Gospel: Voting opens for Sauti Awards 2018

The awards, which are in their fourth year, are organised by the US-based Sauti One organisation, which aims to bring together Africans in the diaspora and give back to the continent by recognising the outstanding achievements made by gospel artists.

The public has until on 26 June to vote for their favourite categories via the Sauti Awards official website.

“God has taken the most precise way of communicating truth, which is music,” Ugandan artist Levixone, who has been nominated for two awards, told Music In Africa.

“My mission has always been to take gospel music to the world. This nomination means that my music is now global and enlightening the lives of millions of people across the world.”

Tickets to the awards ceremony are available here.  

Below is the full list of nominees:

Male Artist of the Year – Diaspora

• Proud Refuge
• Izzo
• Zangi
• Abraham Mwinda
• Kenn Eddy Krezi
• Icha Kavons

Female Artist of the Year – Diaspora

• T-Jay
• Duwa
• Nelly Wafula
• Avantii Uzor
• Mireille Basirwa
• Bumie Asuquo
• Naomi Karanja

Song of the Year – Diaspora

• ‘Ultimate’ – T-Jay
• ‘Wewe Ndio Mungu’ – Mireille Basirwa  
• ‘Hitha Hitha’ – Zangi and Shiru Stuart 
• ‘Shine’ – Avantii Uzor
• ‘Njeterere’ – Carolina
• ‘Lift Him Up’ – Dee Jones

New Group / Artist of the Year – Diaspora

• Onolyriks
• Joseph Benjamin (JB)
• Zippy
• Alain and Okito
• Parfum Zola
• Avantii Uzor

Worship Song of the Year – Diaspora

• 'Holy Adonai' – Mireille Basirwa
• ‘Sweet Aroma’ – Nelly Wafula
• ‘High Priest’ – Parfum Zola
• ‘Be Magnified’ – Bumie Asuquo
• ‘Nakuabudu’ – Leah Muiruri
• ‘Sema Nami’ – Koki Gachanja

Video of the Year – Diaspora

• ‘Count on Me Remix’ – Duwa
• ‘Trust and Believe’ – Proud Refuge
• ‘Don’t Fight’ – Izzo and Lexx
• ‘Shine’ – Avantii Uzor
• ‘Be Magnified’ – Bumie Asuquo
• ‘Njeterere’ – Carolina

Collabo of the Year – Diaspora

•  ‘Hitha Hitha’ – Zangia and Shiru Stuart
•  ‘Don’t Fight’ – Izzo and Lexx
•  ‘Papa’ – Semeiyan and Emmy Kosgei
•  ‘Kama Wee’ – Zangi and Shiko

DJ of the Year – Diaspora

• DJ Saint
• DJ Kamfy
• DJ Chasemode
• DJ Kson
• DJ Provabs
• DJ Dennis

Hip Hop Song of the Year – Diaspora

• ‘Trust and Believe’ – Proud Refuge
•  ‘Don’t Fight’ – Izzo and Lexx
• ‘Mathare’ – Kenn Eddy Krezi
• ‘Preach’ – S.O.

Youth Group of the Year – Diaspora

• Neema Youth – Dallas
• Neema Youth – Kansas
• Generation Restored – Seattle
• KACC Youth – Atlanta
• Double Impact – St Louis
• Hephzibah Youth – Sacrament

Song of the Year – West / East Africa

• ‘No Wele’ – Pompi
• ‘Turn the Replay’ – Levixone
• ‘Raba Baba Eh’ – The Gratitude
• ‘Odi Dance’ – Timeless Noel, Hype Ochi and Jabidii
• ‘Nadeka’ – Guardian Angel 
• ‘Sitabaki Nilivyo’ – Joel Lwanga

Video of the Year –  East / West Africa

• ‘My Everything’ – Wahu
• ‘Shukurani’ – Goodluck Gozbert
• ‘Wacha Iwe’ – Ringtone and Gloria Muliro
• ‘No Wele’ – Pompi 
• ‘Cheta’ – Ada 
• ‘Count Your Blessings’ – Kambua

DJ of the Year – East Africa

• DJ Mzito
• Frank the DJ
• D Mo
• DJ Sadic
• DJ Spin
• DJ Ruff
• DJ Sean
• DJ GeeGee

Male Artist of the Year – East Africa

• Pompi
• Levixone
• Goodluck Gozbert
• Paul Clement
• Guardian Angel
• Moji ShortBabaa

Female Artist of the Year –  East / West / Central Africa

• Evelyn Wanjiru
• Celestine Donkor
• Alice Kimanzi
• Angel Benard
• Deborah Lukalu
• Ada

Collabo of the Year –  East Africa

• 'Amka Ucheze’ – Weezdom & Janet Otieno
• ‘Mifupa Mikavu’– Christina Shusho and Saint Stevoh
• ‘Ujulikane’ – Laura Karwirwa and Alice Kimanzi
• ‘Hajawai’– Moji ShortBabaa, Guardian Angel and Dk Kwenye Beat
• ‘Wakati Wa Mungu’– Paul Clement and Guardian Angel
• ‘Asifiwe Yesu’ – Mr Seed and David Wonder

Worship Song of the Year –  South / West / East Africa

• ‘Yahweh’ – Alice Kimanzi and Bethu
• ‘Lihimidi Jina Lake’ – Joyce Omondi
• ‘Huru’ – Njoki Munyi
• ‘Mungu Wangu’ – Freke Umoh and Voices of Purpose Kenya
• ‘Jehova Elohim’ – Evelyn Wanjiru
• ‘Ngcwele’ – Ntokozo Mbambo

Inspiration Song of the Year –  Central / West / East Africa

• ‘Hakuna Wa Kubadili’ – Miriam Lukindo
• ‘Tambarare’ – Eunice Njeri
• ‘We Testify’ – Deborah Lukalu
• ‘Sitabaki Nilivyo’ – Joel Lwanga
• ‘Mighty Man of War’ – Jimmy D Psalmist
• ‘Shine’ – Hopekid