
Johannesburg/Lagos, 12 September 2016: As anticipation builds for the MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 (MAMA), MTV Base (DStv channel 322) has revealed that South African Hip-Hop “game changer” Cassper Nyovest and Tanzanian Bongo Flava star Ali Kiba will perform at the glittering, sixth edition of the pan-African awards show.
The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016, brought to you by Joburg Tourism in partnership with Absolut Vodka and Google and in association with MTN and DStv, will take place at The Ticketpro Dome, Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday 22 October 2016.
Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN Africa), “It is a huge thrill to welcome these major stars from East Africa and South Africa to the MAMA stage, as they showcase their amazing talent to millions of music fans across the continent and internationally.”

Echoing his 2015 triumph, former MAMA winner Nyovest (Best Hip Hop, MAMA 2015) will take to the stage at the Ticketpro Dome, Johannesburg and MAMA-newcomer Ali Kiba. They join previously announced performers Yemi Alade, Nasty C and Babes Wodumo as the MAMA is staged for the first time ever in Johannesburg.
Highlighting the “gold standard” in contemporary music, creativity and achievement, The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 promises to be the biggest and best ever, with more than 15,000 fans expected to fill out the Ticketpro Dome for the joyous celebration. Tickets for the awards are on sale now priced ZAR 250 (standing only) via www.ticketpros.co.za, and at Ticketpro retail outlets or dealers. Over 18s only.
The definitive annual celebration of African and international talent and achievement, MAMA 2016 recognises and rewards musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year. The ceremony will feature stunning performances from African and international artists along with the show’s signature cross-genre and cross-border collaborations
MAMA 2016 will celebrate African talent across 18 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Listener’s Choice and Best Group. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. Additional categories include the Africa Re-Imagined Award and Personality of the Year. The nominations for the awards will be revealed in two parts: on 21 September in Johannesburg, and in Lagos on 2 October.
Celebrating the pan-African scope of the MAMA, the awards will encompass two stunning Road to MAMA events featuring MAMA nominees and superstar DJs, to be held in Durban and Lagos. Another much-anticipated element of MAMA 2016 will be a music industry workshop for aspiring musicians held on the day prior to the awards (21 October).
First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards has recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and game changers such as 2Face Idibia, Big Nuz, Davido, D’Banj, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet, HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Mafikizolo, Lira, Nameless, Lupita Nyong’o, Clarence Peters, Diamond Platnumz, Anselmo Ralph, Sarkodie, P-Square, Tiwa Savage, Cabo Snoop, Toofan, Trevor Noah, Zebra & Giraffe, Uhuru, Wahu, Yemi Alade, and many more.
The MTV Africa Music Awards 2016 will broadcast live on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130) on Saturday 22 October at 21:00 CAT. The show will also be transmitted worldwide on partner stations and content platforms from October onwards, while MTV channels around the world will broadcast a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage.
For more information on the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards, please go to www.mtvbase.com or www.mtv.co.za like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MTVBaseVerified, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @MTVBaseAfrica. To join the conversation about the awards please use the hashtag #MTVMAMA2016.
MAMA 2016 Award Categories
- Best Male
- Best Female
- Best Group
- Best Breakthrough Act
- Best Live Act
- Best Francophone
- Best Lusophone
- Best Pop/Alternative
- Best Hip Hop in association with MTN
- Best International Act
- Legend Award
- Best Collaboration in partnership with Absolut Vodka
- Video of the Year
- Song of the Year in partnership with Google
- Artist of the Year
- Personality of the Year in association with DStv
- MTV Base Africa Re-Imagined Award
- Listener’s Choice
About MTV
MTV is the world’s premiere youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of nearly 785 million households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. Outside of the United States, MTV is part of Viacom International Media Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all platforms.
About Joburg Tourism
Johannesburg Tourism is a destination marketing organisation, dedicated to promoting tourism growth in the City. Its primary function is to promote Johannesburg as a business, lifestyle, sport and leisure destination, both locally and internationally. Its operations include running a Convention Bureau, a Visitor Services Bureau, as well as co-ordinating city-wide tourism marketing programmes, tourism information gathering and analysis.
About Absolut
On every bottle of ABSOLUT, you will find the portrait of an extraordinary entrepreneur and the founder of the world’s most iconic vodka brand: Lars Olsson Smith. In 1879, at 43, he created the purest vodka that gave birth to the ABSOLUT brand we know today. His superior vodka blend was made out of a distinct character of grain using a revolutionary distilling method called continuous distillation. ABSOLUT’s reputation as a premium vodka applies the simple concept of “One Source”. This means that the sourcing of all natural ingredients to the bottling of the final product is completed at one location to maintain the highest levels of quality and production, i.e.Åhus, Sweden.