MTV postpones 2021 Africa Music Awards slated for Ugandan capital

Organizers of MTV Africa Music Awards, MAMAs, have postponed the 2021 edition that was slated to take place in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

The announcement was made through social media handles of the music channel. "MTV Base is postponing the 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards. We will keep fans updated as we have more news," the posts read.

The postponement comes a little above two weeks to the highly publicised event that was scheduled for February 20th.

Even though the channel said they will keep fans updated, the postponement is being linked with political events in the East African country. The government was widely reported as muzzling opposition in a heated and deadly presidential and parliamentary poll in January.

Rights campaigners had mounted an advocacy calling on MTV Base to take away the event from Kampala. Some of the activists have since been 'celebrating' the latest development on social media.

On January 22, the organizers announced that Grammy Award-winning global sensation, DJ and record executive, DJ Khaled, will be the international host for the Kampala 2021 edition.

The awards was for the first time going to be aired globally on MTV in 180 countries. "Khaled will host the virtual awards ceremony from his glamourous home in Miami, Florida, alongside African co-emcees for the star-studded Kampala event," MTV said in a statement.

MTV Base is postponing the 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards.

We will keep fans updated as we have more news. pic.twitter.com/yLvxxZpaVs

— MTV Base Africa (@MTVBaseAfrica) February 4, 2021