ Bossman • DJ Brazao • DJ D-Ommy • DJ Jimmy Jatt • DJ Mensah • DJ Tunez • DJ Van   Best Male Artist • Coreon Du • Diamond Platnumz • Eddy Kenzo • Master Jake • Mc Galaxy • Nelson Freitas • Wiz Kid   Best Video of the year • Diamond Platnumz – Utanipenda • Eddy Kenzo -Viva Africa • Joh Makini – Don’t Bother ft AKA • MC Galaxy – Hello • Ommy Dimpoz – Achia Body • The Ben-Ntacyadutanya   Hottest Group • Keche • Kiff No beat • Mafikizolo • Sauti Sol • Tabanka Djaz • Yamoto Band   Best Francophone Artist • Dez Altino • Fally Ipupa • La fouine • Maitre Gims • Serge Beynaud • Sidiki Diabate • Soul Bangs   Best Dancehall • Alonzo Abasi • Patoranking • Shatta Wale • Stonebwoy • Takana Zion • Winky D   Best Promoter • Carol Nyazika/Lisa Chiriseri • Daniel Mendes • DMK Global • GilytoSemedo • OBO Entertainment • OlamideTalabi Davies • Prince Ademola   Best Blogger • All4woman • Laura Ikeji • Millard Ayo • Munya Bloggo • Niaje • The HotGym   People’s Choice • Ali Kiba • Amr Diab • Bisa Kdei • Diamond Platnumz • Eddy Kenzo • Iyanya • Jose Chameleon • Landrick • WizKid   Best Male Palop Artist • Anselmo Ralph • Badoxa • Binhan • Filipe Santos • Nelson Freitas • To Semedo • Ziqo   Best Female Palop Artist • Bruna Lee • Eneida Marta • Lizha James • Lura • Nsoki • Perola • Yola Semedo   Best New Artist • Ayo Jay • DenG • Harmonize • Jay Oliver • Missy Bk • Teknomiles • Togar Howard • Ziza Bafana   Best Dance Group   • Clinch Crew • Ghetto kids AKA Sitya Loss Dancers • Legacy Dance Crew • Os Moikanos • TrybeDancerz • Umoja   Best Gospel artist • Abel Chungu Musuka • Bonnie Deuschle Celebration Choir • Goodluck Gozbert • Joyous Celebration • Next Level • Sonnie Badu • Zim Praise   Best Award Show • African Woman Awards (AWA) • Afrimma • Angola Music Awards (AMA) • Cabo Verde Music Awards (CVMA) • Liberian Entertainment Awards (LEA) • Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA)  

For more information visit the awards website.