King Ayisoba, Koo Nimo, Fuse ODG, Skuulfo for Kora Awards

Four Ghanaian artistes, King Ayisoba, Koo Nimo, Fuse ODG, Skuulfo have been nominated in the 2012 Kora Awards which is Africa’s foremost music awards.

Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, a businessman originally from Benin, the ceremony rewards the best artists of Africa and its Diaspora. It Awards has over the years awarded some of Africa’s finest musicians.

This year’s awards comes off at the Palais des Congrès de l’Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan on December 29.

Ghanaian-born-UK based artiste, Fuse ODG has been nominated in the Best Male West Africa category for his Azonto song which features Tiffany. He will battle out that category with Molare from Côte d’Ivoire, DJ Arafat (Côte d’Ivoire), D Banj (Nigeria), Sekouba Bambino (Guinea) and Flavour (Nigeria).

Gospel music group Askuulfo known for that hit song Adandesie will faceoff with Landry Foua Bi (Côte d’Ivoire), Yvan (Benin), Thocco Katimba (Malawi), Carlam (Gabon), Mesach Semakula feat Dj Michael (Uganda) for the Best Male Gospel of the year.

For the Best Male Traditional category, legendary hi-life musician Koo Nimo and the controversial King Ayisoba face stiff competition from Kiflay Issak (Eritrea), Stanlux (Togo), and Nasser (Mauritania) for that award.

The 12th edition is expected to attract some of the content’s best acts on stage on the night of the awards with US R&B star, Chris Brown, who has been nominated in the Best Male Diaspora (USA) category, named to also perform at the event.

Full list of nominees:

Best Male West Africa

Fuse ODG Feat Itz Tiffany, Donae – Azonto, Ghana Molare – Coupé Decalé, Côte D’ivoire Dj Arafat - Kpankaka, Côte d’Ivoire D Banj – Oliver Twist, Nigeria Sekouba Bambino - Sinontena, Guinée Flavour - Adamma, Nigeria

Best Female West Africa

Omawumi- If You Ask Me, Nigeria Viviane Ndour - Kumu Nexxul, Senegal Chindima – Kedike, Nigeria Fafa Ruffino Feat Rockin Squat – Ilé, Benin Claire Bahi Feat. Dj Arafat – Comme Ceci Comme Cela, Côte D’ivoire Suzanna Lubrano - Pensa Na Mi, Cap Vert

Best Male East Africa

Jimmie Gait Feat Dk – Furi Furi Dance, Kenya Kidum Feat Sana – Mulika Mwizi, Burundi Ali Kiba Feat Lady Jay Dee – Single Boy, Tanzanie Redsan – Ila Wewe, Kenya Chris D – Aisha, Burundi Mulatu Astatke – Ethiopie, Ethiopie

Best Female East Africa

Juliana Kanyomozi – I Am Ugandan, Ouganda Marya - Shiki Simu, Kenya Helen Berhe – Lebe, Ethiopie Asther Aweke – Lu Mili, Ethiopie Saida Karoli – Sakina, Tanzanie Ikraan Caraale – Gaarsiiya, Somalie

Best Male Central Africa

Lokoua Kanza – Nakonzonga, Rdc JB M’piana – La Danse Du Cheval, Rdc Lord Ekomy Ndong – Bi Se Fe Nale, Gabon Freddy Massamba – Lobelanga, Congo Brazza Totoi Bolabote – Botaka, Guinée Equatoriale Ferre Gola – Tchekele Pete, Rdc

Best Female Central Africa

Princess Leoni Kangala Feat Pili Pili Magale – Nzara, Centrafrique Barbara Kanam – Djarabi, Rdc Charlotte Dipanda – Coucou, Cameroun Lady Ponce - Secouer Secouer, Cameroun Meje 30 – Fimbu Ya Bakanda, Rdc Mounira Mitchala – Independence, Tchad

Best Male Southern Africa

Madruga Yoyo - Vamos La, Angola Maya Cool – Faz Um Milagre Em Mim, Angola The Dogg – The Deception, Namibie Alain Ramanisum – Sega Sexy, Ile Maurice Richard – Vou Cuidar De Ti, Mozambique Mbongeni Ngema - My Baby, Afrique Du Sud

Best Female Southern Africa

Zahara - Loliwe, Afrique Du Sud Lizha James Feat. Perola – Leva Boy, Mozambique Yola Araujo Feat. Jacob Desvarieux – E Hoje Ou Nunca, Angola Toya Delazy – Pump It On, Afrique Du Sud Titica Feat Ary – Olha O Boneco, Angola Shelby – Damata, Angola

Best Male North Africa

Cheb Khaled – C’est La Vie, Algerie Kader Japonais – Gachitili Ma Vie, Algerie Yassine Rammi Feat. Hammid B – Ya, Maroc Madou Mc - La Tête Haute, Tunisie Hossam Habibi – Bafkar Feek, Egypte Dizzy Dros – Casafonia, Maroc

Best Female North Africa

Kadidja Yama – Samhay, Maroc Zina Daoudia – Saken Aisha, Maroc Hasna El Becharia – Djazair Johara, Algerie Nadia Laarousi – Lil Ya Lil, Algerie

Best African Group

Magic System – La Danse Des Magician, Cã´Te D’ivoire Toofan – C Magik, Togo X Maleya - Tchokolo, Cameroun Malaika – Never Change My Mind, Afrique Du Sud Camp Mulla - Party Don’t Stop, Kenya Gal Level – Ohole, Namibie

Best Male Diaspora (USA)

Chris Brown Feat. Lil’wayne & Busta Rhymes – Look At Me Now, Usa Jay-Z Feat Kanye West – Niggaz In Paris, USA Chris Brown – Yeah, USA P Diddy – I’m Coming Home, USA Florida - I Got A Feeling, USA Wiz Khalifa – Roll Up, USA

Best Female Diaspora (USA)

Rihanna – We Found Love, USA Rammy - G For Gentlemen, Côte D’ivoire Beyonce – Run The World, USA Nikki Minaj – Superbass, USA Keri Hilson Feat. Nelly – Lose Control, USA Tolumide - For Me, USA

Best Male Diaspora (Europe and Carribean)

Sexion D’assaut – Avant Qu’elle Ne Parte, France Stromae – Alors On Danse, Belgique Logobi Gt Feat Sisi K Et Bb Model- Elle Danse Sexy, France Victor O – Vini Dou, France Jim Rama Feat Alan Cavé – Mon Seul Regret, France Slaï – Ça Ne Te Convient Pas, France

Best Female Diaspora (Europe and Carribbean)

Njie – Marzouk Ethnie, France Michelle Henderson – Pani Pawol, Dominique Tanya St Val – N’oublie Pas, France Stevy Mahi – Yenki Pou Vou, France Jocelyne Labylle – Quelqu’un De Bien, France Sega El – Jaloux, France

Best Male Gospel

Landry Foua Bi – La Clé De Ma Liberté, Côte D’ivoire Yvan – Ton Amour Me Suffit, Benin Thocco Katimba – Ambuye Ndiribe Nanu Mau, Malawi Carlam – Prospérité, Gabon Skuulfo – Adandesie, Ghana Mesach Semakula Feat Dj Michael – Nina Omukwano, Ouganda

Best Female Gospel

Soeur Lydie Nseya – Bolamu, Rdc Bernice Blackie - Crucifixion, Liberia Tonzi – Shima Imana, Rwanda Rebecca – I Need You More, Nigeria N’lauretta – Hommage À Jésus, Cameroun L’or Mbongo – Yeshua, Angola

Best Gospel Group

Joyous Celebration – Wangilwela, Afrique Du Sud Seraphim Song’s – Impundu, Burundi Infinity – Press On, Nigeria Soweto Gospel Choir – Avulekile Amasango, Afrique Du Sud Dmk – Don’t Worry, Zambia Gael – Amour Eternel, Rdc

Best Male Traditional

Kiflay Issak – Mekseb, Erythrée Stanlux – Africavio, Togo Nasser - Moustapha, Mauritanie King Ayisoba - Awudome, Ghana Koo Nimo – Sounds From Ghana, Ghana

Best Female Traditional

Hamsou Garba – Magana Zoutchi, Niger Aida Sam - Saraaba, Senegal Myriam Fares - Tlah, Maroc Queen Koumb – Sissa Na Bu Ngussu, Gabon Affou Keita – Commandant, Côte D’ivoire

Best Group Traditional

Les Reines Mères – Tos, Côte D’ivoire Ni Malagasy Orchestra – Salegy, Madagascar Tinariwen – Tenere Taqqim Tossam, Mali Les Frères Guedehoungue - Feu De Brousse, Benin Sotheca – Goly, Côte D’ivoire The Dizu Plaatjies Ibuyambo Ensemble - Izindiba, Afrique Du Sud

Best Male Newcomer

Aslay - Niwenawe, Kenya Floby – Saanida, Burkina Faso Loyiso - Wrong To You, Afrique Du Sud Aziz Azion – My Oxygen, Ouganda Davido – Dami Duro, Nigeria John Chiti – Wapusuku, Zambie

Best Female Newcomer

Djelika Diawara – An Mi Woula, Mali Amira Fathy - Ou’bal El Banat, Egypt Keko Feat Madtraxxx- Make You Dance, Kenya Nuella – Wakoulezi, Cote D’ivoire Sessimã – Mayavio, Benin Sacha Feat Bably- Nsobanurira, Rwanda

Best Director

Clarence Peters For Capital Dreams - Kedike Of Chindima, Nigeria Dj Marcell- Leva Boy Of Lizha James, Mozambique Ash Dibben – Loliwe Of Zahara, Afrique Du Sud Gelongal – Kumu Nexxul Of Viviane Ndour, Senegal Grand Poucet – Coupé-Décallé Of Molare, Côte D’ivoire Jessy Nottola – Oh Amadou Of Amadou Et Maryam, Tanzanie