The producers of the NEA Awards are pleased to announce the nominees for the 6th Annual Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEA) scheduled for Sunday 4 September 2011 at 5PM at the Sharp Theater, Symphony Space in New York. This year’s nominees lists highlights new and young talent that according to the organizers “are destined to shape the future of African Entertainment.“

In the music categories, Wizkid, Darey, D’banj and Duncan Mighty lead this year’s pack with three nominations each. Wizkid nabs Hottest Single of the Year, Best New Act of the Year and Best Pop/R&B Artist of the Year. Darey is nominated for Best Album of the Year, Best Pop/R&B Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories. Dbanj is nominated for Hottest Single of the Year, Pop/R&B Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year. Duncan Mighty’s nominations are for Best Album of the Year, Hottest Single of the Year and Indigenous Artist of the Year categories. Other artists receiving multiple nominations this year include Asa, Naeto C, Banky W, M.I, Don Jazzy, Ice Prince and Olamide.

The Hottest Single of the year is shaping up to be one of the key categories to watch this year with the songs that have dominated the airwaves in the last twelve months. And Best New Act of the year showcases the best and newest talents to enter the game.

The Pan African Artist of the Year features the biggest names on African music scene: Fally Ipupa (DRC), R2Bees (Ghana), Awilo (Congo), Winky D (Zimbabwe), Juliana Kanyomozi (Ugandan) and VIP (Ghana) are all nominated in what is considered the Best Artist in Africa category.

In the TV and Film categories, MNet’s Tinsel and Jeta Amata’s “Inale” both received four nomination nods. Tinsel’s Victor Olaotan and Gideon Okeke both received nominations for Best Actor in a TV Series/Reality/Game Show. And Damilola Adegbite and Matilda Obaseki received nominations for Best Actress in a TV Series/Reality/Game Show. Jeta Amata received nominations for Best Picture and Best Directing in a Film/Short Story for Inale. And the two stars of the movie also nabbed nominations: Caroline Chikezie for Best Actress in a Film/Short Story and Hakeem Kae-Kazim for Best Actor in a Film/Short Story.

The Pan African Actor and Actress of the Year categories are quite exciting and feature the who’s who in African Film industry. Ama K. Abebrese, Akofa Asiedu, Nadia Buari, Yvonne Okoro, Jackie Appiah and Yvonne Cherry have all been nominated for the Best Actress category, while Chris Attoh, Senanu Gbedawo, John Dumelo, Edward Kagutuzi, Majid Michel and Van Vicker have all nominated for the Best Actor category.

Voting begins on Wednesday 22 June 2011 at www.nigeriaentawards.com and ends Saturday 27 August 2011. Winners will be announced at the Award ceremony on Sunday 4 September 2011 at the Sharp Theater, Symphony Space in New York.

The 2011 Nomination List:

Best Album of the Year
Beautiful Imperfection – Asa
Legacy – Duncan Mighty
Super C Season – Naeto C
Double Dare – Darey
MI2- M.I
Back From the Future – Sound Sultan

Hottest Single of the Year
Tease Me – Wiz Kid
Mr Endowed – D’banj
Oleku- Ice Prince
Give It to Me- D’Prince
Obianuju- Duncan Mighty
Jupa- J Martins

Best New Act of the Year
Ice Prince
Wizkid
Tiwa Savage
Mo’Cheddah
Waje
Dr SID

Gospel Artist of the Year
BOUQUI
Lara George
Sinach
Ada
Frank Edwards
Kenny St Brown

Best Pop/R&B Artist of The Year
Darey
D’banj
Banky W
Waje
Wizkid
2Face

Best Rap Act of The Year
Terry Tha Rapman
Naeto C
Ruggedman
Eva Alordiah
M.I
Ice Prince

Music Producer of The Year
Sossick
Don Jazzy
Cobhamsk
Samlef
Jesse Jagz
Dokta Frabz

Best International Artist
Asa
Nneka
JJC
Ndu
Moeazy
May7ven

Best Music Video of The Year
Eni Duro (Olamide) – DJ Tee
Kaba Kaba (Konga) – Akin Alabi
If You Ask Me (Omawumi) – Clarence Peters
Mr. Endowned (D’banj Ft Don Jazzy & Snoop Dogg) – Sesan
More You (Bez) – Kemi Adetiba
Ba Ni Kidi (Darey) – Mark Hofmeyr

Most Promising Act To Watch
Olamide
Zara
Brymo
Vector
Retta
Jhybo
Ketchup
Muna

Entertainment Executive of The Year
Audu Maikori (Chocolate City)
Banky W (EME)
Tony Nwakalor (Yes Media)
Obi Asika (Storm Records)
Eldee (Tribe Records)
Don Jazzy (Mo’hits)

Indigenous Artist of The Year
Solek
Flavor
Jah Bless
Duncan Mighty
9ice
J’odie

Pan African Artist or Group of The Year
Fally Ipupa
R2bees
Awilo
Winky D
Juliana Kanyomozi
Vip

Best US-based Male Artist of the Year
Duncan Daniels
T Money
Rotimi
Kunzo
Dami Oloye
Capb

Best US-based Female Artist of the Year
Naira
Titi Lokei
Tolumide
Moyeen
Nenna Yvonne
Zaina

Best Actor in a Film/Short Story
Ramsey Nouah – A Private Storm
Odunlade Adekola – Emi Ni Ire Kan
Femi Adebayo – Jelili
Chet Anekwe – Tobi
Pascal Atuma – Okoto The Messenger
Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Inale

Best Actress in a Film/Short Story
Genevieve Nnaji – Tango With Me
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde – Ije
Omoni Oboli – Anchor Baby
Mercy Johnson – Heart Of A Widow
Caroline Chikezie – Inale
Uche Jombo – Nollywood Hustlers

Best Picture (Producer)
Ije – Chineze Anyaene
The Mirror Boy – Obi Emelonye
Inale – Jeta Amata
Tango With Me – Mahmood Ali- Balogun
Anchor Baby- Lonzo Nzekwe
Adesuwa – Lancelot Imaseun

Best Directing in a Film/Short Story
Chineze Anyaene – Ije
Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen/Ikechukwu Onyeka – A Private Storm
Mahmood Ali Balogun- Tango With Me
Jeta Amata- Inale
Lonzo Nzekwe – Anchor Baby
Pascal Atuma – Okoto The Messenger

Best Actor in TV Series/Reality/Game Show
Victor Olaotan (Tinsel)
Uche Sam Anyamele (About To Wed)
Akin Lewis (Spider)
Emeka Ossa (Clinic Matters)
Frank Edoho (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire)
Gideon Okeke (Tinsel)

Best Actress in TV Series/Reality/Game Show
Funmi Eko (City Sistas)
Damilola Adegbite (Tinsel)
Matilda Obaseki (Tinsel)
Ufuoma Ejenobor (Royal Roots)
Misi Molu (Nigerian Idol)
Amanda Ebeye (City Sistas)

Pan African Actress of the Year (Film/Short Story)
Ama K. Abebrese
Akofa Asiedu
Nadia Buari
Yvonne Okoro
Jackie Appiah
Yvonne Cherry

Pan African Actor of the Year (Film/Short Story)
Chris Attoh
Senanu Gbedawo
John Dumelo
Edward Kagutuzi
Majid Michel
Van Vicker

Comedian of the Year
CD John
Gordon
Helen Paul
Gandoki
Daniel D’humorous
Yvonne Orji

Best World DJ
DJ Caise (Nigeria)
DJ Smooth (DC/MD)
DJ Flava (Malaysia)
DJ Tommy (Nigeria)
DJ Afoo (NY)
DJ Obi (Boston)
DJ Jam Jam (UK)
DJ E Cool (Atl)

Entertainment Promoter of the Year
Tiwaworks (Atlanta, USA)
Stronghold/Orange Box Ent (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Industry Nite (Lagos, Nigeria)
Ciba Ent (Houston, USA)
Starmix (London, UK)
Coko Bar (London, UK)