With Kampala, Uganda confirmed as the destination of the 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards, here is how you will be able to catch the build-up to the awards show and the awarding ceremony courtesy of DStv.
MTV Africa and MTV Base announced the return of the continental flagship award show in 2021. The Iconic MTV Base celebration, MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), which showcases the ultimate in African culture, music, and creativity, will be held in a re-imagined virtual format in Uganda on 20th February 2021.
The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be broadcast on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130). The repeat show will also be aired on BET Africa, BET International and MTV channels across multiple continents as a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage feature.
The ultimate celebration of local African and international talent and achievement, MAMA 2021, in partnership with Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, recognizes and rewards musicians, trailblazers and those who are shining a light on the continent’s diverse talent and creativity by instilling positive impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year.
The awards ceremony will feature vibrant performances from leading African and international artists and will also showcase some of the biggest cross-genre and cross-border collaborations.
The event will celebrate African talent across 20 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song, and Best Collaboration. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognized in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories.
The ‘M’ – Uganda to host the 2021 MAMA awards
Additional new categories included are the MAMA Generation Change Award, Best Fan Base, Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance and Personality of the Year. These new categories seek to demonstrate MTV Base’s commitment to supporting the youth of Africa.
The MAMA Generation Change Award will recognize the inspiring, young changemakers of the continent who are tackling some of the world’s most challenging social problems. The Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance recognizes outstanding performances that took place virtually by celebrating artists who took to streaming services to share their music and unite society during the unprecedented 2020 Lockdown.
The category selection criteria is from October 1st 2019 to October 1st 2020. The nominees will be announced in December 2020 and music lovers will have their say by voting for their favorite stars online.
The news was revealed on Wednesday via a virtual press conference broadcast from Johannesburg and Kampala by Monde Twala and Craig Paterson, Senior Vice Presidents and General Managers at ViacomCBS Networks Africa (VCNA), The State Minister for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda at Ugandan Ministry of Tourism and the CEO for the Ugandan Tourism Board, Lilly Ajarova.
The engaging Q&A discussion included accomplished Ugandan artist Bebe Cool, highly skilled songstress Sheebah Karungi together with talented South African rapper Nasty C.
Douglas Lwanga, Sheebah Karungi and Bebe Cool at the launch of the 2021 MAMA awards
It is an incredible honour to announce that the seventh MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be hosted by the vibrantly diverse Uganda, The Pearl of Africa for the first time on February 20th, 2021.
Monde Twala, Senior Vice President & General Manager, VCNA
“We are excited to bring this amazing showcase to audiences across the continent and globally with an innovatively re-imagined awards show and celebration. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, content production has embraced innovation as the new gold and we are excited to take Africa to the World and showcase its immense talent and culture as we stage the biggest music awards show on the continent,” Monde Twala added.
The Honourable Godfrey Kiwanda, State Minister for Tourism Uganda noted that it’s an incredible achievement for Uganda to host the continent and international stakeholders for the MAMA Kampala 2021 for the first time. “The awards are an extraordinary African cultural experience, and we understand the important role it plays in driving awareness, cross culture education and profiling the continent’s rich leisure tourism offerings on the international stage,” revealed Hon. Kiwanda.
Hon. Godfrey Kiwanda speaking at the launch of the 2021 MAMA awards
The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 is brought to you by Uganda, The Pearl of Africa in an effort to promote tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage conservation for the socioeconomic development and transformation of Uganda. Sustainable tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage will contribute to transforming Uganda into a modern and prosperous nation.
Craig Paterson, Senior Vice President & General Manager, VCNA, revealed that this edition of the MAMAs promises to be the biggest and most innovative. “Millions of fans worldwide will enjoy the digitally re-imagined celebration and African music via multiple broadcasts globally. We are excited to partner with Uganda to bring viewers a unique format and experience that positions Africa’s diverse heritage and digital innovation,” he emphasized.
Always celebrating the pan-African scope of the MAMA, the awards will encompass three pulsating Road to MAMA broadcasts featuring MAMA nominees from across the continent. The MAMA Kampala 2021 brings the much-anticipated music industry workshops in a virtual format for the continent’s aspiring musicians, youth upskilling and development.
First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards has recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and gamechangers such as 2Face Idibia, AKA, Anselmo Ralph, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Clarence Peters, Cabo Snoop, Davido, D’Banj, Diamond Platnumz, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet, HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Lira, Lupita Nyong’o, Mafikizolo Nameless, P-Square, Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Toofan, Trevor Noah, Uhuru, Wahu, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, Zebra & Giraffe and many more.
ABOUT MTV BASE
Launched on 22 February 2005, MTV Base is a 24-hour English language music television channel reaching 48.5 million African viewers in 10.5 million households in 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. MTV base is available across Africa on satellite (pay-TV) on DStv and GTV (pan-Africa) and on terrestrial television on partner stations TV3 (Ghana), NTV (Kenya), Silverbird TV (Nigeria), Hi TV (Nigeria) and NTV (Uganda).
Targeted at mass African youth, MTV base is MTV’s first bespoke channel for the African market and features the continent’s broadest mix of contemporary artists and music genres. It combines African and international music genres relevant to young African viewers including R’n’B, dancehall, hip-hop, kwaito, hip life, reggae, zouk, m’balax and Afrobeat, celebrating the cultural vibrancy and creativity of African music and artists.
ABOUT UGANDA
Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda is located in East Africa and offers some of the continent’s most diverse wildlife viewing, dramatic landscapes, and immersive cultural experiences and warm people and hospitality.
Uganda is home to more than half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas, and trekking to observe these gentle giants in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the world’s top bucket list travel activities. Safari opportunities abound in savanna, forest, and wetland settings throughout 10 national parks, where visitors can come face to face with “The Big Five + 2” – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, chimpanzee and mountain gorilla– as well as giraffe, zebra, hippopotamus, crocodile, and more than half of all bird species found in Africa.
Among Uganda’s extraordinary natural attractions are the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains; expansive Lake Victoria, which forms the source of the Nile River; and Murchison Falls National Park.
Ugandan satirical lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde has been summoned by Uganda Police over alleged offensive communication to the prejudice of Hon. Justice Ssekaana Musa.
Isaac Ssemakadde
According to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, its conducting inquiries into alleged offensive communication of Ssemakadde.
The self-proclaimed ‘Legal Rebel’ is required to report at the CID headquarters for an interview and statement recording on Monday, February 28, 2022.
The summon further instructs currently Hon. Muhammad Nsereko’s strongest tormentor to particularly show-up to the Officer in Charge of Cyber Crime D/ASP Kayiza Henry at 10AM.
It should be recalled, Ssemakadde recently requested the Chief Registrar to avail him with a record of proceedings of this year’s Judges’ Conference to enable him decide the next course of action.
Male Hassan Mabirizi
This sparked-verge from the resolution by the judges as they complained of being cyber bullied by some lawyers.
The judges identified lawyers Male Hassan Mabirizi and Ssemakadde particularly whom they accused of making cyberbullying-like statements on social media against judicial officers.
This comes to life just a day after lawyer Male Mabirizi was sentenced to 18months in jail over contempt of court.
Full statement:
Invitation for an interview and statement recording vide CID headquarters GEF 136/2022. The subject matters refer; The Directorate of Criminal investigations is conducting inquiries into alleged offensive communication to the prejudice of Hon. Justice Ssekaana Musa. You are required to report to CID Headquarters on February 28, 2022 at 1000hrs and you will particularly report to Officer in Charge of Cyber Crime D/ASP Kayiza Henry on telephone number 0714401470 who will guide you on what is required.
Celebrated Kenyan comedian Eric Omondi Ongao alias Eric Omondi has arrived in Uganda for the fun-thrilling Comedy Store on Wednesday February 23,2022.
Eric Omondi
With a captivating theme “Eric Omondi Live”, Comedy Store re-bombards UMA Multipurpose Hall, Lugogo after almost 2years.
On touching down at Entebbe International Airport on Wednesday, the self-proclaimed “President of Comedy Africa”, was glamorously received by Comedy Store UG CEO Alex Muhangi and other local comedians.
The highly anticipated sizzling night-out-for-laughter will feature; Jose Chameleone, Madrat & Chiko, Ssenga Nantume, MC Mariachi, and many others.
According to the Comedy Store, the show will commence at 6PM and tickets will be available at the entrance.
“HE’S HERE, In The Pearl Of Africa: Kenya’s Eric Omondi, the President of Comedy Africa, has set foot in Uganda ahead of “Eric Omondi Live” on Comedy Store Ug at UMA Show Grounds. Tell your friends. Show starts at 6pm. Tickets are sold at the Entrance. Get Ready! UMA Multipurpose Hall, Lugogo,” stated Comedy Store.
Ugandan male vocalist George Kigozi alias Geosteady is not willing to open up about his new love life.
Geosteady
The “Nemala” singer whose heart proves to have been extremely damaged beyond healing by his split with baby mama Prima Kardashi, vows never to talk in detail about the experiences so far with his new lover.
Despite finding another woman to love, Geosteady says it’s better to keep his new romantic journey private like he sung in one of his latest songs.
“Currently my love life is really really private, like I sung. Am seeing someone who I will never address,” Geosteady said live on a local radio station.
He also feels one ought to just appreciate his/her lover’s characters because the world is endowed with people of different characters.
“No more exposing in public. Another thing is that I learnt to understand people the way they are. So, my love life is all about understanding you,” he added.
Its close to two years now ever since Geosteady and Prima Kardashi called-it-quits in their 8years-old relationship.