Rwanda Podium

OUT OF AFRICA: THE AFRICAN MUSIC ACADEMY AWARDS UNVEILS FULL LIST OF WINNERS FOR ITS INAUGURAL .

The winners of the inaugural African Music Academy Awards (AMAAs) have been announced, with Rwanda’s Sophie Nzayisenga topping the musicians’ category. The names of the six winners were published on the African Music Academy’s website, following the unveiling of regional winners drawn from across the continent as well as the From AMA American and Caribbean diaspora last month.

Social Sunday 30 June 2024

On 31 March, professional organisations nominated 72 national winners as de facto academy members. These winners then elected the regional winners who chose the six overall winners.

The global winners also include Angell Mutoni (Rwanda) in the authors’ category, Thasi Ponda (DRC) in the composers’ category, Petit Miguelito (Benin Republic) in the performers’ category, Jean-Paul ‘Noopja’ Nduwimana (Rwanda) in the producer category and Liliana Escobar (Colombia) of AE Agencia in the managers’ category. The feat makes them the first members of the academy’s honorary committee.

The winners of the AMAAs will be awarded a financial envelope and will also benefit from educational and professional actions, particularly in terms of career development: theoretical and practical training, career management including copyright and neighbouring rights, practical support (outreach and dissemination of the winners’ works: media, social networks, concerts, tours, playlists, etc).

According to the scheme’s president Wally Badarou, the trophies will be presented in person to each winner at events organised by professional organisations in consultation with the winners and African Music Academy’s national delegates.

“With the aim of representing the voice of this industry, these awards are presented to the winners by their own peers from the continent and the diaspora, starting with the professional organisations mandated to nominate the winners in each of the six categories selected this year,” Badarou said.

Founded in 2014, the African Music Academy aims to promote pan-African music from the continent and the diaspora through education, professional actions and dedicated awards. Its founding members include Angélique Kidjo, Chris Blackwell, Jean-Noël Tronc, Blick Bassy and the late Manu Dibango, among others. Its board includes Wally Badarou, Blick Bassy, Solange Cesarovna and Nago Seck.

Here is the list of the global laureates for 2024, members of the Honorary Committee from now on:

• SONGWRITERS
ANGELL MUTONI, Rwanda.

• COMPOSERS
THASI PONDA, Dem. Rep. of the Congo.

• PERFORMERS
PETIT MIGUELITO, Benin.

• MUSICIANS
NZAYISENGA SOPHIE, Rwanda.

• PRODUCERS
NOOPJA (NDUWIMANA JEAN PAUL), Rwanda.

• MANAGERS
LILIANA ESCOBAR – AE AGENCIA, Colombia.

Here is the list of the regional laureates for 2024:

• NORTH AFRICA
YACINE OUABED, Algeria, cat. Songwriters
YOUNES BAHRI, Algeria, cat. Composers
GROUPE TIKOUBAOUINE, Algeria, cat. Performers
SALIHA OULD MOUSSA, Algeria, cat. Musicians

• EAST AFRICA
ANGELL MUTONI, Rwanda, cat. Songwriters
MIKE KAYIHURA, Rwanda, cat. Composers
BUSHALI (HAGENIMANA JEAN PAUL), Rwanda, cat. Performers
NZAYISENGA SOPHIE, Rwanda, cat. Musicians
NOOPJA (NDUWIMANA JEAN PAUL), Rwanda, cat. Producers
MASUDI KANDORO, Tanzania, cat. Managers

• WEST AFRICA
SMARTY, Burkina Faso, cat. Songwriters
PETIT JEANO, Burkina Faso, cat. Composers
PETIT MIGUELITO, Benin, cat. Performers
MAX SOLO, Burkina Faso, cat. Musicians
SAN RÉMY TRAORÉ, Burkina Faso, cat. Producers
SOMSSAYA, Burkina Faso, cat. Managers

• CENTRAL AFRICA
ERIC NICE, Democratic Republic of Congo, cat. Songwriters
THASI PONDA, Democratic Republic of Congo, cat. Composers
ERIC NICE, Democratic Republic of Congo, cat. Performers
JOVI, Cameroon, cat. Musicians
THASI PONDA, Democratic Republic of Congo, cat. Producers
CHRISTIAN LEPIRA, Democratic Republic of Congo, cat. Managers

• SOUTHERN AFRICA
COSS CHIWALO, Malawi, cat. Songwriters
TIWONGE HANGO, Malawi, cat. Composers
CLEO ICEQUEEN, Zambia, cat. Performers
POMPI, Zambia, cat. Musicians
DAMASCUSS PHIRI, Malawi, cat. Producers
SAMUEL CHIWAKA, Malawi, cat. Managers

• LATIN AMERICA DIASPORA
NEKKI, Chile, cat. Songwriters
ESTEBAN COPETE, Colombia, cat. Composers
NIDIA GÓNGORA, Colombia, cat. Performers
MAURICIO TIZUMBA, Brazil, cat. Musicians
ALEXIS PLAY, Colombia, cat. Producers
LILIANA ESCOBAR – AE AGENCIA, Colombia, cat. Managers

• CARIBBEAN DIASPORA
JOËL LUTBERT, Martinique, cat. Songwriters
JOËL JACOULET, Martinique, cat. Composers
MAURANE VOYER, Martinique, cat. Performers
JOSÉ ZEBINA, Martinique, cat. Musicians
ALI ANGEL, Martinique, cat. Producers

Here is the list of the national laureates for 2024. To reward them for having been willing to participate to the first edition of the AMA awards, we are honoured to welcome them as full members of the Academy, designated by their national organizations:

• NORTH AFRICA
GROUPE TIKOUBAOUINE, cat. Performers, Algeria
NESRINE JABEUR, cat. Performers, Tunisia
SALIHA OULD MOUSSA, cat. Musicians, Algeria
YACINE OUABED, cat. Songwriters, Algeria
YOUNES BAHRI, cat. Composers, Algeria

• EAST AFRICA
ANGELL MUTONI, cat. Songwriters, Rwanda
BUSHALI (HAGENIMANA JEAN PAUL), cat. Performers, Rwanda
FANUEL PHABIAN PETER, cat. Performers, Tanzania
GABRIEL MANASE, cat. Songwriters, Tanzania
HAPPINESS MBOGO, cat. Composers, Tanzania
JUSTIN JOHN MHAGACHI, cat. Producers, Tanzania
MASUDI KANDORO, cat. Managers, Tanzania
MIKE KAYIHURA, cat. Composers, Rwanda
NGABO KEVIN, cat. Managers, Rwanda
NOOPJA (NDUWIMANA JEAN PAUL), cat. Producers, Rwanda
NZAYISENGA SOPHIE, cat. Musicians, Rwanda
SULEYMAN SALIM GAO, cat. Musicians, Tanzania

• WEST AFRICA
CEDRIC PEDRO DG CENTRALE COMPANY, cat. Managers, Benin
DIDI B, cat. Performers, Ivory Coast
EMMA DOBRE PROD, cat. Producers, Ivory Coast
JEAN EBO, cat. Musicians, Ivory Coast
MAX SOLO, cat. Musicians, Burkina Faso
NOURAT, cat. Performers, Burkina Faso
PETIT JEANO, cat. Composers, Burkina Faso
PETIT MIGUELITO, cat. Performers, Benin
SAN RÉMY TRAORÉ, cat. Producers, Burkina Faso
SMARTY, cat. Songwriters, Burkina Faso
SOMSSAYA, cat. Managers, Burkina Faso
WILLY BENEDICTION, cat. Songwriters, Ivory Coast

• CENTRAL AFRICA
CHRISTIAN LEPIRA, cat. Managers, Democratic Republic of Congo
ELISHA K, cat. Composers, Cameroon
ERIC NICE, cat. Performers & Songwriters, Democratic Republic of Congo
JOVI, cat. Musicians, Cameroon
KRYS M, cat. Performers, Cameroon
IBERÉ KITULO ELIE, cat. Musicians, Democratic Republic of Congo
LOCKO, cat. Songwriters, Cameroon
THASI PONDA, cat. Composers & Producers, Democratic Republic of Congo

• SOUTHERN AFRICA
CLEO ICEQUEEN, cat. Performers, Zambia
COSS CHIWALO, cat. Songwriters, Malawi
DAMASCUSS PHIRI, cat. Producers, Malawi
MERRIUM PONDANI (QUEEN FYAH), cat. Performers, Malawi
MIRACLE CHINGA, cat. Musicians, Malawi
MR STASH BEATS, cat. Producers, Zambia
POMPI, cat. Musicians, Zambia
ROBERTO, cat. Songwriters, Zambia
SAMUEL CHIWAKA, cat. Managers, Malawi
TIWONGE HANGO, cat. Composers, Malawi

• CARIBBEAN DIASPORA
ALI ANGEL, cat. Producers, Martinique
JOSÉ ZEBINA, cat. Musicians, Martinique
JOËL JACOULET, cat. Composers, Martinique
JOËL LUTBERT, cat. Songwriters, Martinique
MAURANE VOYER, cat. Performers, Martinique

• LATIN AMERICA DIASPORA
ADAYMU, cat. Performers, Chile
AFROITO, cat. Performers, Brazil
ALEXIS PLAY, cat. Producers, Colombia
BRYAM RUIZ, cat. Musicians, Colombia
CYNTHIA MONTAÑO, cat. Songwriters, Colombia
DESSA FERREIRA, cat. Composers, Brazil
DONA CONCEIÇÃO, cat. Songwriters, Brazil
ESTEBAN COPETE, cat. Composers, Colombia
JOSS DEE, cat. Producers, Brazil
LILIANA ESCOBAR – AE AGENCIA, cat. Managers, Colombia
MAPAPO CASTILLO, cat. Managers, Chile
MAURICIO TIZUMBA, cat. Musicians, Brazil
NEKKI, cat. Songwriters, Chile
NIDIA GÓNGORA, cat. Performers, Colombia
OMAR CARRASCO, cat. Musicians, Chile
PABLO TRUQUERO, cat. Producers, Chile
REIKAT, cat. Producers, Chile
TÂNIA ARTUR, cat. Managers, Brazil