MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 to hold 7th June in Durban, South Africa

MTV Base has announced that the spectacular awards show and music celebration, MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) will hold this year.

The announcement which was made Thursday at a press conference in Durban South Africa by Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, Alex Okosi along with the Head of Department of Economic Development & Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Desmond Golding, Managing Director, Pernod Ricard South Africa, Conor McQuaid and Channel Director, MTV Base, Tim Horwood who were in attendance.

MTV Africa Music Awards 2014, which is sponsored by South Africa’s leading Tourist destination, KwaZulu-Natal Province and supported by Absolut, will hold at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban, South Africa on Saturday, 7 June 2014.

Celebrating musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African youth culture throughout the year,MAMA 2014 will feature dazzling performances from Nigerian artists along with other African and international artists. The awards will also include signature collaborations between artists of different genres and cultures, which will be the high point of every show.

Artists will be recognised in thirteen different award categories including Best Male, Best Female and Best New Act. This year, three new “lifestyle” awards will be added to the music categories, including the “MAMA Leadership Award” and “Personality of the Year”.  A special award, “Transform Today by Absolut” will celebrate the power of young individuals to transform the image of Africa through their creativity and vision.

The awards will be preceded by three stunning “Road to MAMA” events in Durban, South Africa, Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya, building up to the main show, featuring MAMA nominees alongside the most current local artists and DJs.   The events will take place during April and May 2014.

Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, “We are thrilled that the MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal will be taking place in South Africa for the first time in its new evolution. KwaZulu-Natal Province is rich in both infrastructure and amazing sights, and we are excited that Durban will be the backdrop for showcasing Africa’s best talent to the world.”

Commented Desmond Golding, Head of Department of Economic Development & Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Province, “After the major success of the MTV Africa All Stars event in Durban last year we are delighted to welcome MTV Base and the MAMA awards to KwaZulu-Natal this June. KwaZulu-Natal including Durban is the premier home for major events in South Africa. Our success and reputation in staging these ground-breaking events has ensured that the contribution to economic growth and tourism stimulation continues to be ever on the rise.”

Conor McQuaid, Managing Director, Pernod Ricard South Africa, commented: “Each generation there are a handful of artists who leave a transformative mark, and the MTV Africa Music Awards most certainly celebrates those artists who are at the cutting-edge of the thriving music industry here on the African continent. As a brand Absolut has continuously pushed the boundaries of contemporary culture through creative collaborations with artists such as Andy Warhol, Spike Jonze and Swedish House Mafia. So we are thrilled to be associated with these awards that celebrate artists who define and transform the musical zeitgeist of Africa.”

First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards has recognised the talent of musicians from across sub-Saharan Africa, rewarding iconic artists such as 2Face Idibia, Big Nuz, HHP, P-Square, Liquideep, D’Banj, Lira, Nameless, Wahu, Fally Ipupa, Cabo Snoop, Zebra & Giraffe, and many more.  The 2014 awards are open to all artists whose music videos have been accepted for airplay on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) or MTV (DStv Channel 130) during the qualifying period 20 March 2013 to 19 March 2014.

The 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards will premiere on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322), MTV (DStv Channel 130) and other partner channels around the continent in June 2014.