The Groove awards are here with us again and the nominees were revealed at the Groove Awards nomination night held on 29th April at the Arboretum, Nairobi.
There are a few repeat appearances, especially on the coveted Male and Female Artist of the year categories. DK Kwenye Beat, Kris Eeh Baba and Jimmy Gait are pitted against newcomer Pitson and veteran Rufftone. Eunice Njeri and Gloria Muliro remain un-budged from last year’s list and are joined by Size 8, Sarah k, Mercy D Lai and Janet Otieno.
This year’s awards have new categories. The Audio and Video Producer of the year categories were bumped in favour of regional artist’s awards that include Western Africa, Southern Africa and East & Central Africa Artist.
Here is the complete list of the Nominees for the Groove Awards:
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Bahati
• Dk Kwenye Beat
• Jimmy Gait
• Kris Eeh Baba
• Pitson
• Rufftone
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Eunice Njeri
• Gloria Muliro
• Janet Otieno
• Mercy D Lai
• Sarah K
• Size 8
GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Adawnage
• BMF
• Christ Cycoz
• Kelele Takatifu
• Nicholas Harmonies
• S.O.C
NEW ARTIST/NEW GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Benachi
• Danny Gift
• Diddi Kimer
• Grace Mwai
• Lady Bee
• LJay Maasai
RADIO PRESENTER OF THE YEAR
• Allan T – HBR
• Amani Aila – Hope FM
• Anthony Ndiema – Radio Maisha
• Kambua – Hot 96
• Lawrence Thuku – Truth FM
• Selly Amutabi – (Tambira) QFM
DJ OF THE YEAR
• DJ GG
• DJ Krowbar
• DJ Mo
• DJ Sadic
• DJ Sanch
• DJ Touch
SONG OF THE YEAR
• Asusu – Dk Kwenye Beat
• Lingala Ya Yesu – Pitson
• Machozi – Bahati
• Mateke – Size 8
• Msaidizi – Gloria Muliro
• Napokea Kwako – Janet Otieno ft. Christina Shusho
WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR
• Hakuna Silaha – Sarah K
• Holy God – Chomba
• Ni Juu Yako – Frank
• Niumbie na Roho Mtakatifu – Pastor Musembi
• Ulibeba – Eunice Njeri
• Uwepo – Mercylinah
HIPHOP SONG OF THE YEAR
• Mede (Mapepo) – Kris Eeh Baba & Friends
• One Way – Sanka
• Rise&Shine – Kelele Takatifu&Christ Cycoz
• Sir – Eko Dydda
• Testimony – Kennedy Krezi
• Wannabe – Dee&Holy Dave
RAGGA/REGGAE SONG OF THE YEAR
• Addicted – JFAM
• Big God – Dafari
• Glorious – Guardian Angel Ft. Jay & Tahilla
• Live Up – HopeKid
• Soldier – Mr. Vee
• Worship You – BMF ft. Mercy Wairegi
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
• Kirathimo – Grace Mwai
• Msaidizi – Gloria Muliro
• Nisamehe -Mercy D Lai
• Pacato – Pst. Musembi
• Silaha – Sarah K
• Uwepo Wako – Mercylinah
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
• Asusu – DK Kwenye Beat
• Kazi Ya Msalaba – Daddy Owen ft. Danny Gift
• Machozi- Bahati
• Mateke – Size 8
• Sambaza – Alice Kamande
• Signature – Jimmy Gait
COLLABO OF THE YEAR
• Kazi Ya Msalaba – Daddy Owen ft. Danny Gift
• Laleiyo – Ljay Maasai ft Shiro Wa GP
• Mungu Baba – Rufftone&GSU
• Napokea Kwako – Janet Otieno ft. Christina Shusho
• Ngai Ti Mundu – Betty Bayo&Mr. Seed
• Rise&Shine – Kelele Takatifu&Christ Cycoz
GOSPEL RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR
• Gospel Sunday-Milele
• Gospel Switch – Truth FM
• Inuka-Hot 96
• Mwamba Show – HBR
• Shangilia – Hope FM
• Tukuza – Radio Maisha
GOSPEL TV SHOW OF THE YEAR
• Angaza – KBC
• Crossover 101- NTV
• Gospel Sunday – (Kubamba&Rauka) CTV
• Password – NTV
• The Switch – K24
• Tukuza – KTN
CENTRAL SONG OF THE YEAR
• Ahiurania – ND Githuka
• Busy busy – Betty Bayo
• Kirathimo–Grace Mwai
• Ndikaria Thithino Yene – Waweru Karanja
• Nyungu Ya Ngai – Shiru Wa GP
• Queen – Loise Kim
EASTERN SONG OF THE YEAR
• Amaitha Kanw’ai – Eunice Kyalo
• Kinyuriru – Ndilima
• Kitole – Stephen Kasolo
• Malovoto – Phylis Mutisya
• Mwaka Mweu – Justus Myelo
• Ngumbau – Wilberforce Musyoka
NYANZA SONG OF THE YEAR
• Dala Mosingi – Muthoka
• Dongo Dongo – Geraldine Oduor
• Ekina – Mary Kerubo
• Kende Kende – Tetete
• Thuond Mula – Christine Otieno
• Yesu Olocho – Prisca Onyango
RIFT VALLEY SONG OF THE YEAR
• Kongoi Baba – Moses Sirgoi
• Laleiyo – Ljay Maasai ft. Shiru Wa GP
• Olenkodikod – Diddi Kimer
• Otononse – Lillian Rotich
• Sigiriet – Joel Kimeto
• Sobei Cheiso – Emmy Kosgei
PWANI SONG OF THE YEAR
• Ahadi Za Bwana – Pst. Anthony Musembi
• Bwana Wa Mabwana -Princess Farida
• Milele – Marion Shako
• Mwaminifu – Kristine Ndela Ft. Rozina
• Nisamehe – Mercy D Lai
• Tam Tam – Masha Mapenzi
WESTERN SONG OF THE YEAR
• Endiriranga – Ben Bahati
• Humbe Obulamu – Tetron Alubiri
• Khwekanile – Geofrey Kwatemba
• Mwami we tsimbavasi – Carol Martins
• Nyasaye Papa – Damso Mutsotso
• Shibenyanata – Joseph Shisia
DANCE GROUP THE YEAR
• All Stars
• De Tour
• Flamers
• Genje
• Gospel Warriors
• Tremors
WESTERN AFRICA ARTIST
• Cwesi Oteng – Ghana
• Frank Edwards- Nigeria
• Izzy Beats – Nigeria
• Nathaniel Bassey – Nigeria
• Sinach – Nigeria
• Uche – Nigeria
SOUTHERN AFRICA ARTIST
• Abel Chungu – Zambia
• Benjamin Dube – South Africa
• Joyous Celebration – South Africa
• MAG 44 – Zambia
• Pompi – Zambia
• Solly Mahlangu – South Africa
EASTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA ARTIST
• Christina Shusho – Tanzania
• David Kasika – Congo
• Exodus – Uganda
• Gaby Kwairizie – Rwanda
• Rose Muhando – Tanzania
• Solomon Mkubwa – Tanzania
P.S. Me thinks we should petition the organizers of Groove Awards to create a category for top "Socialites" (whatever that term means in our Kenyan context). I believe parading ones nudes on social media is no mean achievement.
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