Durban - After much secrecy and marketing alluding to an evolution, MTV Base announced that the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards (Mamas) would again return to Durban, cementing eThekwini’s place as the destination of choice for the awards ceremony. This time, they will be held on Mandela Day, July 18.
The announcement was made at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban on Thursday afternoon.
While it is no secret that Durban will play host to this glittering event for the second year running, it’s a mystery who will host the event this year. While it seemed a little unnecessary for the channel to fly guests and media to Durban for an announcement that wasn’t bigger than its hype, guests were well taken care of with the food and drinks on hand.
Vice-president of Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Alex Okosi, said no matter who the host would be, the awards would continue celebrating the cream of Pan-African talent while also realising its vision of being a dynamic and global powerful force.
The question is: will it be another “Z-list American celebrity who can’t pronounce African names?”(referring to previous host, comedian Marlon Wayans), as one journalist put it to Okosi. Only time will tell.
A handful of SA music stars such as Durban’s finest artists, DJ Tira, Danger of Big Nuz, Duncan and rap group Dream Team were there.
Among those representing Joburg were Khuli Chana, who was also unveiled as Absolut vodka ambassador, AKA and Cassper Nyovest who arrived wearing almost identical red-and-black plaid shirts.
Guests who attended the conference can look forward to being pampered when the Mamas nominations are announced on June 11. There will be three exciting build-up events featuring Mama nominees and DJs in Durban on June 27, Lagos on July 3 and Kenya on August 1.
The awards will crown Africa’s best artists in 17 categories in a ceremony that will take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. The ceremony will be beamed to millions across the globe on MTV’s various partner channels