MTV Africa Music Awards

The MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) are a pan-African music awards ceremony established by MTV Africa in 2008 to celebrate the most popular contemporary music across the continent. The awards have been inactive since the last edition in October 2016, with a planned 2021 edition in Kampala indefinitely postponed.

How the MTV Africa Music Awards Work

The MAMAs were created and executive produced by Alex Okosi and Jandre Louw for the first three editions. MTV Africa, under Viacom International Media Networks Africa, organized the ceremony to recognize African artists, achievers, and personalities who made an impact on African music and youth culture.

The awards rotate host cities across Africa. The first edition was held in Abuja, Nigeria in 2008, followed by Nairobi, Kenya in 2009, and Lagos, Nigeria in 2010. After a three-year hiatus (2011 to 2013), the awards returned to Durban, South Africa in 2014 and 2015, then moved to Johannesburg in 2016.

Nominees are selected based on chart performance, streaming data, video airplay on MTV channels, and cultural impact. The nomination process includes regional "Road to MAMA" events in cities like Durban and Lagos, where nominees are announced in batches. For the 2016 edition, the first round of nominees was revealed in Johannesburg, with additional categories announced at a Lagos event.

Voting is open to the public through the MTV Base website and Google search voting. Each Google account is allowed a limited number of votes per category per day. The 2016 ceremony was broadcast live on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130), and transmitted worldwide on partner stations.

The 2016 edition featured 18 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song, Best Collaboration, Best Group, Best International Act, Best Breakthrough, Best Francophone, Best Lusophone, Listener's Choice, Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Personality of the Year, and the Africa Re-Imagined Award.

Real-World Example: MAMA 2016 (Last Edition)

The sixth and final edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards was held on October 22, 2016, at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa. The ceremony was hosted by Nomzamo Mbatha, Yemi Alade, and Bonang Matheba, with Trevor Noah originally announced as host.

Wizkid led nominations with three nods (Best Male, Best Collaboration, and Personality of the Year) and won Artist of the Year. Cassper Nyovest and Sauti Sol also received multiple nominations. The ceremony featured performances from Future, Yemi Alade, Nasty C, Babes Wodumo, Cassper Nyovest, Patoranking, Alikiba, and Ycee.

The event was sponsored by Joburg Tourism in partnership with Absolut, Google, MTN, and DStv. Over 15,000 fans attended the Ticketpro Dome. The ceremony celebrated African talent across 18 categories, including recognition for Portuguese-speaking (Best Lusophone) and French-speaking (Best Francophone) African artists.

A 2021 edition was planned for Kampala, Uganda, but was indefinitely postponed. As of 2026, no new edition has been announced, and the awards remain inactive.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

When active, the MAMAs were the only pan-African music awards with global broadcast reach through MTV's international network. Winning or being nominated meant exposure to audiences across Africa, Europe, and the Americas. For independent African artists, the MAMAs provided a platform that continental radio and local awards could not match.

The Best Breakthrough and Listener's Choice categories were specifically designed to surface new talent. The Best Francophone and Best Lusophone categories ensured that artists from French and Portuguese-speaking African countries were recognized, not just English-speaking markets.

The awards' current inactive status means independent African artists should focus on alternative platforms. The Metro FM Music Awards and MOBO Awards both have Best African Act categories that provide continental and international exposure. The MTV EMAs also include a Best Afrobeats category.

If you are an independent African artist, build your streaming numbers and video airplay to position yourself for these alternative awards. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your performance across platforms. Monitor the MTV Base website for any announcements about a potential MAMA revival.

Related Resources

• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance for awards eligibility
• Metro FM Music Awards - South Africa's premier music awards with African genre categories
• MOBO Awards - UK awards with a Best African Act category
• 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy