And The Winners Are ... MTV, Zain Reveal Winners of First Ever MTV Africa Music Awards With Zain

And The Winners Are ... MTV, Zain Reveal Winners of First Ever MTV Africa Music Awards With Zain

ABUJA, Nigeria, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The first ever MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain (MAMA) exploded into passionate life on Saturday 22 November 2008 at The Velodrome in Abuja, Nigeria. Created by MTV's African music channel, MTV base, the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain was conceived as the ultimate celebration of African contemporary music and talent.

The biggest winner on the night was charismatic Nigerian music sensation, D'Banj who took home three MAMA 'Golden Microphones' including Best Male, Artist of the Year and Listener's Choice. Kenya's most sought after female artist, Wahu, took home Best Female. Best Video went to Ikechukwu from Nigeria for his video - Wind Am Well, while Alicia Keys won the honours in Best R&B. South African alternative act, Seether, took home the gong for Best Alternative while energetic hip hop outfit Jozi were a popular choice for Best Live. Best New Act was won by Naeto C from Nigeria while fellow countrymen, P Square, beat off the competition in Best Group.

Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa, 'The first MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain has been an incredible celebration of the music and artists that we support on MTV base in Africa every day. African youth culture and music has a place on the world stage, and I am thrilled that the MAMAs have shone a light on this positive and vibrant aspect of the African continent.'

Speaking about the Awards, Mwambu Wanendeya, Zain Group Communications Director for Africa said, 'The passion shown by the audience at the show and throughout the concerts in Kinshasa, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos and Abuja has been amazing. Zain is proud to have given people around the world the opportunity to see and hear some of Africa's most talented musicians.'

Highlights of the star-studded awards show included an electrifying duet between Kelly Rowland and triple award winner, D'Banj. Other moments to savour included an energetic music 'duel' and dance-off between Nigerian R&B duo, P Squar,e and Jozi, a heartfelt solo from soul siren Asa, and showstopping hip hop master classes from Flo Rida and The Game.

The most poignant moment of the night came when MTV paid homage to two of Africa's most beloved and influential music giants including 'MAMA Africa', Miriam Makeba, who passed away earlier in November. Another African music great spotlighted was legendary Afro Beat star Fela Anikulapo Kuti, whose seminal track 'Army Arrangement' was performed by his youngest son and standard bearer, Seun Anikulapo Kuti, and Fela's Egypt 80. Seun Kuti subsequently accepted the inaugural MAMA Legend Award in honour of his late father.

Celebrated awards host, DJ and broadcaster, Trevor Nelson maintained a firm hand on the tiller, continuing MTV award tradition by participating in a number of humorous skits, including an exchange with Nigerian superstar footballer JJ Okocha, while cutting a dash in multiple costume changes including traditional Nigerian attire tailored specially for him.

Performers at the MAMAs included 9ice, Asa, Cassette, Seun Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80, HHP, Jozi, P Square, Kelly Rowland, D'Banj, Flo Rida, The Game, Jua Cali, Naeto C and Ikechukwu.

Guest presenters at the Awards include 9ice, DJ Cleo, Goldfish, Sasha, Loyiso, Dama do Bling, Zonke, Samini, Wahu, Noni Gasa, JJ Okocha, East Africa Bashment Crew and MTV VJ Cynthia. DJ Kofi was on the spot as the resident DJ for the show.

The winners of the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain each received an iconic 'Golden Microphone' trophy featuring a retro pop microphone emerging triumphantly from a globe of the world, with the African continent placed triumphantly at the top.

   WINNER SUMMARY     BEST FEMALE       Wahu (Kenya)    BEST MALE   D'Banj (Nigeria)    BEST LIVE PERFORMER   Jozi (South Africa)    BEST GROUP   P Square (Nigeria)    BEST ALTERNATIVE   Seether (South Africa)    BEST HIP-HOP   9ice (Nigeria)    BEST R&B   Alicia Keys (USA)    ARTIST OF THE YEAR   D'Banj (Nigeria)    BEST NEW ACT   Naeto C (Nigeria)    BEST VIDEO   Ikechukwu (Nigeria) - Wind Am Well    LISTENER'S CHOICE AWARD    D'Banj (Nigeria) - 'Why Me'      MAMAs LEGEND   Fela Anikulapo Kuti    MY VIDEO   Jide Rotilu   

The MTV Africa Music Awards will air around the world everywhere that MTV is shown and premiered in Africa on DStv Channel 322 and GTV Saturday 22 November @ 19:30 - 21:00 CAT.

About MTV Networks Africa

MTV Networks Africa is a pan-African music and entertainment platform which is responsible for broadcasting Viacom music, kids and entertainment channels in sub-Saharan Africa. The network distributes MTV, VH1, MTV base and Nickelodeon. Part of MTVNI's Emerging Markets group, MTV Networks Africa reaches in excess of 50 million TV viewers in sub-Saharan Africa via a combination of pay-tv and terrestrial distribution. The network also includes the dynamic online portal www.mtvbase.com.

MTVNI's Emerging Markets group is one of the fastest growing regions in MTVNI's portfolio of multi-platform businesses. The Emerging Markets group manages 26 television channels, 24 websites, one broadband channel and three mobile TV channels encompassing the MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, VIVA and Comedy Central brands in Central & Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa and the Middle East. MTVNI is owned by Viacom Inc (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

About Zain

Zain is a leading emerging markets player in the field of telecommunications aiming to become one of the top ten mobile operators in the world by 2011. Zain was established in 1983 in Kuwait as the region's first mobile operator. Since 2003, it has grown significantly becoming the 4th largest mobile network in the world in terms of geographic presence with a footprint in 22 countries spread across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services to 56.3 million active customers (as at 30 September 2008).

Zain operates in the following countries: Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In Lebanon, the company manages the network on behalf of the government operating as mtc-touch. The company's mobile operations in Ghana will begin by the end of 2008.

The Zain brand is wholly owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, which is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Stock ticker: ZAIN). The company had a market capitalization of over US$23.4 billion on 30 September, 2008.

For more, please visit http://www.zain.com/

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Source: MTV Networks International

CONTACT: Alison Reid, Director, Communications, MTV Networks Africa, +
33 385 59 6771, Alison.reid@mtvne.com

Web Site: http://www.mtvbase.com/
http://www.zain.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment