MTV Networks Africa and Zain have announced the list of nominees for the 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain (MAMA). The nominees were announced tonight (30th October, 2010) at a star-studded celebration at De Marquee, Lagos, Nigeria. The event was attended by artists, the nominees and celebrities including 2Face Idibia, Sasha and Mo Cheddah.

The nominations were revealed by Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa, Andre Beyers, Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Group and Rajan Swaroop, CEO, Zain Nigeria.

Nigerian artists led the rest of the continent, scoring an impressive 13 nominations in total. Pop duo P-Square had 3 nominations (Artist of the Year, Best Group and Best Video), and there two nominations apiece for MAMA 2009 winner 2Face Idibia (Best Male, Artist of the Year), and R&B starlets Wande Coal (Best Anglophone, Best Male) and Banky W (Song of the Year, Best Video). The Kokomaster – D’banj, a four-time MAMA winner, received yet another MAMA nomination for Song of the Year for his smash Fall in Love. Nigerian female artists also rated well with Best Female nods for Nneka and Sasha, while Mo Cheddah bagged a nomination for Brand:New artiste of the year.

Speaking during the same occasion, Rajan Swaroop, Zain Nigeria CEO, commended Nigerian artistes for their showing at the nominations stage of the awards. According to him, ‘the fact that Nigerian artists have scooped many nominations is a proof that investment in the industry is paying off. We hope this will translate to more awards for Nigerian artistes during the main show.’

Far from an all-Nigerian affair, this year’s MAMA gives greater recognition to artistes from non-English speaking Africa than any other previous editions. According to Alex Okosi, ‘this year’s MAMA is even more representative of the growth of the pan-African music scene and the added emphasis on Lusophone and Francophone artists makes this the most exciting MAMA nominations race that we have seen so far.’

The nominees for the 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain were shortlisted by the MAMA Academy – a handpicked group of music industry experts from across the African continent. The winners for the 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards will be revealed on Saturday 11 December 2010 at the Eko Expo Centre, Lagos, Nigeria.

Here’s the complete list of nominees.

Best Video

Fally Ipupa – Sexy dance (DRC)

P-Square f/t J. Martins- E No Easy (Nigeria)

The Parlotones – Life Design (South Africa)

Banky W – Strong Ting (Nigeria)

Brand:New

Mo Cheddah (Nigeria)

Diamond (Tanzania)

Muthoni (Kenya)

JoJo (Gabon)

Artist of The Year

2 Face (Nigeria)

P-Square (Nigeria)

Jozi (South Africa)

Fally Ipupa (DRC)

Song Of The Year

D’Banj – Fall In Love (Nigeria)

Liquideep – Fairytale (South Africa)

JR – Show Dem (South Africa)

Banky W – Lagos Party (Nigeria)

Best Anglophone

Sarkodie (Ghana)

Wande Coal (Nigeria)

Daddy Owen (Kenya)

Big Nuz (South Africa)

Best Francophone

Fally Ipupa (DRC)

Awadi (Senegal)

DJ Arafat (Ivory Coast)

Ba Ponga (Gabon)

Best Lusophone

Lizha James (Mozambique)

Paul G (Angola)

Cabo Snoop (Angola)

Dama Do Bling (Mozambique)

Best Group

P-Square (Nigeria)

Radio & Weasle (Uganda)

Teargas (South Africa)

P-Unit (Kenya)

Best Female

Sasha (Nigeria)

Lizha James (Mozambique)

Nneka (Nigeria)

Barbara Kanam (DRC)

Best Male

2 Face (Nigeria)

Fally Ipupa (DRC)

Black Coffee (South Africa)

Wande Coal (Nigeria)

Best International

Rihanna (USA)

Drake (USA)

Eminem (USA)

Rick Ross (USA)