MTV Africa and MTV Base has announced the return of the continental flagship award show, MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), next February 20.
The iconic MTV Base celebration (MAMA), which showcases the ultimate in African culture, music, and creativity, will be held in a re-imagined virtual format in partnership with Uganda, The Pearl of Africa.
This was disclosed via a virtual press conference on Wednesday from Johannesburg and Kampala by Monde Twala and Craig Paterson, Senior Vice Presidents and General Managers at ViacomCBS Networks Africa (VCNA).
Others are: The State Minister for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda at Ugandan Ministry of Tourism; and the CEO for the Ugandan Tourism Board, Lilly Ajarova.
The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be broadcast on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322), and MTV (DStv Channel 130).
The repeat show will also be aired on BET Africa, BET International and MTV channels across multiple continents as a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage feature.
The MAMA 2021, in partnership with Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, recognises and rewards musicians, trailblazers, and those who are shining a light on the continent’s diverse talent and creativity by instilling positive impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year.
In his view, Monde Twala, Senior Vice President & General Manager, VCNA, said, “It is an incredible honour to announce that the seventh MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be hosted by the vibrantly diverse Uganda, The Pearl of Africa for the first time.”
He expressed excitement to bring this amazing showcase to audiences across the continent and globally with an innovatively re-imagined awards show and celebration.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, content production has embraced innovation as the new gold. We are excited to take Africa to the World and showcase its immense talent and culture, as we stage the biggest music awards show on the continent,” he added.
The State Minister for Tourism Uganda, Godfrey Kiwanda, commented, “It is an incredible achievement for Uganda to host the continent and International stakeholders for the MAMA Kampala 2021 for the first time.
Twala described the awards as an extraordinary African cultural experience. “We understand the important role it plays in driving awareness, cross culture education and profiling the continent’s rich leisure tourism offerings on the international stage.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for global audiences to experience Uganda’s magnificence, the profusion of brilliant life and diverse natural wildlife, and the vast scale of entertainment, events, art, culture, cuisine, history, and shopping.
Continuing, Twala said they are also so proud to be able to highlight Uganda’s musical richness and give their talented artists the opportunity to showcase their immense talent, and the diversity of Uganda’s sounds, to music fans beyond this continent.
He hinted, “This is indeed a momentous occasion for audiences to experience Uganda as truly “the Pearl of Africa”.”
The awards ceremony will feature vibrant performances from leading African and international artists and will also showcase some of the biggest cross-genre and cross-border collaborations.
The event will celebrate African talent across 20 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song, and Best Collaboration.
The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognized in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories.
Additional new categories are: the MAMA Generation Change Award, Best Fan Base, Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance and Personality of the Year. These new categories seek to demonstrate MTV Base’s commitment to supporting the youth of Africa.
The MAMA Generation Change Award will recognise the inspiring, young changemakers of the continent who are tackling some of the world’s most challenging social problems.
The Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance recognizes outstanding performances that took place virtually by celebrating artists who took to streaming services to share their music and unite society during the unprecedented 2020 Lockdown.
While the category selection criteria is from last year October 1 to October 1 this year, the organisers say nominees would be announced this December. And music lovers will have their say by voting for their favourite stars online.
The engaging Q&A discussion included accomplished Ugandan artist Bebe Cool, highly skilled songstress Sheebah Karungi together with talented South African rapper Nasty C.
The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 is brought to you by Uganda, The Pearl of Africa in an effort to promote tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage conservation for the socio-economic development and transformation of Uganda.
Sustainable tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage will contribute to transforming Uganda into a modern and prosperous nation.
Craig Paterson, Senior Vice President & General Manager, VCNA, continued, “The latest edition of the MAMA promises to be our biggest and most innovative yet. Millions of fans worldwide will enjoy the digitally re-imagined celebration and African music via multiple broadcasts globally.
“We are excited to partner Uganda to bring viewers a unique format and experience that positions Africa’s diverse heritage and digital innovation.”
Always celebrating the pan-African scope of the MAMA, the awards will encompass three pulsating Road to MAMA broadcasts featuring MAMA nominees from across the continent.
The MAMA Kampala 2021 brings the much-anticipated music industry workshops in a virtual format for the continent’s aspiring musicians, youth upskilling and development.
First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards has recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and game changers such as 2Face Idibia, AKA, Anselmo Ralph, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Clarence Peters, Cabo Snoop, Davido, and D’Banj.
Others on the list are: Diamond Platnumz, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet, HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Lira, Lupita Nyong’o, Mafikizolo Nameless, P-Square, Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Toofan, Trevor Noah, Uhuru, Wahu, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, Zebra & Giraffe and many more.
MTV Base is a 24-hour English language music television channel reaching 48.5 million African viewers in 10.5 million households across 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
MTV Base is across Africa on satellite (pay-TV) on DStv and GTV (pan-Africa), and on terrestrial television on partner stations, TV3 (Ghana), NTV (Kenya), Silverbird TV (Nigeria), Hi TV (Nigeria) and NTV (Uganda).
