The African music industry continues to break barriers and gain the recognition and respect it rightfully deserves with the continent’s stars making nominee lists for prestigious award ceremonies.
Celebrated acts like Nigeria’s Ayra Starr, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and South African pop star Tyla have been nominated in the upcoming MTV European Music Awards.
Nominees were unveiled October 8, with Billboard noting that women made a majority of the list.
Ayra Starr and Tyla have both been fronted for the Best New Act category, where they will battle it out with international acts like Benson Boone (US), Chappell Roan (US), LE SSERAFIM (South Korea), Teddy Swims(US) and The Last Dinner Party (UK).
The continent’s stars shine on their category- the Best Afrobeats, where African bigwigs Asake (Nigeria), Ayra Starr(Nigeria), Burna Boy (Nigeria), Rema (Nigeria), Tems (Nigeria) and Tyla (South Africa) are up for the award.
Ayra Starr is also nominated under the Best Push Act category, previously known as Best Breakthrough Act.
There, she hopes to secure an award to beat out renowned, fast rising acts like Coco Jones (US) and Victoria Monét (US).
Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz is listed under the Best African Act category, alongside Asake, Ayra Starr, South African DJ and music producer DBN Gogo, Tyla and Tshwala Bam hitmakers TitoM & Yuppe.
Billboard reports on the ceremony dates: “The show is set to be broadcast live on Sunday, Nov. 10, from Co-op Live in Manchester, U.K.”
“Last year’s ceremony was set for Nov. 5 in Paris, but was canceled two weeks before the show due to the Israel–Hamas war, becoming the first EMAs to be canceled in its 30-year history.”
