The organizers for Urban Music People (UMP) Awards have finally released this year’s full nominees list as Gospel artists Suffix and Gwamba dominate the list with five nominations each.
Rappers, Fredokiss and Tay Grin come second with four nominations each.
The list has also seen new names like that of Lackie, Vj Ken, Mest Media, Man Chi, Mazz o Penga and Elli Njuchi.
South African artists AKA, Cassper Nyovest, King Monada, Nasty C as well as Tanzania’s Diamond Platinumz will compete for the Best SADC International Act Award.
This year’s UMP lifetime achievement award will go to the veteran musician Lucius Banda who in a recent interview said, “I feel honoured and it is a very rare occurrence that you get honoured while you’re still alive in Malawi.”
The humanitarian award will be determined at a later stage, according to the UMP CEO Ken Zizwa.
The event is slated for 29 December at Robins Park in the commercial capital of Blantyre.
Meanwhile, Zizwa has added that the voting codes will be announced later on today via social media.
Below is the full list of nominees:
Artist of the Year
- Fredokiss
- Gwamba
- Suffix
- Tay Grin
- Piksy
Music Video of the Year
- ‘Lubwa’ – Tay Grin
- ‘Kusasa Mau’ – Gwamba
- ‘Ndendende’ – Janta
- ‘No one’ – Sonye ft Tuno
- ‘Temporary’ – Lackie ft Teddy
Music Video Director of the Year
- Essim
- Mest Media
- Ron Cz
- VJ Ice
- VJ Ken
Album of the Year
- Mady P – Chi One Tambala
- Provoice – Knock It 1986
- Seven O’ More – Yr2099
- Sonye – Somewhere in Africa
- Suffix – Before I Sleep
Song of the Year
- Macelba ft Saint – ‘Maluzi’
- Malinga Mafia – ‘Vuto Si Ine’
- Piksy – ‘Umakwana’
- Tay Grin – ‘Lubwa’
- Wikise – ‘Uli Nzinga?’
Collaboration of the Year
- Gwamba ft Fredokiss – ‘Nthawi Zanji’
- Macelba ft Saint – ‘Maluzi
- Martse ft Bucci – ‘Dosage’
- Saint ft JJC – ‘Friends’
- Toast ft Eli Njuchi – ‘Hakuna Matata’
Best New Act
- Eli Njuchi
- Lackie
- Man Chi
- Mazz o Penga
- Teddy
Best Female Act
- Hazel Mak
- Hilco
- Kim of Diamonds
- Sangie
- Tuno
Producer of the Year
- BFB
- Gaffar
- Henwood
- Janta
- DJ Sley
Best Urban Gospel
- Gwamba
- Kelvin Sings
- Saxess
- Shammah Vocals
- Suffix
Best Hip Hop Artist/Group
- Fredokiss
- Seven O’ More
- Macelba
- Suffix
- Toast
Best Dancehall Artist/Group
- Jay Jay Cee
- Mady P
- Malinga Mafia
- Purple C
- Provoice
Best R&B/Afropop Artist/Group
- Bucci
- Kelly Kay
- Kelvin Sings
- Teddy
- Tuno
Best Band
- Black Missionaries
- Mibawa Band
- Mizu band
- Soul Raiders
- Zathu Band
Best Duo/Group
- Bossaro
- Daredevilz
- Fortress
- Mabilinganya Empire
- W Twice
Best Live Act
- Faith Mussa
- Fredokiss
- Gwamba
- Suffix
- Tay Grin
Best SADC International Act
- AKA
- Cassper Nyovest
- Diamond Platinumz
- King Monada
- Nasty C
Lifetime Achievement
- Lucias Banda
Best Afro-soul Artist/Group
- Faith Mussa
- Lawi
- Lulu
- Patience Namadingo
- Shammah Vocals
Humanitarian Award
- TBA