After many years in South Africa, a missed trial in Nigeria followed by an edition in Burkina Faso then another pause due to the post election crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, the Kora Awards are back in Côte d’Ivoire. The organizer Ernest Adjovi and his team will be at Palais des congrès of Hôtel Ivoire, on December 29 for the Kora Awards 2012. For this “resurrection” of the Kora, Ernest Adjovi sees big. Just as in the good old days with Michael Jackson and Myriam Makéba on stage, this time he is bringing Chris Brown.
Meanwhile the nominations for the 12th edition of the awards are out and Ghana is grabbed four. Fuse ODG of the popular Azonto fame is up for Best Male Artist in West Africa, Skuufo is up for Best Male Gospel and King Ayiso and Nana Koo Nimo are both up for Best Traditional Male Artist. Nigeria is also well represented with the likes of DBanj, Omawumi, Davido and others. Below is the full list of nominees:
Best Male West Africa
FUSE ODG Feat Itz Tiffany, Donae – Azonto, Ghana
Molare – Coupé Decalé, Côte D’ivoire
Dj Arafat - Kpankaka, Côte d’Ivoire
D Banj – Oliver Twist, Nigeria
Sekouba Bambino - Sinontena, Guinée
Flavour - Adamma, Nigeria
Best Female West Africa
Omawumi- If You Ask Me, Nigeria
Viviane Ndour - Kumu Nexxul, Senegal
Chindima – Kedike, Nigeria
Fafa Ruffino Feat Rockin Squat – Ilé, Benin
Claire Bahi Feat. Dj Arafat – Comme Ceci Comme Cela, Côte D’ivoire
Suzanna Lubrano - Pensa Na Mi, Cap Vert
Best Male East Africa
Jimmie Gait Feat Dk – Furi Furi Dance, Kenya
Kidum Feat Sana – Mulika Mwizi, Burundi
Ali Kiba Feat Lady Jay Dee – Single Boy, Tanzanie
Redsan – Ila Wewe, Kenya
Chris D – Aisha, Burundi
Mulatu Astatke – Ethiopie, Ethiopie
Best Female East Africa
Juliana Kanyomozi – I Am Ugandan, Ouganda
Marya - Shiki Simu, Kenya
Helen Berhe – Lebe, Ethiopie
Asther Aweke – Lu Mili, Ethiopie
Saida Karoli – Sakina, Tanzanie
Ikraan Caraale – Gaarsiiya, Somalie
Best Male Central Africa
Lokoua Kanza – Nakonzonga, Rdc
JB M’piana – La Danse Du Cheval, Rdc
Lord Ekomy Ndong – Bi Se Fe Nale, Gabon
Freddy Massamba – Lobelanga, Congo Brazza
Totoi Bolabote – Botaka, Guinée Equatoriale
Ferre Gola – Tchekele Pete, Rdc
Best Female Central Africa
Princess Leoni Kangala Feat Pili Pili Magale – Nzara, Centrafrique
Barbara Kanam – Djarabi, Rdc
Charlotte Dipanda – Coucou, Cameroun
Lady Ponce - Secouer Secouer, Cameroun
Meje 30 – Fimbu Ya Bakanda, Rdc
Mounira Mitchala – Independence, Tchad
Best Male Southern Africa
Madruga Yoyo - Vamos La, Angola
Maya Cool – Faz Um Milagre Em Mim, Angola
The Dogg – The Deception, Namibie
Alain Ramanisum – Sega Sexy, Ile Maurice
Richard – Vou Cuidar De Ti, Mozambique
Mbongeni Ngema - My Baby, Afrique Du Sud
Best Female Southern Africa
Zahara - Loliwe, Afrique Du Sud
Lizha James Feat. Perola – Leva Boy, Mozambique
Yola Araujo Feat. Jacob Desvarieux – E Hoje Ou Nunca, Angola
Toya Delazy – Pump It On, Afrique Du Sud
Titica Feat Ary – Olha O Boneco, Angola
Shelby – Damata, Angola
Best Male North Africa
Cheb Khaled – C’est La Vie, Algerie
Kader Japonais – Gachitili Ma Vie, Algerie
Yassine Rammi Feat. Hammid B – Ya, Maroc
Madou Mc - La Tête Haute, Tunisie
Hossam Habibi – Bafkar Feek, Egypte
Dizzy Dros – Casafonia, Maroc
Best Female North Africa
Kadidja Yama – Samhay, Maroc
Zina Daoudia – Saken Aisha, Maroc
Hasna El Becharia – Djazair Johara, Algerie
Nadia Laarousi – Lil Ya Lil, Algerie
Best African Group
Magic System – La Danse Des Magician, Cã´Te D’ivoire
Toofan – C Magik, Togo
X Maleya - Tchokolo, Cameroun
Malaika – Never Change My Mind, Afrique Du Sud
Camp Mulla - Party Don’t Stop, Kenya
Gal Level – Ohole, Namibie
Best Male Diaspora (USA)
Chris Brown Feat. Lil’wayne & Busta Rhymes – Look At Me Now, Usa
Jay-Z Feat Kanye West – Niggaz In Paris, Usa
Chris Brown – Yeah, Usa
P Diddy – I’m Coming Home, Usa
Florida - I Got A Feeling, Usa
Wiz Khalifa – Roll Up, Usa
Best Female Diaspora (USA)
Rihanna – We Found Love, Usa
Rammy - G For Gentlemen, Côte D’ivoire
Beyonce – Run The World, Usa
Nikki Minaj – Superbass, Usa
Keri Hilson Feat. Nelly – Lose Control, Usa
Tolumide - For Me, Usa
Best Male Diaspora (Europe and Carribean)
Sexion D’assaut – Avant Qu’elle Ne Parte, France
Stromae – Alors On Danse, Belgique
Logobi Gt Feat Sisi K Et Bb Model- Elle Danse Sexy, France
Victor O – Vini Dou, France
Jim Rama Feat Alan Cavé – Mon Seul Regret, France
Slaï – Ça Ne Te Convient Pas, France
Best Female Diaspora (Europe and Carribean)
Njie – Marzouk Ethnie, France
Michelle Henderson – Pani Pawol, Dominique
Tanya St Val – N’oublie Pas, France
Stevy Mahi – Yenki Pou Vou, France
Jocelyne Labylle – Quelqu’un De Bien, France
Sega El – Jaloux, France
Best Male Gospel
Landry Foua Bi – La Clé De Ma Liberté, Côte D’ivoire
Yvan – Ton Amour Me Suffit, Benin
Thocco Katimba – Ambuye Ndiribe Nanu Mau, Malawi
Carlam – Prospérité, Gabon
Skuulfo – Adandesie, Ghana
Mesach Semakula Feat Dj Michael – Nina Omukwano, Ouganda
Best Female Gospel
Soeur Lydie Nseya – Bolamu, Rdc
Bernice Blackie - Crucifixion, Liberia
Tonzi – Shima Imana, Rwanda
Rebecca – I Need You More, Nigeria
N’lauretta – Hommage À Jésus, Cameroun
L’or Mbongo – Yeshua, Angola
Best Gospel Group
Joyous Celebration – Wangilwela, Afrique Du Sud
Seraphim Song’s – Impundu, Burundi
Infinity – Press On, Nigeria
Soweto Gospel Choir – Avulekile Amasango, Afrique Du Sud
Dmk – Don’t Worry, Zambia
Gael – Amour Eternel, Rdc
Best Male Traditional
Kiflay Issak – Mekseb, Erythrée
Stanlux – Africavio, Togo
Nasser - Moustapha, Mauritanie
King Ayisoba - Awudome, Ghana
Koo Nimo – Sounds From Ghana, Ghana
Best Female Traditional
Hamsou Garba – Magana Zoutchi, Niger
Aida Sam - Saraaba, Senegal
Myriam Fares - Tlah, Maroc
Queen Koumb – Sissa Na Bu Ngussu, Gabon
Affou Keita – Commandant, Côte D’ivoire
Best Group Traditional
Les Reines Mères – Tos, Côte D’ivoire
Ni Malagasy Orchestra – Salegy, Madagascar
Tinariwen – Tenere Taqqim Tossam, Mali
Les Frères Guedehoungue - Feu De Brousse, Benin
Sotheca – Goly, Côte D’ivoire
The Dizu Plaatjies Ibuyambo Ensemble - Izindiba, Afrique Du Sud
Best Male Newcomer
Aslay - Niwenawe, Kenya
Floby – Saanida, Burkina Faso
Loyiso - Wrong To You, Afrique Du Sud
Aziz Azion – My Oxygen, Ouganda
Davido – Dami Duro, Nigeria
John Chiti – Wapusuku, Zambie
Best Female Newcomer
Djelika Diawara – An Mi Woula, Mali
Amira Fathy - Ou’bal El Banat, Egypt
Keko Feat Madtraxxx- Make You Dance, Kenya
Nuella – Wakoulezi, Cote D’ivoire
Sessimã – Mayavio, Benin
Sacha Feat Bably- Nsobanurira, Rwanda
Best Director
Clarence Peters For Capital Dreams - Kedike Of Chindima, Nigeria
Dj Marcell- Leva Boy Of Lizha James, Mozambique
Ash Dibben – Loliwe Of Zahara, Afrique Du Sud
Gelongal – Kumu Nexxul Of Viviane Ndour, Senegal
Grand Poucet – Coupé-Décallé Of Molare, Côte D’ivoire
Jessy Nottola – Oh Amadou Of Amadou Et Maryam, Tanza