MTV Africa Music Awards 2015: Inspirational Event Staged On July 18th – Nelson Mandela’s Birthday – In Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Saturday 18 July 2015: ICC, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Africa’s contemporary music industry comes under the global spotlight as the winners of the MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal(MAMA) are announced at a star studded ceremony at Durban’s International Convention Centre (ICC).

Africa’s biggest contemporary artists and achievers will be gracing the red carpet for what is the biggest event of the African music calendar on Saturday 18 July 2015.

A decade after bursting onto the world stage, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa and MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) will be celebrating African music, creativity and achievement at the fifth edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA).

Performers announced to date includeNE-YO (USA),JhenéAiko (USA), Young Thug (USA), AKA (South Africa),Bucie(South Africa),CassperNyovest(South Africa),Davido(Nigeria), Diamond Platnumz(Tanzania),YemiAlade(Nigeria), 2FACE (Nigeria), Black Motion (South Africa),Wizkid(Nigeria)&Toofan(Togo).

The definitive annual celebration of African talent, MAMA 2015 takes “evolution” as its theme, recognising and rewarding musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African youth culture over the last 12 months, while celebrating the development of the continent’s talent and creativity over the last 10 years. The ceremony will feature stunning performances from African and international artists along with unique collaborations.

MAMA 2015 will celebrate African talent across 18 award categoriessuch as Best Male, Best Female, Best Song and Best New Act Transformed by Absolut. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. This year’s show will also feature a special edition “Evolution” category torecognise artists whose careers have flourished throughout the last 10 years. Additional categories include the MAMA Leadership Award and Personality of the Year.

Competing in the prestigious Best Male act category are AKA (South Africa), Davido (Nigeria), Diamond (Tanzania), Sarkodie(Ghana) and Wizkid (Nigeria), while female artists making their mark in the Best Female category include Bucie(SA), Busiswa (SA), Seyi Shay (Nigeria), Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania) and YemiAlade (Nigeria).

The inspiring cross-cultural creative exchange of African musicians is measured in the Best Collaboration category, whereAKA, Burna Boy, Da LES & JRcompete against Davidofeaturing Uhuru& DJ Buckz (Nigeria/SA), Toofan& DJ Arafat (Togo/Ivory Coast), Diamond &Iyanya (Kenya/Nigeria), and Stanley Enow&Sarkodie (Cameroon/Ghana).

The enduring popularity of Hip Hop on the continent is captured in the hotly contested Best Hip Hopcategory, whereCassperNyovest (South Africa) is battling it out with K.O. (South Africa), Olamide (Nigeria), Phyno (Nigeria) and Youssoupha(DRC).

Recognising the contribution of new talent on the continent, Best New Act: Transformed Today by Absolut gave nods to nominees from around the continent, including CassperNyovest (South Africa), Anna Joyce (Angola), Duncan (South Africa), Patoranking (Nigeria) and Stonebwoy (Ghana).@MTVBaseAfrica revealed on Twitter prior to the event that stand-up comedian and new Daily Show host Trevor Noah (South Africa) was nominated for the second year running as Personality of the Year - where he goes up against fellow comic Basketmouth (Nigeria), TV personality and reality star BonangMatheba (South Africa), actor O.C. Ukeje(Nigeria) and Manchester City/Ivory Coast midfielder YayaToure (Ivory Coast) - after losing out to LupitaNyong’o in the same category last year.

Last year’s Video of the Year winner Clarence Peters (Nigeria) is hoping to repeat his 2014 success with a second nomination in this category for Bebe Cool’s music video “Love You Everyday”, competing against fellow directors Sesan (“The Sound”: Davido Featuring Uhuru& DJ Buckz), AdriaanLouw (“Nafukwa”: Riky Rick), MejiAlabi (“Crazy”: Seyi Shay Featuring Wizkid) and Ryan Kruger (“Doors”: Prime Circle).

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, FallyIpupa, Liquideep,Mafikizolo, Lira, Nameless, LupitaNyong’o, Clarence Peters, DiamondPlatnumz, Anselmo Ralph, Sarkodie, P-Square, Tiwa Savage, Cabo Snoop, Toofan, Zebra & Giraffe, Uhuru, Wahu, and many more.

The awards will broadcast live on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130) on Saturday 18 July. The show will also be transmitted worldwide on partner stations and content platforms from 18 July.

Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director,Viacom International Media Networks Africa: “We are thrilled that the MTV Africa Music Awards will be returning to Durban and KwaZulu-Natal on 18 July, a date famous for being the birthday of Nelson Mandela - what better day could there be for staging this inspirational celebration of African achievement and creativity that showcases Africa’s best talent on the world stage.”

The MTV Africa Music Awards 2015 is sponsored by KwaZulu-Natal Province in association with Absolut Vodka and The City of Durban.

For more information on the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal, please go to www.mtvbase.comorhttp://mama.mtv.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MTVBaseVerified, or follow on Twitter and Instagram@MTVBaseAfrica. To join the conversation about the awards please use the hashtag#MTVMAMA2015.

ENDS
Note To Editors: MAMA 2015 categories
1. Best Male
2. Best Female
3. Best Group
4. Best New Act Transformed by Absolut
5. Best Live Act
6. Best Collaboration
7. Best Hip Hop
8. Best Alternative
9. Best Francophone
10. Best Lusophone
11. Best International
12. Video of the Year
13. Artist of the Year
14. Artist of the Decade
15. Song of the Year
16. Evolution
17. Personality of the Year
18. MTV Base Leadership Award
Further Information,
For further information, high resolution imagery or downloadable video, please go towww.mtvbase.com/specials/mama15-press

Interviewee available
Viacom International Media Networks Africa SVP &MD AlexOkosi is available for live or pre-record television interviews on

• Saturday 18 July– availability is limited

For interviews please contact the SixThree media team on [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]

B-Roll Footage and audio available
There will be a 15-minute B roll package, shot to broadcast news standards, available free of charge without copyright restrictions. It is available via:

- APTN Global Video Wire (GVW),
- via BT local ends for UK-based broadcasters, via satellite feed for US broadcasters or by digital download. Audio files will be available by download only.

TV and Web Footage and Audio available for download

All video material and audio files will also be available for download at

https://sixthree.chillivault.tv/login

Username: [email protected]
Password: mtvmedia
Expected shotlist (18 July 2015 Durban, SA):

• Stars arriving on the red carpet at the ICC, Durban
• Celebrity interviews on the red carpet
• Soundbites with: Alex Okosi, SVP & MD, Viacom International Media Networks Africa
• General atmosphere
• GVs crowd outside the ICC
• Cleared interview and video clips from winning artists. Categories tbc
• Copyright cleared highlights from the main MTVBaseAwards Show (see note below regarding restrictions).

THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO ON-STAGE EVENTS WITHIN THE ICC AUDITORIUM AT THE MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS IN 2015: BROADCASTERS MUST USE THE ON-SCREEN COURTESY "COURTESY OF MTV BASE 2015"

THE MATERIAL MAY BE USED ONLY FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AWARDS PRESENTATION AS AN EVENT / NO LIBRARY ACCESS. NO RESALE.

The one 15highlights package will be distributed via local ends,APTN or you will be able to download the footage in broadcast quality.

For technical assistance on the day of transmission please contact [email protected] /

[email protected] /

[email protected]

B Roll via local ends for British based broadcasters

FEED DATE: Sunday 19 July 2015
FEED TIME: 0400-0415GMT(0600-0615 CAT)
Local end details: HD/GNE 67at BT Tower
APTN Transmission on the Global Video Wire
FEED DATE: Sunday 19 July 2015
FEED TIME: 0600-0615 GMT (0800-0815 CAT)
RE – FEED: 1315-1330 GMT (1515-1530 CAT)

For transmission problems and technical queries, please contact the APTN MCR

on +44 (0) 207 482 7575
US Satellite Feed
FEED DATE: Sunday 19 July 2015
FEED TIME: 0400-0415 GMT (0600 CAT)
RE-FEED DATE: Sunday 19 July 2015
FEED TIME: 1500-1515 GMT (1700CAT)
Feed details: IS805 24/24 Slot D – C Band

UL:6215.5 Vertical
DL: 3990.5 Horizontal
FEC: 3 / 4
Symbol Rate: 7.2
Modulation: DVB-S2 8PSK
MPEG4 420
HD: 1080/59.94
RoF: 20%
Pilots ON
B Roll via local ends for British based broadcasters - repeat

RE - FEED DATE: Sunday 19 July 2015
RE - FEED TIME: 1000-1015GMT (1200-1215 CAT)

Local end details: HD/GNE 67at BT Tower
For hard copies of the footage, please contact the SixThree Media team [email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]
TV and Web Footage and Audio available for download

All video material and audiofiles will also be available for download at

https://sixthree.chillivault.tv/login

Username: [email protected]
Password: mtvmedia
Download material will be available on Sunday 19 July byapproximately 0430 GMT for download.A 1.5-minute web video will also be available for download.

Media Accreditation
Working media wishing to cover the MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal in 2015 must complete an application form. Please contact the accreditation team on [email protected]. The accreditation team at MTVBase will review all accreditation applications and respond to all media.​