Malawi: 2018 UMP Awards announce nominees

Malawian musicians Gwamba and Suffix lead the nominees list with five nominations each. Gwamba was nominated in the Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Best Urban Gospel and Best Live Act categories. Suffix received nominations for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Urban Gospel, Best Hip Hop Artist/Group and Best Live Act.

Following the two with four nominations each are Fredokiss and Tay Grin. Fredokiss receives nominations in the Artist of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Best Hip Hop Artist/Group and Best Live Act categories, while Tay Grin is named in the Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Live Act categories,

R&B singer Teddy received three nominations while Sonye, Faith Mussa, Piksy and Seven O’ More sit with two nominations apiece. South African artists AKA, Cassper Nyovest, King Monada, Nasty C as well as Tanzania’s Diamond Platinumz will compete for the Best SADC International Act Award.

"The list comprises 18 of the 20 award categories and there are five nominees in each," UMP CEO Ken Zizwa told Music In Africa. "They were decided by votes from a panel of local urban music experts and popular votes from social media.

"As previously announced, the Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Lucius Banda, while the Humanitarian Award will be determined at a later stage. The final winners will be decided via SMS voting [codes to be announced later today on social media] and votes from the judges’ panel.”

Lucius Banda told Music In Africa that he was happy to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I feel honoured and it is a very rare occurrence hat you get honoured while you're still alive in Malawi. It’s such an honour, and I am not trying to beat my own drum, but honestly it’s been a long time coming and a lot people have said it should have been done yesterday. However, I thank God because he has his own time and I appreciate that,” the 48 year old musician said.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Artist of the Year

• Fredokiss
• Gwamba
• Suffix
• Tay Grin
• Piksy 

Music Video of the Year

• ‘Lubwa’ – Tay Grin
• ‘Kusasa Mau’ – Gwamba
• ‘Ndendende’ – Janta
• ‘No one’ – Sonye ft Tuno
• ‘Temporary’ – Lackie ft Teddy

Music Video Director of the Year

• Essim
• Mest Media
• Ron Cz
• VJ Ice
• VJ Ken

Album of the Year

• Mady P –  Chi One Tambala
• Provoice – Knock It 1986
• Seven O’ More – Yr2099
• Sonye – Somewhere in Africa
• Suffix – Before I Sleep

Song of the Year

• Macelba ft Saint – ‘Maluzi’
• Malinga Mafia – ‘Vuto Si Ine’
• Piksy – ‘Umakwana’
• Tay Grin – ‘Lubwa’
• Wikise – ‘Uli Nzinga?’

Collaboration of the Year

• Gwamba ft Fredokiss – ‘Nthawi Zanji’
• Macelba ft Saint – ‘Maluzi
• Martse ft Bucci – ‘Dosage’
• Saint ft JJC – ‘Friends’
• Toast ft Eli Njuchi – ‘Hakuna Matata’

Best New Act

• Eli Njuchi
• Lackie
• Man Chi
• Mazz o Penga
• Teddy

Best Female Act

• Hazel Mak
• Hilco
• Kim of Diamonds
• Sangie
• Tuno

Producer of the Year

• BFB
• Gaffar
• Henwood
• Janta
• DJ Sley

Best Urban Gospel

• Gwamba
• Kelvin Sings
• Saxess
• Shammah Vocals
• Suffix

Best Hip Hop Artist/Group

• Fredokiss
• Seven O’ More
• Macelba
• Suffix
• Toast

Best Dancehall Artist/Group

• Jay Jay Cee
• Mady P
• Malinga Mafia
• Purple C
• Provoice

Best R&B/Afropop Artist/Group

• Bucci
• Kelly Kay
• Kelvin Sings
• Teddy
• Tuno

Best Band

• Black Missionaries
• Mibawa Band
• Mizu band
• Soul Raiders
• Zathu Band

Best Duo/Group

• Bossaro
• Daredevilz
• Fortress
• Mabilinganya Empire
• W Twice

Best Live Act

• Faith Mussa
• Fredokiss
• Gwamba
• Suffix
• Tay Grin

Best SADC International Act

• AKA
• Cassper Nyovest
• Diamond Platinumz
• King Monada
• Nasty C

Lifetime Achievement

• Lucias Banda

Best Afro-soul Artist/Group

• Faith Mussa
• Lawi
• Lulu
• Patience Namadingo
• Shammah Vocals

Humanitarian Award

• TBA