Ghana’s M3nsa,Tinny, Wanlov join other top African acts to compete for this year’s MOBO Award for Best African Act. The nominations were announced recently and Tinie Tempah, N-Dubz, Professor Green, Plan B and Dizzee Rascal received the most nominations at this year’s awards in association with Lebara Mobile.

Celebrating its 15th year, the MOBO Awards has helped champion the extraordinary rise of urban music over the past two decades from niche to now leading the UK charts, and will celebrate the cream of British artists from the past year at its star-studded ceremony in Liverpool, on October 20th.

South London rapper Tinie Tempah, leads this year’s nominations having exploded onto the music scene in 2010, earning himself a staggering 4 nominations for Best Newcomer, Best UK Act, Best Video and Best Song in association with PRSforMusic for his number 1 single “Pass Out”.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the MOBO Awards in the UK, this year’s Best UK Act in association with Lebara Mobile, Best International Act, and Best African Act will all start off with 15 nominations each, giving talent the chance to be voted into the ultimate top 5 within their chosen category.

All of this year’s categories will be voted for by the public with the exception of both Best Jazz Act and Best Gospel Act – winners in these categories will be selected by specialists in these areas as part of the music panel.

Meanwhile the MOBO Tour is set to hit six of the UK’s hottest cities over six days between 13th October and 19th October 2010. By arrangement with Coda and SJM, the tour will be headlined by DJ and Boy Better Know frontmant, Skepta. The chart-topping emcee will take to the stage alongside a host of fresh, new urban talent. Also on the line is Aggro Santos, Donae’o, Scorcher, Mz Bratt, Jodie Connor, Maverick Sabre, Rough Diamondz, and Angel

And the nominees are…..

Best Newcomer

Tinie Tempah Professor Green Scorcher Labrinth Devlin

Best UK R&B / Soul

Sade Natalie Williams Corinne Bailey Rae McLean Plan B

Best UK Hip Hop / Grime

Giggs Professor Green Skepta Akala Wiley

Best International Act

Drake Alicia Keys Jay Z Rihanna Eminem Janelle Monae Black Eyed Peas Nicki Minaj Ne-Yo Usher Beyonce Jason Derulo Lil Wayne Travie McCoy Trey Songz

Best Reggae

Damian Marley Mavado GYPTIAN Vybz Kartel GAPPY RANKS

Best Album

Plan B – “The Defamation of Strickland Banks” JLS – “JLS” N-Dubz “Against All Odds” Chipmunk –“I Am Chipmunk” Dizzee Rascal – “Tongue in Cheek”

Best Video – In association with MTV Base

Mark Ronson & The Business INTL ft Q-Tip & MNDR – “Bang, Bang, Bang” Tinie Tempah ft Labrinth – “Frisky” Tinchy Stryder – “You’re Not Alone” Alesha Dixon – “Drummer Boy” Dizzee Rascal – “Dirtee Disco”

Best UK Act – In association with Lebara Mobile

Tinie Tempah Jay Sean Tinchy Stryder Taio Cruz Chipmunk N-Dubz Giggs JLS Roll Deep M.I.A Dizzee Rascal Alexandra Burke Sade Plan B Leona Lewis

Best Song – In association with PRS for Music

Taio Cruz ft Ke$ha – “Dirty Picture” Tinie Tempah – “Pass Out” N-Dubz ft Mr Hudson – “Playing With Fire” Mark Ronson & The Business INTL ft Q-Tip & MNDR – “Bang, Bang, Bang” Professor Green ft Ed Drewett – “I Need You Tonight”

Best African Act

K’Naan P-Square Hip Hop Pantsula JJC Banky W. Concha Buika Mulatu Astatke Wanlov the Kubolor Angélique Kidjo M3NSA Yuri Da Cunha Tinny Waldemar Bastos Staff Benda Bilili BLK JKS

Best Jazz Act

Robert Glasper Brad Mehldau Empirical Phronesis John McLaughlin

Best Gospel

Faith Child Guvna B Rachel Kerr Jake Isaac Beverley Trotman