Uganda to host 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards

Uganda the pearl of Africa is set to host next year’s MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs),

MTV made the announcement on Wednesday and said the event will take place on February 20, 2021. The Kampala presentation will be the first-ever live-streamed virtual MTV Africa Awards. It will also be the first time that the awards will be held in Uganda.

Monde Twala, senior vice president of ViacomCBS Networks Africa, hailed Uganda’s vision to use the awards to unite young people through culture and music, and also celebrate music across the continent.

“Everyone knows that the Pearl of Africa (Uganda) is one of the most beautiful, most amazing parts of Africa…and the people, the vibe, the music in Uganda…there is no other place that is well and ready to host the MAMAs in 2021,” Twala said.

Holding the awards virtually will a wide variety of cross-border collaboration between international and African artists “way more than we have ever had before”, Craig Paterson, senior vice president of ViacomCBS Networks Africa, said.

Uganda’s State Minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda said the announcement marked a “great day” for Africa and Uganda, which, he added, was “super excited” to host the awards.

“This is Africa’s best moment as we showcase the Pearl of Africa. Welcome MAMAs to the Pearl of Africa! Welcome MAMAs to Uganda!” Kiwanda said.

Kiwanda said the hosting of the MAMAs will be done in conjunction with the ministry to boost the country’s tourism profile. Tourism contributes about 10 percent to the East African nation’s GDP.

The ultimate celebration of local African and international talent and achievement, MAMA 2021, in partnership with Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, recognizes and rewards musicians, trailblazers and those who are shining a light on the continent’s diverse talent and creativity by instilling positive impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year. The awards ceremony will feature vibrant performances from leading African and international artists and will also showcase some of the biggest cross-genre and cross-border collaborations.

The event will celebrate African talent across 20 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song, and Best Collaboration. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognized in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. Additional new categories included are the MAMA Generation Change Award, Best Fan Base, Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance and Personality of the Year. These new categories seek to demonstrate MTV Base’s commitment to supporting the youth of Africa.

Uganda hosting the MAMAs has been attributed to the peace and stability brought by th National Resistance Movement (NRM).