NAMIBIAN ANNUAL MUSIC AWARDS

NAMAs ANNOUNCES 2017 NOMINEES

Windhoek - The 2017 Namibian Annual Music Awards nominees were announced at NICE restaurant. This year’s nominees are dominated by newcomers bringing a fresh look to the music industry and showing that the industry is growing.

Topping the nominee list is newcomer Bradley Anthony who walked away with 8 nominations followed by Oteya with 7 nominations. Newcomer Adora walked away with 6 nominations followed by 2015 Best Male Artist of the Year Gazza with 5 nominations. Newcomer Priscilla Namibian Desert Queen topped 5 nominations. Sally Boss Madam makes a welcoming return to the NAMAs after a 3- year absence with 4 nominations with her single album. Young T, N.I.A. and Michael Pulse all walked away with 4 nominations.

The total investment of the 2017 Namibian Annual Music awards is N$17 million with MTC investing N$7 million in cash, other sponsors N$2.1 million and the remaining being NBC’s broadcasting cost. Co-sponsors Tafel Lite leads the pack with a total cash investment of N$500,000 followed by the Walvis Bay Municipality N$325,000, National Arts Council of N$300,000, Standard Bank N$250,000, Air Namibia N$250,000 in kind, NDTC N$125,000, J&P Group of Companies N$100,000, Power Play N$90,000, NWR N$60,000, NASCAM, N$50,000, Namibia Film Commission N$60,000, NWR N$60,000 and NDC venue sponsor.

NAMA Executive Chairperson announced that the Best Acapella category has been dropped from the NAMAs due to consistent low entries over the past 3 years.

Voting for the public vote categories are now officially open.

In the Best Pan African Artist of the Year category are heavyweight Yemi Alade and Runtown (Nigeria), DJ Maphorisa, Heavy K and Cassper Nyovest (). The winner of this category will be decided by a public vote.

“I am happy to announce that 75% of the performances will be done with a full band, and 90% of the artist scheduled to perform at the main event will all be newcomers”, announced Ekandjo

1 The 2017 NAMAs will take place on the 28th and 29th April 2017 in Walvis Bay at the NDC building in Trekoppje Street. VIP tickets sell for only N$500 while general tickets sell for only N$250, Golden circle standing tickets for only N$150. The 2017 NAMAs will be simply amazing and we hope to see the entire Namibia there. The awards will be live on NBC TV, Trace TV and SoundCity to reach a global audience of over 8 million viewers. Herewith the full nominee list: Best Album of the Year Adora - As I Am Gazza - Pumumu Micheal Pulse - Pulsified T-Bozz & Staika - /Û Kham Tite Young T - Becoming King

Best Male Artist of the Year Bradley Anthony - Forever Love Dixon - Happy Place Gazza - Pumumu Jaleel - Eversinseve Micheal Pulse - Pulsified - Ependafule

Best Female Artist of the Year Adora - As I Am Doris - Self-Ish Florence - Stand Up Monique English - Since 1994 Oteya - Ondeya Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen - Juicy

Best Duo/Group of the Year Famaz Attak - Rising Sun House Guru Gang - Father Bless Us Ray x Kbrizzy - The 48 Genius Summers Satlam & M-Jay - Oxula For Success T-Bozz & Staika - /Û Kham Tite

Best Newcomer of the Year Adora - As I Am Bradley Anthony - Forever Love Jaleel - Eversinseve Micheal Pulse - Pulsified Monique English - Since 1994 Best Bradley Anthony - Ruk Hom Greg - Vluister G S - My Alles ft S-Man Swart Baster - Skoon Pa In Skoon Ma

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Best Afro Pop (inclusive of Township Disco) Doris - Boom KK - Ecstasy Oteya - All or Nothing Tangeni Kid Mario - When I Get Down ft House Guru Gang Valentino Elago - Feel It ft Amanda

Best Collaboration Adora - Ahawe ft Sally Boss Madam Famaz Attak - We Revolve Around You (Shoulder to Shoulder) ft Dice Gazza - Abangani Bako ft Emtee & Saudi N.I.A - Change ft Monique English Oteya - Sum o Dat with Cindy Sanyu

Best Damara Punch Dixon - Soa e Ha e Female Donkey - Highlights Ice Star - Sexy Tangeni Kid Mario - Sa Xu / na Ha ft Kaptein Tzwazi T-Bozz & Staika - //Nau !a ta ge ra sadu tsâsiba

Best Gospel Bradley Anthony - The Love of Christ (Eloi) D-Naff - Your Love Is ft Damiano 'Mwana Mfumu' Chilekwa & Chola Chola Khwezi - Heaven's Gate Maranatha - In Your Presence N.I.A - The Prayer ft Monique English

Best House Cho-Cho - Teka ft HHG Doris - Jawbreaker DJ Siya - Uwe Gazza - Uzongikhumbula ft Professor & Bo Denim Jaleel - Wella ft LMPC

Best Kizomba Bantusan Fari Dread & Omidi D'Afrique Ame Ou Bradley Anthony - Amor ft Joe-Kay Chiza - Official Ladie ft Dama Monique Kallefa Tjiriange - Can You Feel The Pain ft Abia Katuuo Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen - Emperor

Best Barney & Tangoz - Call My Name Nyangaz - Vamenhu Satlam & M-Jay - Sober The Multi Talented - Nelson Mandela

3 Young T - Fesha ft Voster & Wizblack

Best Music Video Adora - Chocolate Famaz Attak & Dice - We Revolve Around (Shoulder to Shoulder) Oteya - All or Nothing Sally Boss Madam - Natural Taylor Jaye -Super Chikita

Best Song with a Message Dixon - Warrior Oteya - I'm Gone Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen - Love Yourself Effy - Gods Favorite Son ft Ann Singer & Author N.I.A - Change ft Monique English

Best Oviritje Chicco Deebok - Soho...Okey DIOP - Guitar Boy GMN - Ama Gi Boss ft MBM & Tjiurimo The Legends - Uriya Muami Triple T - Triple T

Best Producer of the Year Kallo on the Beat for Adora - Ready to Fly Kboz for Adora - Ahawe ft Sally Boss Madam Sam E Lee Jones for Gazza - Pumumu Ponti for Micheal Pulse - When I Need Her Stanley 'Staika' Hangara for T-Bozz & Staika - //Nau !a ta ge ra sadu tsâsiba

Best RnB Adora - Ready To Fly Bradley Anthony - My Hero Jericho - Don't Change On Me ft Ponti Micheal Pulse - When I Need Her Monique English - Work For It

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Gazza - Abangani Bako ft Emtee & Saudi Jericho - If Only N.I.A - Change ft Monqiue English Ray x Kbrizzy - Rumour Has It Young T - Levels

Best Reggae Bantusan Fari Dread & Omidi D'Afrique - Apa Itamu Teya Florence - African Child ft Ras Sheehama Laukey - You The One ft J-Kay Seun & Natalia - I Love Jesus ft Moses

4 Sunshine - This Is Namibia

Best Shambo Laviyalava - ILeni Mutale Ndawana - Okandeshimwene ft Dama Monique Satlam & M-Jay - Odula ft D-Kandjafa Sunny Boy - My Baby ft Tequila, Swart Baster & Satlam Tunakie - Efeinge

Best Single Big Ben - Efundula Catty Catt - Hi Five Desmond - Let The Music Lady May, Dr Sid & Pex Africah - I Can't Explain Sally Boss Madam - Natural

Best Soukous/Kwasa DJ Siya - Katima Mulilo House Guru Gang - Blessings Laviyalava - Manduke Mnali - Nkulungu (Hakoye) ft Tate Buti Oteya - Village Boy

Best Traditional Christmas - Linima iiwanawa kiikala pamwe ft Kamati Docter Peter H - Victory Is Near Omsaane Niihana - Advice Shawiza - Mondabo ft Mabuza Tunakie - Keumbo

Radio Song of the Year Chester - Sabi Lady May, Dr Sid & Pex Africah - I Can’t Explain Promise - Dogo Dogo Sally Boss Madam - Natural Young T - Fikulimwe

Most Socially Responsible Artist of the Year Bradley Anthony EES Kavax The Black Chinese Lize Ehlers Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen

PUBLIC VOTE CATEGORIES

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Vote for your favourite Song of the Year by SMS’ing the shortcode to 66262 (SMSs cost N$2)

Song of the Year

Chester - Sabi (SOY1) Lady May, Dr Sid & Pex Africah - I Can’t Explain (SOY2) Promise - Dogo Dogo (SOY3) Sally Boss Madam - Natural (SOY4) Young T - Fikulimwe (SOY5)

Pan African Artist of the Year DJ Maphorisa (AAY1) Cassper Nyovest (AAY2) Yemi Alade (AAY3) Heavy K (AAY4) Runtown (AAY5)

Best Live Performance of the Year Adora - MS Diamond Festival (BLP1) Bradley Anthony - CD Launch (BLP2) KP Illest - 2016 Namibian Music Awards (BLP3) Priscilla Namibian Dessert Queen - CD Launch (BLP4) Maranatha - Benjamin Dube Show (BLP5)

Best Musical Event of the Year Doctatainment - Windhoek Spring Fiesta All White Edition (BME1) KK - Kaleidoscope/Bermuda Music Album Release Party (BME2) Oteya - Ondeya/Vigo National Tour (BME3) Ras Sheehama - Birthday Bash (BME4) Sally Boss Madam - Woman Crush Wednesday (BME5)

Radio DJ of The Year Che Ulenga (RDJ1) DJ Maldini (RDJ2) Jan De Waal (RDJ3) Lukas Nambala (RDJ4) Nashawn (RDJ5)

Entertainment Journalist of the Year NBC Adolf Kaure (EJY1) June Shimuoshili (EJY2) Melba Chipepo (EJY3) Rukee Kaakunga (EJY4)

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