Kenya's Daddy Owen scoops MTV award

When Wahu Kagwi won the inaugural Mama in 2008, the Kenyan music industry came to a standstill.

A new wave of music had just hit the scene. Husband Nameless was proudly supporting Wahu, whose ratings sky-rocketed.

In 2009, Kenya moved up the ladder, bagging three awards, two of them by Nameless!

Fast forward to 2010 and Kenya’s best gospel act, Daddy Owen aka Papa Fololo, made history when he bagged the award for best Anglophone artiste, becoming the first gospel artiste in Africa to compete with and beat secular artistes.

Congolese Fally Ipupa and Nigeria’s 2Face led the winners at the third edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards (Mama) with Airtel, each taking home two trophies.

In a well-orchestrated two-and a half hour show, Africa once again took part in an event that saw the best of musical world.

Starring were female bad gal of rap aka Eve, footballer-turned-entertainer Omokachi, joined by T-Pain and America’s king or hardcore rap producer Rick Ross, in Nigeria’s Eko Hote Suits Expo Hall.

The awards opened with an explosive performance by Hip Hop heavyweight, Rick Ross, and closed with an unforgettable rendition of Win featuring T-Pain, Rick Ross, Da LES and 2Face.

In keeping with the tradition, the show featured an array of electrifying collaborations between artistes from different parts of the continent, mixing up music genres, language and cultures in an unprecedented extravaganza of African talent.

Nigeria’s 2Face hooked up with South African rock outfit The Parlotones.

The performance of Banky W’s ‘Lagos Party’ saw South Africa’s Big Nuz, Angola’s Cabo Snoop and Paul G and DRC’s Barbara Kanam rocking the house with the first ever truly pan-African version of the hit track.

Speaking after receiving his trophy, Kenya’s Daddy Owen said: “I thank God, my brother Mr Iggy Iggy aka Rufftone, Arthur K, my producers and everyone who has lifted me here. I thank my God and personal saviour. I’m so happy…”

In an emotional speech Owen, dedicated the win to his fans. He was escorted to the stage by Danko with whom he has collaborated on the winning track ‘Tobina’.

Other artistes who caused excitement included last year’s best new act Fally Ipupa.

Nominated in four separate categories, Fally Ipupa scored wins for Best Video (“Sexy Dance”) and Best Francophone act while 2Face, a former 2009 Mama winner, picked up trophies for Artiste of the Year and Best Male.

Cabo Snoop notched up a music first for Angola by becoming the first Angolan winner at Mama 2010, taking home the prize for Best Lusophone act.

Song of the Year was won by South African pop/R&B outfit Liquideep for their hauntingly lovely ‘Fairytale’.

New Mama award category, Best Performance, was won by Big Nuz, the South African house trio, who are making waves all over the continent.

Nigerian vocalist Sasha scored Nigeria’s first win in the Best Female category after Kenyan dominance over the last two years.

Nigerian R&B duo P-Square (Nigeria) added yet another Mama trophy to their awards cabinet, taking home Best Group for the third year running.

The prestigious Best International act was received by Eminem who accepted the award via satellite from the US. Miriam Makeba won the Mama Legend award posthumously.

List of winners at MTV Africa Music Awards:

- Best Video : Fally Ipupa "Sexy Dance" (Democratic RCongo)

- Best Artist : 2Face (Nigeria)

- Best Anglophone : Daddy Owen (Kenya)

- Best Lusophone : Cabo Snoop (Angola)

- Best Francophone : Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)

- Best Female : Sasha (Nigeria)

- Best Male : 2Face (Nigeria)

- Best Song of the year : Liquideep "Fairytale" (South Africa)`

- Best Group : PSquare (Nigeria)

- Best International : Eminem (US)