Nameless and Amani feted at MTV music awards

Nameless made Kenya proud by winning in two categories at the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs), held at the Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi. He was voted the Best Male artiste while his song, Sunshine, won in the Listeners’ Choice category.

Kenya’s Amani also won in the Best Female category, an award that was won last year by Nameless’ wife, Wahu. Wahu, who was nominated in the Best Video category, lost to South African hip-hop artiste, Hip-Hop Pantzula (HHP). The other Kenyan nominee, STL, lost to Nigeria’s MI in the Best New Act category.

Besides Nameless, MI was the only other artiste to have won two awards. He also won in the Best Hip-hop category. Other winners on Saturday night included Nigeria’s richest musician, D’Banj, who won the Artiste of the Year award against compatriot 2 Face Idibia, Kenya’s Nameless, and South Africa’s HHP and Lira.

The best group award went to Nigeria’s P-Square, twins who performed in Nairobi last year. The duet, through a televised link, thanked all their fans for voting for them. They were the only winners absent at the ceremony. Ghana’s dancehall star, Samini, bagged the Best Performer award. He had been pitted against Nigeria’s P-Square and D’Banj, Uganda’s Blue 3 and Kenya’s Nameless.

The Best Alternative award went to South African rock band Zebra & Giraffe. In the My Video category, where music fans across Africa had been asked to submit their own raw videos to MTV, Patricke-Stevie Moungondo from Congo-Brazzaville bagged the award.

Reggae legend

The awards were dedicated to South African reggae legend, Lucky Dube, who died in October, 2007. His son, Thokozani Dube, was present to receive the Legendary award. This was the biggest award ceremony Kenya has ever held, according to showbiz experts. The expertise involved was world class and performances were unimaginable.

By 5.30pm, the stars had already started streaming into the venue via the red carpet. The event started at 7.15pm and ended at 10.45pm. Thereafter, there was an after party at Blue Times Club.