MTV Africa and MTV Base recently announced the return of the continental flagship award show in 2021. The Iconic MTV Base celebration, MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), which showcases the ultimate in African culture, music, and creativity; will hold in a re-imagined virtual format in partnership with Uganda, The Pearl of Africa on February 20, 2021.
The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be broadcast on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130). The repeat show will air on BET Africa, BET International and MTV channels; across multiple continents as a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage feature.
The event will celebrate African talent across 20 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song, and Best Collaboration. The contribution of artistes from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories.
The new categories include the MAMA Generation Change Award, Best Fan Base, Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance, and Personality of the Year. These new categories seek to demonstrate MTV Base’s commitment to supporting the youth of Africa.
The MAMA Generation Change Award will recognise the inspiring, young changemakers of the continent who are tackling some of the world’s most challenging social problems.
The Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance recognises outstanding performances that took place virtually; celebrating artists used streaming services to share their music and unite society during the unprecedented 2020 lockdown period.
The category selection criteria is from October 1, 2019 to October 1, 2020. MTV will announce the nominees in December 2020 and music lovers will have their say by voting for their favourite stars online.
Always celebrating the pan-African scope of the MAMA; the awards will encompass three pulsating Road to MAMA broadcasts featuring MAMA nominees from across the continent. The MAMA Kampala 2021 brings the much-anticipated music industry workshops in a virtual format for the continent’s aspiring musicians.
MAMA, launched in 2018, has awarded iconic artistes and gamechangers; such as 2Face Idibia, AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Clarence Peters, Davido, Flavour; Mafikizolo Nameless, P-Square, Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Toofan, Trevor Noah, Uhuru, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, and others.
 will be hosted by Uganda in 2021 and the nominees will be announced in the coming month with new categories.){kind=link}