Soco vs Fia, Tiwa Savage vs Simi… top Nigerian contenders for AFRIMA 2018

Nigerian artistes and songs featured prominently in the nominees’ list of the 2018 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

Nigeria is well represented in major AFRIMA categories such as song of the year and artiste of the year while Simisola ‘Simi’ Oguneleye was the only Nigerian artiste nominated for album of the year.

Davido, Wizkid(plus Starboy) and Tiwa Savage find themselves locking horns in song of the year and artiste of the year categories.

Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and South African rapper Nasty C are also nominated alongside the Nigerian trio in both categories.

Tiwa Savage and Simi are the favourites for best female artiste in West Africa but the pair will have to compete with Angelique Kidjo, Becca, Efya, among others, for the award.

In the best West African male artiste category, Davido, Olamide, Starboy, DJ Spinall and Wizkid are the top nominees, with one of them expected to take home the plaque.

Here are the Nigerian nominees in the top AFRIMA categories.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
1 Betty G (Ethiopia) Wegegta
2 Bombino (Niger) Deran
3 Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) A Boy from Tandale
4 Lartiste (Morocco) Grandestino
5 Maitre Gims (DRC) Ceinture Noire
6 Mr. Leo (Cameroon) Love Original
7 Shekhinah (South Africa) Rose Gold
8 Simi (Nigeria) Simisola

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
1 Betty G (Ethiopia) Wegegta
2 Daphne (Cameroon) My Lover
3 Davido (Nigeria) FIA
4 Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) Sikomi
5 Kwesta (South Africa) Spirit Ft. Wale
6 Maître Gims (DRC) La Meme Ft. Vianney
7 Nasty C (South Africa) Jungle
8 Saad Lamjarred (Morocco) Casablanca
9 Starboy (Nigeria) Soco Ft. Terry, Spotless, Ceeza Milli & Wizkid
10 Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) Ma Lo Ft. Wizkid & Spellz

SONG OF THE YEAR
1 Daphne — My Lover (Cameroon)
2 Davido — FIA (Nigeria)
3 GuiltyBeatz, Mr. Eazi, Patapaa & Pappy Kojo — Akwaaba (Ghana)
4 Kwesta Ft. Wale — Spirit (South Africa)
5 Maître Gims Ft. Vianney — La Meme (DRC)
6 Major Lazer & DJ Maphorisa Ft. Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking & Jidenna — Particula (South Africa)
7 Nasty C & Runtown — Said (South Africa/Nigeria)
8 Saad Lamjarred — Casablanca (Morocco)
9 Sauti Sol Ft. Patoranking — Melanin (Kenya)
10 Starboy Ft. Terry, Spotless, Ceeza Milli & Wizkid — Soco (Nigeria)
11 Tiwa Savage ft Wizkid & Spellz — Ma Lo (Nigeria)

BEST FEMALE ARTISTE IN WEST AFRICA
1 Angelique Kidjo (Benin) Once in a Lifetime
2 Aya Nakamura (Mali) Oumou Sangare
3 Becca (Ghana) Number One Ft. Mr. Eazi
4 Efya (Ghana) Mame Ft. Mr Eazi
5 Josey Cote d’Ivoire Jour J-O
6 Simi (Nigeria) Joromi
7 Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) Ma Lo Ft. Wizkid & Spellz
8 Viviane Chidid (Senegal) Marriage Force

BEST MALE ARTISTE IN WEST AFRICA
1 Davido (Nigeria) Fia
2 DJ Spinall (Nigeria) Nowo Ft. Wizkid
3 Djodje (Cape Verde) Be Mine Ft. Patoranking
4 King Promise (Ghana) CCTV Ft. Mugeez
5 Kuami Eugene (Ghana) Angela
6 Kwesi Arthur (Ghana) Grind Day Ft. Sarkodie & Medikal
7 MHD (Guinea Bella) Ft. Wizkid
8 Olamide (Nigeria) Wo!
9 Starboy (Nigeria) Soco Ft. Terry, Spotless, Ceeza Milli & Wizkid

BEST AFRICAN COLLABORATION
1 Balti Ft. Hamouda (Tunisia) Ya Lili
2 DJ Moh Green Ft. Magasco (Algeria/Cameroon) Por Favor
3 DJ Spinall & Wizkid (Nigeria) Nowo
4 Fally Ipupa Ft. KeBlack & Naza (DRC) Mannequin
5 GuiltyBeatz, Mr. Eazi, Patapaa & Pappy Kojo (Ghana/Nigeria) Akwaaba
6 Maître Gims Ft. Vianney DRC/France La Meme
7 Major Lazer & DJ Maphorisa Ft. Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking & Jidenna (US/South Africa/Nigeria) Particula
8 Nasty C & Runtown (South Africa/Nigeria) Said
9 Revolution & Magic System (Cote d’Ivoire) Kelly
10 Sauti Sol Ft. Patoranking (Kenya/Nigeria) Melanin
11 Tiwa Savage Ft Wizkid & Spellz (Nigeria) Ma Lo