Season 1
Conceived as the ultimate celebration of African contemporary music talent, the MTV Africa Music Awards provide a promotional platform for the burgeoning African music industry.
The awards champion, support and empower African talent by broadcasting their music around the world via MTV's global multimedia network.
The awards were preceded by four concerts dubbed "The Road To MAMAs" celebrating the musicians nominated for the awards. Thee concerts featured international and local nominees and took place in Johanesburg (5 November), Nairobi (9 November), Kinshasa (13 November) and Lagos (15 November).
The awards focus on contemporary African and international genres loved by the MTV audience in sub-Saharan Africa including hip-hop, R&B, rock, Afro Pop, Afro Beat, kwaito, bongo flava, dancehall, soul and funk.
Categories
Artist of the Year
Best Alternative
Best Female
Best Group
Best Hip-Hop
Best Live Performance
Best Male
Best New Act
Best R&B
Video of the Year
My Video*
* In an award category dedicated to the 'MeTV' digital generation, MTV Base introduced the My Video Award to salute music videos created for and by MTV viewers.
The category gives armchair directors the opportunity of entering their work into the awards and sharing it with MTV viewers.
Viewers were invited to submit their own music videos (using a pre-approved song list), which were posted on the MAMAs website and voted on by readers of the website.
2008 Winners
Best Female
Wahu (Kenya)
Asa (Nigeria)
Dama Do Bling (Mozambique)
Sasha (Nigeria)
Zonke (South Africa)
Best Male
Jua Cali (Kenya)
2Face (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
DJ Cleo (South Africa)
HHP (South Africa)
Best Live Performer
Samini (Ghana)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
P-Square (Nigeria)
Cassette (South Africa)
Jozi (South Africa)
Best Group
P-Square (Nigeria)
Freshlyground (South Africa)
Jozi (South Africa)
The Parlotones (South Africa)
East African Bashment Crew (Uganda)
Best Alternative
Buraka Som Sistema (Portugal)
Goldfish (South Africa)
Seether (South Africa)
The Parlotones (South Africa)
Coldplay (UK)
Best Hip-Hop
9ice (Nigeria)
HHP (South Africa)
Professor Jay (Tanzania)
Lil Wayne (USA)
The Game (USA)
Best R&B
P-Square (Nigeria)
Akon (Senegal/USA)
Loyiso (South Africa)
Alicia Keys (USA)
Rihanna (USA)
Artist of the Year
Asa (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
P-Square (Nigeria)
HHP (South Africa)
Seether (South Africa)
Best New Act
Kwaw Kese (Ghana)
Wahu (Kenya)
9ice (Nigeria)
Naeto C (Nigeria)
Da L.E.S. (South Africa)
Best Video
Movaizhaleine (Gabon) – Nous
Ikechukwu (Nigeria) – Wind Am Well
P-Square (Nigeria) – Roll It
Freshlyground (South Africa) – Pot Belly
Pro Kid (South Africa) – Uthini Ngo Pro
Listener's Choice
Jax Panik (South Africa) for "Cigarettes and Cinnamon"
D’Banj (Nigeria) for "Why Me"
Naakaya (Tanzania) for "Mr. Politician"
JB Mpiana (DRC) for "Zadio Kongolo"
P Unit (Kenya) for "Una"
Toniks (Uganda) for "Beera Nange"
Ofori Amponsah feat. Samini (Ghana) for "Odwo"
My Video
Jide Rotilu
MAMA's Legend Award
Fela Anikulapo Kuti