From Across the Continent, the Music Plays On as Stars go Home with MAMA: 2009 Winners and Photos

The 2nd annual MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) held yesterday 10th October 2009 at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The exciting event was hosted by Wyclef Jean and co-headlined by Senegalese/American star Akon.
Nameless (Kenya) and M.I. (Nigeria) were the big winners of the evening at the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain. The two artists took home two trophies each at the pan-African music celebration, held at the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani, Kenya.

Nameless won the coveted Best Male artist category at the Awards, which honours and celebrates Africa’s contemporary music stars, as well as the Listener’s Choice category which recognizes the biggest radio hits of the year. M.I. clinched an impressive duo, scoring for Best New Act and Best Hip Hop.

Best Female went to Kenyan star Amani, making it two in a row for Kenyan female performers after Wahu’s win in Abuja in 2008.

Ghanaian star Samini put dancehall firmly on the map with a win for Best Performer, a fitting tribute to his trademark high energy live performances. Artist of the Year went to D’Banj – showing the Nigerian star remains at the top of his game after a triple win in 2008 and his MTV Europe Music Awards win in 2007.

African artists scored three awards: MAMA Legend (Lucky Dube), HHP (Best Video) and Zebra & Giraffe (Best Alternative).

Host Wyclef Jean set the uplifting tone for the evening with an electrifying live set including monster hits ‘Sweetest Girl’, ‘No Woman No Cry‘ and ‘Ready or Not’.

Hip hop phenomenon Akon, making a long anticipated trip to Kenya, rose to the challenge, rousing the crowd with a show-stopping version of his track, Beautiful.

Dr Saad Al Barrak, CEO of Zain, the co-sponsor of the MAMAs, said the evening confirmed the huge talent that Africa possesses and the influence it had upon the world of music. “Much of the music we listen to today has its roots in this great continent. I cannot emphasize strongly enough what a privilege it is for Zain to lend its name to such an event. In doing so, we are both keeping alive the flame of Africa’s cultural consciousness and delivering on our promise to bring you “A wonderful world.”

In keeping with the show’s purpose of bringing Africa together, the MAMA awards featured multiple collaborations between artists from different countries and music genres – mixing up hip hop with R&B, alternative, soul and dancehall, among others. Among the collaborations thrilling the 4,000 strong crowd was a three way tie-up featuring HHP, Brickz and 2FACE, and a stunning collaboration between Kenyan divas Amani and Wahu and Tanzania’s A.Y. and a dramatic hip-hop/rock mash-up between Zebra & Giraffe and Da LES.

The evening closed with a moving performance of Michael Jackson’s crowd pleaser ‘Wanna Be Starting Something’ with Akon and all the other performers.

The My Video Award was won by Patricke-Stevie Moungondo from Congo Brazzaville, who beat thousands of amateur singers to win the coveted MAMA trophy, in the form of a ‘retro/futuristic’ microphone balanced on top of a globe of the world with Africa poised symbolically at the top.

Among the many show highlights were Wyclef’s opening number and a touching tribute to MAMA Legend Award winner Lucky Dube by Wyclef, Nameless and Samini, in honour of the iconic South African reggae star tragically killed in 2007. The ‘One Time’ star also called attention to the plight of the 17 million people in East Africa affected by drought and famine.

Performers at MAMA 2009 included Akon, Wahu, M.I., Samini, HHP, Da L.E.S, Zebra & Giraffe, Lizha James, STL, Amani, Nameless, A.Y., Lira, 2Face and Blu*3.

Guest presenters included Zamajobe, Kel, Redsan, Churchill, the cast of the MTV Staying Alive Ignite TV series, Shuga.

News Source: Zain
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Kenyan musician Amani (real name: Cecilia Wairimu) won the Best Female Act award for her song 'Tonight'

Best Female
Kel (Nigeria)
Amani (Kenya) – Winner
Lira (South Africa)
Zamajobe (South Africa)
Lizha James (Mozambique)

Nigerian act 2Face performs at the 2009 MAMAs. 2Face clinched the Best R&B award

Best R&B
2 Face (Nigeria) – Winner
Darey Art Alade (Nigeria)
Loyiso (South Africa)
Beyoncé (USA)
Akon (USA)

Ugandan girlband Blu*3 performed clad in edgy all-black outfits

Akon and Wyclef pulled some hijinks! Akon stuffed the mic in his boxers while Wyclef stripped down. Seriously just looks WRONG

South Africa's HHP won the Best Video award. Wyclef called HHP back onstage to commend him on his work

Best Video
2Face – Enter The Place (Nigeria)
XOD – I Want You Back (Uganda)
HHP – Mpitse (South Africa) – Winner
Da L.E.S. – We on Fire (South Africa)
Wahu ft Bobi Wine – Little Things You Do (Kenya)

MI was one of the night's big winners. He won 2 awards - Best New Act and Best Hip Hop

The Chocolate City is on fire! MI, Ice Prince, Audu Maikori celebrate with MI

Best New Act
M.I. (Nigeria) – Winner
Shaa (Tanzania)
STL (Kenya)
Bigiano (Nigeria)
Rhythmic Elements (South Africa)

Best Hip Hop
M.I. (Nigeria) – Winner
A.Y. (Tanzania)
Zulu Boy (South Africa)
Jay-Z (USA)
Kanye West (USA)

D'Banj reenacts his signature 'awards win' pose. D'Banj won Artiste of the Year for the 2nd Year running

Artist of The Year
2 Face (Nigeria)
D’banj (Nigeria) – Winner
Lira (South Africa)
HHP (South Africa)
Nameless (Kenya)

2008 Best Female Act Wahu performs for the MAMA audience

Fally Ipupa entertains the crowd

SA's Zebra and Giraffe won Best Alternative Act

Best Alternative
Green Day (USA)
Coldplay (UK)
Cassette (South Africa)
Zebra & Giraffe (South Africa) – Winner
Aking (South Africa)

Keepin' it in the family. Kenya's Nameless won 2 MAMAs. His wife Wahu also performed

MAMA Listeners’ Choice
Nameless – Winner
Best Male
2 Face (Nigeria)
HHP (South Africa)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
Nameless (Kenya) – Winner
Da L.E.S. (South Africa)

Ghana's Samini won the Best Performer award

Best Performer
P-Square (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
Samini (Ghana) – Winner
Nameless (Kenya)
Blu*3 (Uganda)

Thokozani Dube picks up the posthumous MAMA Legend Award for his father Lucky Dube

MAMA Legend Award
Lucky Dube – Winner

Best Group
P-Square (Nigeria) – Winner
Blu*3 (Uganda)
Gang of Instrumentals (South Africa)
Mo Hits Allstars (Nigeria)
Gal Level (Namibia)

Congolese Music fan Patricke-Stevie Moungondo beat thousands of music fans who submitted entries to win the MAMA MyVideo Award

BN Red Carpet Fab – MAMAs 2009

Newlywed SA music star Lira dazzles in red

Kenyan supermodel Ajuma rocks the ankara top

Akon goes for the all white suit

Namibian girlgroup Gal Level keep it short and sexy

MI shows that he has the fashion chops to match the music talent in his crisp white shirt, grey waistcoat and black Wayfarers

Blu*3 went all out in bling, black and metallics

Best Dressed of the Night - D'Banj in a trifecta of winning looks

Winner List: NotJustOK
Photo Credit: Getty Images & Zimbio