With its date inching close, the 13-man Jury of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, has unveiled the nominees for its 2016 edition. The nominees were unveiled on Monday, August 22, at the Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos with live online broadcast.

According to the moderator of the adjudication process, Mr. Mike Strano, about 2700 entries from African music professionals were received during the period of May 20, 2015 to July 30, 2016. Describing the nominations process as careful and thorough, Mr. Strano harped on the jury’s resolve to be fair and transparent.

Speaking further, Strano, who is the Regional Director, Eastern Africa/Co-Producer, AFRIMA said; “There are 34 categories of the award but only 10 are released today August 22, which are the regional categories. A new category introduced this year is the “People’s Choice Award” which comes out from a healthy debate by the International Committee of AFRIMA and the jury.”

The Best Female Artistes and Best Male Artistes of the five regions have been released while the nominees in the continental categories will follow suit seven days after.

Slugging it out for the Best Male Artiste, Western Africa category are some of Nigeria’s finest; Brymo (In The City), Flavour (Dance), Tekno (Duro) and Wizkid, (Final Baba Nla). They will be going against their Ghanaian and Malian counterparts, Okyeame Kwame (Small Small), Sarkodie (Hand to Mouth) and Sidikiba Diabate Fais Moi (Confiance).

For the Best Female Artiste, Western Africa category, Nigeria’s Aramide, Seyi Shay, Temi Doll Face, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Niniola will be slugging it out with Senegal’s Adiouza and Ivory Coast’s Josey.

In attendance were officials of the African Union Commission, members of the AFRIMA jury, members of the International Committee of AFRIMA, past AFRIMA winners and nominees, media executives and other stakeholders in the creative/entertainment industries of Africa.