Sierra Leone: NEAs 2021 announce nominees

Organised by Lake Productions, the annual event honours the country’s outstanding entertainers and professionals in the music industry and other sectors of the entertainment space.

Drizilik and I-tribe lead the pack of nominees with six apiece, followed by Yok 7, Boss Laj and Cool-J with four nods each, while Nata, Blesz, Maggie, Menace Da General, I-Tribe, Solo’s Beat and Atical 4yoh also secured nominations in the Album of the Year category. 

“The 2021 National Entertainment Awards are a dedication to hard work, integrity and perseverance,” Lake Productions CEO Alhaji K Tarawally said, adding that the event will acknowledge “the most strategic sound, inspiring and forward-looking entertainers with measurable achievements in music, film, sports, comedy, fashion, tourism and our cultural heritage.”

Public voting is ongoing online and will close on 30 November.

Below are the nominees in the music categories:

Best Male Artist of the Year

• Joel
• Rahim D Wezard
• I-Tribe
• Menace Da General
• Drizilik
• Kao Denero
• Yok 7
• Blesz
• Boss Laj
• Innocent
• Morris
• Markmuday

Best Female Artist of the Year

• Star Zee
• Swadu
• Rozzy
• Vida
• Maggie
• Nata
• Queenak
• Pretty S
• Empress P
• M2
• Letticia

Female Hip Hop Artist of the Year

• Nata
• Swadu   
• Star Zee  
• Empress P 
• Ejatu 

Best Male Hip Hop Artist of the Year

• Speedo
• Kao Denero
• Boss Laj
• Medee T
• Drizilik
• Yok 7
• Menace Da General
• Colabo
• Cool-J

Male Afro Pop and R&B Artist of the Year

• Rahim D Wezard
• Morris
• Innocent
• Makmuday
• I-Tribe
• Nasser Ayoub
• Marvin Bangs
• RJ

Female Afro Pop & RnB Artist of the Year

• Vida
• Queenak
• Rozzy
• Letticia
• Pretty-S
• Maggie
• M2

Best Music Producer of the Year

• Young Lee
• Bash Beatz
• Solo’s Beat
• Don Creek
• Jassie Jozzy
• Wilbert
• Twice Ice
• Nega Don
• Master Rell
• Thy Young

Best New Act in Music

• Black Gold AK
• IBE
• Dee Wills Baba
• ISAT
• Marvin Bangs
• Mello Seven
• Village Boy
• Skills 8 Figure
• King SL Zee
• Shak

 Live Performer of the Year

• Block Jones
• Drizilik
• Yung Sal
• Mos-B
• Fantacee Wiz
• Nasser Ayoub
• Danny

Best Music Group of the Year

• LXG
• Kracktwist & Samza
• Triple-T
• Step Q
• Firewoodz
• KKN

Best Dancehall Artist of the Year

• Keyler Voice
• Rap Gee
• Deeno Jay
• Dallas Bantam
• Stunt Man
• Supa Saa
• Faz Ya Alimamy
• KG Salone
• Memish Bee

Best Young Artist 

• Leonus D Genius
• Nas-B
• Goodluck
• Neliza
• Peace Kidz
• Mt Wise
• Angel

Gospel Artist of the Year

• Vida Watson
• Rock Emmanuel
• Amzo-K
• Victory Deen
• Arnold K. Fofanah
• Memunatu Kabia
• Johannes Maier
• Mackie Scott
• Johnabednego Buckle

Collaboration of the Year

• ‘Problem’ – Masterkraft ft. Markmuday, Drizilik and Joel
• ‘Prove Dem Wrong’ – Cool-J ft. Innocent
• ‘Med Pa You’ – Colabo ft. I-Tribe
• ‘Twerk’ – Yok 7 ft. Demarco
• ‘Vybe’ – Morris ft. Camouflage
• ‘Do for Love’ – Rahim ft. Morris
• ‘Agbado’ –  Blesz ft. Nega Don
• ‘Shabalaba’ – Stunt Man ft. Kao Denero
• ‘PAK Style’ – Joel ft. Kracktwist and Samza
• ‘Porkeh’ – LXG ft. Kamel
• ‘All Tin Dae’ – Boss Laj ft. Arkmen, Rap-G, Shuaibu and I-Tribe

Best Music Video Director of the Year 

• Sivo
• Michael Oscar
• HD Genesis
• Magic Rowland
• Patric Elis
• Songa
• King Ibebangs
• F-Mans
• Vybz City Studio

Best Hit Single of the Year

• ‘Special Time’ – Rahim D’Wezard
• ‘Prove Dem Wrong’ – Cool-J
• ‘Med Pa You’ – Colabo
• ‘All Tin Dae’ – Boss Laj ft. Arkmen, Rap-G, Shuaibu and I-Tribe
• ‘No Stress’ – Emmerson
• ‘PAK Style’ – Joel ft. Kracktwist and Samza
• ‘For the Sake of Love’ – Rozzy 
• ‘Bout The Money’ – Swadu
• ‘Gee Dem Banana’ – LXG
• ‘Waste Time’ – Drizilik
• ‘Problem’ – Masterkraft ft. Markmuday, Drizilik and Joel

Next Rated Act in Music

• Zainnie Zilla
• Boii
• Kulish D’Stylish
• Ezkiido
• Debbie
• Reebz
• Jakey Jake
• Chocolate
• Amira

Best Diaspora Act in Music

• Sheikh Kargbo
• Alonzo
• Rahim D Wezard
• Cool-J
• Souferior
• Ezy-K
• KG Salone
• Yok 7

Best Album of the Year

• Rookie of the Year – Nata
• The Prestige Album – Blesz
• The Dream Album – Maggie
• The Formula Album – Menace Da General
• Dis Feeling – I-Tribe
• Joanna – Solo’s Beat
• The Hustle – Atical 4yoh

Best Regional Act in Music 

• Stunt Man
• Step-Q
• Music Makers
• J-Cole
• Actupus
• Santimans
• Internet Man
• Deeno Jay
• Mayorman