Ghanaians & Sarkodie Fans: This Is How To Vote For Sarkodie At The MTV Africa Music Awards With Zain

As the only Ghanaian to be nominated in the upcoming 3^rd edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain, I’m sure Ghanaians would want to know how they can vote for him to triumph over his competitors.

The Ghana Music Awards 2010 multiple awards winner Sarkodie has been nominated in the ‘Best Anglophone‘ category alongside Bumper To Bumper singer Wande Coal of Nigeria, Kenyan’s Daddy Owen and Big Nuz from South Africa.

Sarkodie’s nominations means, he is the fourth Ghanaian to have been nominated in the awards since it’s inception in 2008. Kwaw Kese and Ofori Amponsah was the first Ghanaian to get nominations in the maiden edition. They were nominated in the ‘Best New Act’ and ‘Listener’s Choice Award’ categories respectively but failed to win it.

And If Sarkodie wins in his category, he will be the second Ghanaian artist to win a MAMA award after Samini’s triumph last year as ‘Best Performer’ in Africa.

To vote for Sarkodie, just visit www.mama.mtvbase.com or www.mtvmama.mobi. For Zain users in Ghana, this is how you can vote. To vote for Best Anglophone Act text BA, followed by Sarkodie to Zain short code 6262.

The Rest Of Africa for Zain Subscribers:
To vote for your favourite artists in the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain, go to www.mama.mtvbase.com or www.mtvmama.mobi.  Zain mobile subscribers in GHANA, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Congo B, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, DRC and Chad can also vote for their favourite artists in selected categories via SMS.

To vote for Artist of the Year text AY to short code 6262 followed by the name of your chosen artist.

To vote for Song of the Year text SY to short code 6262 followed by the name of your chosen song.

To vote for Best Anglophone Act text BA to short code 6262 followed by the name of your chosen artist.

To vote for Best Francophone Act text BFR to short code 6262 followed by the name of your chosen artist.

To vote for Best Lusophone Act text BL to short code 6262 followed by the name of your chosen artist.

To vote for Best Group text BG to short code 6262 followed by the name of your chosen artist.

To vote for Best Female text BF to short code 6262 followed by the name of your chosen artist.

To vote for Best Male text BM to short code 6262 followed by the name of your chosen artist.

To vote for Brand:New Act text BNA to short code 6262 followed by the name of your chosen artist.

Good News For Zain Customers As Zain MTV Africa Music Awards Looks Promising This Year!

MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) is an award scheme that was conceived three years ago, in 2008. The award is called MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain. This is a result of the telecommunication company being part of the brain behind it and also a proud sponsor. Like any other award, this award was set up with the sole aim of celebrating contemporary African music.

MAMAs Set Up:

The awards which are also aimed at awarding creativity and excellence in the African Music Industry was set up in 2008 with a collaborative effort between Zain Africa and MTV Network Africa. The two companies came together in order to recognize musical talent on the African continent and award them. It also offers a major promotional platform for the African music industry players to excel to the highest level of their creativity.

Previous Editions

The maiden edition of the show was held on November, 2008 at Velodrome in Abuja, Nigeria. It was also hosted by Trevor Nelson. Haitian musician Wyclef Jean hosted the second edition of the awards which was held at the gymnasium of the Moi International Sports Centre complex in Nairobi, Kenya on October 10, 2009.

This year’s edition happens to be the 3^rd edition and is scheduled to take place on Saturday 11^th December, 2010 at the Eko Expo Hall, Lagos, Nigeria. One unique thing about this year’s award show is that, as part of their social responsibility and deepening the relationship with their customers (users of Zain) and with the media in Ghana, Zain has arranged a competition. This will enable its customers the opportunity to partake, win and experience the awards live in Nigeria.

About The Competition:
Zain telecom on daily basis will give one lucky customer the chance to win a trip to Nigeria to watch MAMAs plus spending money of 500USD. Some other  prizes to be won by customers are nokia handsets and Zain talk time.

Also in the weekly draws, customers will get the opportunity to win GHC2.000. To end the competition on the final draw, one lucky customer will win an all expenses paid trip to Nigeria, a VIP ticket for the event and spending money of GHC15.000.

There will be 56 daily draws and 8 weekly draws to make way for the grand draw on the 5^th of December 2010. This competition is a demonstration of Zain’s commitment and determination in appreciating subscriber’s loyalty to the Zain brand.

How to Enter the Competition:
If you are a subscriber of Zain, you just have to send your name to Zain Short Code 6262. To confirm your participation, entertainment questions, which is musically related, will be sent to you to answer.

You then accumulate points with every question you answer and the more points you acquire, the greater your chances of winning. It doesn’t matter if you get the answers wrong, the most important thing is to get the points, which will do the magic for you.

Artistes to Rock the 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards With Zain
Nigerian’s R&B artist Banky W is the first Nigerian artist booked to perform at this year’s awards. His video, ‘Strong Ting’ has been nominated in the ‘Best Video’ category alongside fellow Nigerians P-Square featuring Jay Martins with ‘E No Easy’. Also in the category is Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Fally Ipupa with ‘Sexy Dance’. The Parlotones with ‘Life Design’ from South Africa completes the category.

Teargas, South African Kwaito/rap group will be representing their country on their MAMA debut. The group is nominated in the ‘Best Group’ category alongside Nigeria’s P-Square, Radio & Weasle from Uganda and P-Unit representing Kenya.

‘Best Anglophone’ nominee Daddy Owen, a gospel singer from Kenya. He was nominated with Ghana’s Sarkodie, Nigeria’s Wande Coal and Big Nuz from South Africa.

Fally Ipula from Democratic Republic of Congo will also mount the MAMA stage, which makes it his second appearance. The Congolese star was nominated in the following categories ‘Artist of the Year’, ‘Best Francophone’, ‘Best Male’ and ‘Best Video’ with Sexy Dance.

Click here for the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) 2010 Nominees.

Video: Black Stars Players Asamoah Gyan, Dede Ayew, John Panstil & Co. Endorses Ghana Movie Awards 2010

“Meet us and let’s celebrate our friends” was a call up message from Black Star players Andre Dede Ayew, John Panstil, Lee Addy, Kodwo Asamoah, Jonathan Mensah and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu.

The players have collectively endorsed the 2010 Ghana Movie Awards and calling all their fans to be at the event scheduled on Christmas day 25^th December, 2010.

Striker and Sunderland player Asamoah Gyan also known as ‘Baby Jet’ will partner with Castro as they perform their hit track ‘African Girls’. It’s a show which will go down memory lane as one of the best parties of the season.



32 golden statuettes will be presented to deserving personalities in the movie industry. Meanwhile, the Best Actor and the Best Actress will each take home a new Zotye SUV donated by Feiya Engineering Ghana Ltd.

Watch the video below …

Iwan, The Lyrical Gunshot Remembers Terry ‘Adjetey’ Bonchaka

Earlier on Saturday morning, I had visited the tomb of my late dad at the La Cemetery behind the Trade Fair Centre, since it’s a stone throw away from the late Terry ‘Adjetey’ Bonchaka’s tomb, I made a stop over to check on him. I reminisced some years back before his demise and I said to myself Ghana has lost a musical genius.

Little did I know that at the Joy FM Old Skuul Reunion, a performance would be dedicated to him.


At the Joy FM Old Skuul Reunion last Saturday, musicians upon musicians mounted the big stage to perform to the large crowds that had besieged the venue but not all of them gave out a lasting performance to stay in the minds of the people.

Majority of them will be forgotten so far as their output to the event and performances were concerned. Many were called but only few were counted after the show.

Iwan, the Lyrical Gunshot is one of the few artists who will be remebered. The dance hall artist excelled with his performance. Even just before he was announced as the next performer, the cheers confirmed his acceptance in the music industry.

During his performance, Iwan remembered the late Terry Adjetey, who was known as Terry Bonchaka. This shows that indeed Iwan recognizes his late compatriot’s contribution to the music game.

Iwan was possibly nursing his musical dreams when Terry Bonchaka was in his element but that didn’t preclude him for remembering the late young musician.

The dance hall artist launched his debut album ‘My Time’ couple of months back and he is gunning for two awards at the upcoming second edition of the 4Stye Music Awards scheduled for November 20, 2010. He has been nominated in the ‘Discovery Of The Year’ and the ‘Best Reggae Video Of The Year’ with his track ‘Me Gurl Love Me’.

Terry seems like to have been forgotten but he is still on Iwan’s radar because of the resemblance of the time of music. Terry died in October 2003.

Rest In Peace Terry Bonchaka! Long Life To Iwan, The Lyrical Gunshot! Long Life To Ghana Music.

Watch videos of Terry Bonchaka

MTV Africa Music Awards With Zain Update: 2Face, Cabo Snoop & DJ Arafat Joins Performers

MAMA logo

Three musicians have been confirmed by the organizers of the MTV Africa Music Awards With Zain to perform at the 2010 edition of the awards, which is slated for the Saturday 11^th December, 2010 at the Eko Expo Hall, Lagos, Nigeria.

The musicians are Nigerian’s 2Face Idibia, Angolan’s musician Cabo Snoop and Cote d’Ivoire’s DJ Arafat. The organizers, MTV Networks Africa and Zain confirmed this in a press release to the media few days after the nominations.
2Face, Cabo Snoop and DJ Arafat joins the already announced performers Daddy Owen, Teargas, Fally Ipupa and Banky W.


2Face is a Nigerian musician who has won several awards on this way to the top, including MOBOs (Music Of Black Origin), World Music Award, a KORA award among many others.

According to MTV Base, 2Face’s hit track ‘African Queen’ was the first music video to be played on the network when it was launched in 2005. The track picked ‘Best R&B’ song at the 2^nd edition of the awards in Kenya last year.

2Face with MAMA award

Cabo Snoop, the Angolan musician was appointed MTV Base ‘Brand New’ artist for October 2010. Cabo draws inspiration and blends Hip Hop, R&B, Break Dance and House Music. His single ‘Windeck’ has had lots of radio rotation across the continent and currently topping charts in Angola.

Cabo Snoop

DJ Arafat is from Cote D’Ivoire and one of the artists ruling the Francophone
Africa music industry. The 24 years old Ivorian known as ‘Le Yoroba’ has an impeccable musical ancestry, with the singer Tina Spencer for his mother and celebrated producer Houon Pierre as his dad.

He is one of the artists whose presence on the internet is tremendous as his first single ‘Kpangor’ was an instant hit online. His recent single ‘Djessimidjéka’ is currently getting heavyweight airplay on MTV base.

DJ Arafat

Past Winners:

Below are list of previous winners of the awards ….
Amani (Best Female 2009)
Nameless (Best Male/Listener’s Choice 2009)
Samini (Best Performer 2009)
P Square (Best Group 2009)
Zebra & Giraffe (Best Alternative Act 2009)
M.I. (Best Hip Hop/Best New Act 2009)
2Face (Best R&B)
D’banj (Artist of the Year 2008/2009)
HHP (Best Video 2009)
Lucky Dube (MAMA Legend 2009).

The MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain nomination was opened to all soloist and groups who have received airplay on MTV Base or MTV during the qualifying period from 30 June 2009 to 31 August 2010.

The nomination was opened to 47 out of the 53 countries in Africa which includes  Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Comores, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, GHANA, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St Helena, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The award is believed to bring the whole of Africa together under umbrella to celebrate their musical achievements.

Zain is the proud sponsor of 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards in association with MasterCard.  Arik Air is the official airline partner of the awards.

Click here for the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) 2010 Nominees.

Okyeame Kwame To Rock Sunyani, Kumasi & Takoradi With ‘OK In Your Zone’ Tour

MTN and Coca Cola brand ambassador, Ghana Music Awards 2009 ‘Artiste Of The Year’, Master Lyricist and Universal Linguist, CEO of One Mic Entertainment, Graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, happy husband, proud father and enigmatic entertainer Kwame Nsiah Apau, known as Okyeame Kwame in the entertainment circles in the Ghanaian music industry is embarking on a musical tour dubbed ‘OK In Your Zone’.

The tour, organized by his ‘One Mic Entertainment’ will take the Rap Doctor to three cities namely, Sunyani, Kumasi and Takoradi. The tour commences on the 19th of November 2010 at Sunyani. Kumasi follows next on the 27th November 2010 and climaxes on the 3rd of December. The tour will gradually make its way to the other regions.


So far, the Okyeame Kwame foundation has been responsible for free screenings, awareness creation and education to several communities in Ghana including, Ayigya, KNUST, Nkawkaw, Ayeduase, British council in Accra and Takoradi and with funds raised from this tour, the clinics would be extended to other places in the country.

Okyeame Kwame who recently graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology as a linguist believes that, health promotion is very necessary to entertainment in Ghana since his success as a musician will heavily depend on a healthy fan base.

The 2009 GMA artiste of the year further in an interview urged all his admirers to massively support the “OK in your Zone!!!” tour since it is aimed at creating wealth through health for the people of Ghana.

Purpose Of The Tour:
One of the reasons for the tour is to raise more funds for the Okyeame Kwame Foundation to support the free screening of the Hepatitis B, awareness creation and education. These screenings which are termed the “Clinics” have been in existence for the past year and there is the hope to carry it nationwide to the deprived and underprivileged in the society.

The other reason is that the Rap Doctor has released two hot singles.

Supporting Artistes:
The rapper will be supported by his fellow MTN brand ambassador Samini, his brothers Bradez as well as Morris D’Voice, Kwaku Gyasi, Richie, Kwabena Kwabena, Obuor, Iwan, OJ Blaq, Tattoo, Andy (Mentor), Lady Prempeh, Mimi, Bertha, Rose (Mentor), Eazzy, Funky Africans, Laxio, Ko-jo and The Palmwine Music Legend, Agya Koo Nimo (Dr. Amponsah).

Sponsor:
The tour is sponsored by MTN, the nation’s giant telecommunication network.

MTV Africa Music Awards With Zain: After The Success Of Samini, Sarkodie Gets One Nomination

The nominations for the 3^rd edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards With Zain was unveiled yesterday in afar away De Marquee, Lagos, Nigeria. The event was attended by mostly artists, nominees and celebrities.

After winning the MAMA Best Africa Performer for the year 2009, Samini might have opened the way for his fellow compatriot Sarkodie, as the rapper who is touted as the fasted rapper in Ghana gets his first MAMA nomination in the ‘Best Anglophone’ category.

Sarkodie is nominated alongside Wande Coal of Nigeria, Daddy Own of Kenya and South Africa’s Big Nuz. Aside that Nigeria came out on top with 13 nominations.

The award is scheduled for Saturday 11^th December, 2010 at the Eko Expo Centre, Lagos, Nigeria.

Below is the full list of nominees 



Best Video
Fally Ipupa – Sexy dance (DRC)
P-Square f/t J. Martins- E No Easy (Nigeria)
The Parlotones – Life Design (South Africa)
Banky W – Strong Ting (Nigeria)

Brand New
Mo Cheddah (Nigeria)
Diamond (Tanzania)
Muthoni (Kenya)
JoJo (Gabon)

Artist of The Year
2 Face (Nigeria)
P-Square (Nigeria)
Jozi (South Africa)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)

Song Of The Year
D’Banj – Fall In Love (Nigeria)
Liquideep – Fairytale (South Africa)
JR – Show Dem (South Africa)
Banky W – Lagos Party (Nigeria)

Best Anglophone (English Speaking)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Wande Coal (Nigeria)
Daddy Owen (Kenya)
Big Nuz (South Africa)

Best Francophone (French)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Awadi (Senegal)
DJ Arafat (Ivory Coast)
Ba Ponga (Gabon)

Best Lusophone (Portuguese Speaking)
Lizha James (Mozambique)
Paul G (Angola)
Cabo Snoop (Angola)
Dama Do Bling (Mozambique)

Best Group
P-Square (Nigeria)
Radio & Weasle (Uganda)
Teargas (South Africa)
P-Unit (Kenya)

Best Female
Sasha (Nigeria)
Lizha James (Mozambique)
Nneka (Nigeria)
Barbara Kanam (DRC)

Best Male
2 Face (Nigeria)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Black Coffee (South Africa)
Wande Coal (Nigeria)

Best International
Rihanna (USA)
Drake (USA)
Eminem (USA)
Rick Ross (USA)

Congrats to all the nominees especially Sarkodie....