YAMA nominees announced

Sharon Mathala | Tuesday September 8, 2015 15:28

Kwaito group MMP Family, and Epic are leading the nominees’ pack with four selections.

The radio station revealed that the nominee selection was based on the artists’ performance on the station’s playlist and chart shows as from June 2014 to June 2015.

The award ceremony will be held on December 12, 2015, at the Gaborone International Convection centre (GICC).

This year, the awards have a few changes. Last year the YAMAs had the category of Legendary DJ, legendary artist and legendary presenter, this award this year will be replaced by the Hall Of Fame award, Yarona Fm icon award and best producer award. 

The Yarona Fm artist of the year had also been replaced with The People’s Choice award.

Showtime has noted last year’s big winners who included the self-proclaimed king of Kwaito Kwasa Vee, and the woman who launched her debut album last weekend Samantha Mogwe, the man who won the YAMAs 2014 Vigo best newcomer TGB linxsta, Dj Boogie Sid and DJ Easy B have been excluded from this year’s pack of nominees.

This year, younger and upcoming artist dominate the list, while the group, which led last year’s nomination list Team Distant, will miss out on the YAMAs 2015 cake. In 2014, Yarona Fm launched its inaugural awards, recognising over 15 artists. 

The station management indicated that this was their way of celebrating 15 years in the broadcast field as well as showing their commitment to growing the local music industry. 

On Saturday, during the nominees’ announcement, artists and radio station presenters flocked Cigar lounge. 

Voting will commence on September 5 to November 5, 2015.

 

Nominees include:

Best Single Male

Kast: Jealous, Epic: Respect Boi, Chrome: No Track ya Summer and ATI: Kachin.

Best Single Female

SasaKlaas: Mmamongwato, Gaone: Kopisa, Amantle: Drop It Down Low and Licky ft Orakle: Free Love.

Best Newcomer

Chef Gustos, Gaone, Licky and Romeo Stunner

Best Hip Hop Dj

Izzy, Root, Fauz and Macx

Best Hip Hop/Motswako

Epic: Respect Boi, Chrome: No Track Ya Summer, B Block/Touch: Top Shambole and Romeo Stunner: Milidzani

Best Kwaito

Amanandos: Attention, MMP Family: Lebala Ka Nna, Eskimos ft Juju Boy: Cecelia and Franix: They Can Say

Best House DJ

Ricky Lamar, T-man, Chrispin The Drummer and Kuchi

Best Dance

Gaone: Kopisa, Chef Gustos ft Amantle: Come, DJ Anthem ft Dubblin: Keresiya as well as DJ Goveiya ft Dr Tawanda: Ambuye.

Social Media Award

Zeus, DJ Kuchi, DJ Izzy and Dramaboi.

Best Collabo

Lif’Aman ft SambaT, Kheza Mafokate: Thel’ubumnandi, DJ Izzy ft Zeus, Scar and STI: Nijel Amos, Epic ft Young Black and Chrome: Hee Wena and DJ Fiction and Ryan Blaze ft Ohmz tha Don: Kentucky.

Best Producer

Prez Beatz, Bang!gae, Chef Gustos and Lif’Aman.

Song Of the Year

Gaone: Kopisa, MMP Family: Lebala ka Nana, Epic: Hee Wena, and MMP Family: Mogolo Lapeng.

People’s Choice Award

MMP Family, Gaone, Eskimos, DJ Kuchi, ATI, SasaKlaas, Dr Tawanda, La Timmy.