Kora Awards

KORA Awards
Awarded forOutstanding musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa
CountryVarious
First awarded1996
Websitekoraawards.com/en/
Television/radio coverage
NetworkChannel O

The KORA All Africa Music Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. The awards were founded in 1994 by Benin born businessman, Ernest Adjovi, after a discussion in Namibia with the country's President Hage Geingob who was then a Prime Minister.[1] The award is named after the kora, a West African plucked chordophone.

The awards have been subject to several postponements since 1994 with a variety of reasons given. Problems have arisen with contracts signed, large sums of monies have been paid and the event postponed.[1]

In 2011 Adjovi was detained by the Nigerian Police Force with allegations he defrauded three Nigerian bodies. In 2008 Adjovi allegedly accepted [US]$2.5 million for the 2008 Awards to be hosted by the Cross River State Government. He later allegedly struck an agreement with the Lagos State Government for US$7.5 million but the awards were not staged until 2010 in Burkina Faso. At those awards brothers PSquare were named Artiste of the Year and were awarded a cash prize of $1 million but the prize was not forthcoming.[2]

The 2015 awards were to be held 13 December in Namibia[3] and a launch event was held in Namibia in May 2015.[4] They were postponed to March 2016 and Adjovi was paid N$23,5 million. The awards did not take place and the whereabouts of Adovi is unknown. Namibia is trying to recover the money.[5]

Since its inception, the KORA Awards has been staged eleven times on the African Continent. For the first ten years (1996-2005 - 9 Awards), the ceremony took place in South Africa. It has since moved to Burkina Faso (2010) and Côte d’Ivoire (2012).[6]

Winners have come from many different countries: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comores, Côte d'Ivoire = Ivory Coast, Republic of the Congo = Congo, England, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, île de la Reunion, Kenya, Mali, Mauitius, Morocco, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Réunion, Rwanda, Senegal, Seyschelles, South Africa, Sweden, Tchad, Togo, Uganda, United States and Zimbabwe.

Winners

Source:[7]

Award Winner Award Winner Award Winner Award Winner
1996
Best Male Artist of Africa Youssou N'Dour (Senegal) Best Male Artist of Africa Papa Wemba (DRC) Best Female Artist of Africa Miriam Makeba (South Africa) Most promising Male Artist of Africa Lokua Kanza (DRC)
Most promising Female Artist of Africa Brenda Fassie (South Africa) Best Artist of North Africa Cheb Mami (Algeria) Best Artist of West Africa Meiway (Côte d'Ivoire) Best Artist of Central Africa Awilo Logomba (DRC)
Best Musician of Africa Bheki Mseleku (South Africa) Best Group of Africa Bayete (South Africa) Best Arrangement of Africa Denzil Waela (South Africa) LifeTime Achievement Award Miriam Makeba (South Africa)
1997
Best Male Artist of Africa Ismael Lo (Senegal) Best Female Artist of Africa Angélique Kidjo (Benin) Most promising Male Artist of Africa Cheikh Lô (Senegal) Most promising Female Artist of Africa Khadja Nin (Burundi)
Best Male Artist of North Africa Cheb Khaled (Algeria) Best Female Artist of West Africa Cesaria Evora (Cape Verde) Best Artist of Central Africa Awilo Logomba (DRC) Best Male Artist of East Africa Ziskakan (île de la Reunion)
Best Artist of Diaspora Europe / Caribbean Edith Lefel (France) Best Traditional Artist of Africa Angélique Kidjo (Benin) Best Traditional Group of Africa Nigui Saff K-Dance (Côte d'Ivoire) Best Arrangement of Africa Boncana Maïga (Mali)
1999
Best Male Artist of Africa Femi Kuti (Nigeria) Best Female Artist of Africa Brenda Fassie (South Africa) Most promising Male Artist of Africa Axel Govinda (Côte d'Ivoire) Best Artist of North Africa Takfarinas (Algeria)
Best Male Artist of West Africa Femi Kuti (Nigeria) Best Artist of Central Africa Bozi Boziana (DRC) Best Artist of East Africa Khadja Nin (Burundi) Best Artist from Southern Africa Ringo (South Africa)
Best Artist of Diaspora USA Lauryn Hill (United States) Best Artist of Diaspora Europe / Caribbean Natali Lorio (France) Best Group of Africa Bisso Na Bisso (Congo) Best Traditional Group of Africa Nigui Saff K-Dance (Côte d'Ivoire)
Best Arrangement Bisso Na Bisso (Congo) Best Video Bisso Na Bisso (Congo) Lifetime Achievement Award

Michael Jackson (USA)

2000
Best Male Artist of Africa Wes (Cameroon) Best Female Artist of Africa Zenzi (South Africa) Most promising Male Artist of Africa Kaysha (DRC) Most promising Female Artist of Africa Zenzi (South Africa)
Best Male Artist of West Africa Kojo Antwi (Ghana) Best Male Artist of Central Africa André Marie Tala (Cameroon) Best Male Artist of East Africa Jean Marc Volcy (Seychelles) Best Male Artist from Southern Africa jabu khanyile (South Africa)
Best Artist of Diaspora USA Sisqo (USA) Best Group of Africa Extra Musica (Congo) Best Traditional Artist of Africa King Mensah (Togo) Best Arrangement of Africa Valerie Kimani (Kenya)
LifeTime Achievement Award Kofi Annan (Ghana) Best Video of Africa Wes (Cameroon)
2001
Most promising Female Artist of Africa Rokia Traoré (Mali) Best Artist of North Africa Rhany Kabbadj (Morocco) Best Female Artist of Africa Coumba Gawlo (Senegal) Best Male Artis of Africa Werrason (DRC)
Best Artist of Southern Africa Mandoza (South Africa) Best Artist of Diaspora USA Bebe Winans (USA) Best Group of Africa Bongo Maffin (South Africa) Best Female Artist of West Africa Coumba Gawlo (Senegal)
Best Video of Africa Sawt el Atlas (Morocco) Jury Special Award Brenda Fassie (South Africa) Best Traditional Artist of Africa Meiway (Côte d'Ivoire) Best Arrangement of Africa Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South Africa)
Most promising Male Artist of Africa Ernie Smith (Côte d'Ivoire) Most Promising Female Artist of Africa Felia Mballo (Senegal) Best Female Artist of East Africa Sandra Mayotte (Mauritius) Jury Special Award Awilo Logomba (DRC)
2002
Most promising Female Artist of Africa Annie-Flore Batchiellilys (Gabon) Most promising Male Artist of Africa Blak Twang (England) Best Artist of East Africa Eric Wainaina and Henrie Mutuku (Kenya) Best Group of Africa Makoma (DRC)
Best Arrangement of Africa Meyway (Côte d'Ivoire) Best Male Artist of Central Africa Koffi Olomidé (DRC) Best Female Artist of West Africa Suzanna Lubrano (Cape Verde) Best Female Artist of Africa Judith Sephuma (South Africa)
Best Traditional Artist of Africa King Ayaovi Mensah (Togo) Best Artist of Diaspora USA Shaggy (USA) Best Video of Africa Koffi Olomidé (DRC) Best Arrangement of Africa Koffi Olomidé (DRC)
Jury Special Award Koffi Olomidé (DRC)
2003
Best Artist – West Africa – Male Kojo Antwi (Ghana) Best Artist – West Africa – Female Suzanna (Cape Verde) Best Artist – East Africa – Male George Okudi (Uganda) Best Artist – East Africa – Female Chamsia Sagaf (Comores)
Best Artist – Central Africa – Male Douleur (Cameroon) Best Artist – Central Africa – Female Mbilia Bel & Tshala Muana (R.D.Congo) Best Artist – Southern Africa – Male Oliver Mtukudzi ( Zimbabwe) Best Artist – Southern Africa – Female Busi Mhlongo(South Africa)
Best Artist Or Group Traditional Machesa Traditional Group (Botswana) Best African Group Quartier Latin International (D.R. Congo) & nti-Palu (Ivory Coast) Best African Video Jeff Maluleke ( South Africa) Best African Arrangement Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South Africa)
Best African Gospel Female Artist Rebecca (South Africa) Best African Gospel Male Artist Lundi (South Africa) Best African Gospel Group Notre Dame de la Salette (Gabon) Most Promising African Female Artist Barbara Kanam (D.R.Congo)
Most Promising African Male Artist Jean-Paul Samputu (Rwanda) Most Promising African Group Macase (Cameroon) Revelation Of The Year Eben & Family (Gabon) Most Promising Artist of the African American Diaspora Ludacris (USA)
Best Female Artist of the African American Diaspora Angie Stone (USA) Best Male Artist of the African American Diaspora R Kelly (USA) Best Video of the African American Diaspora R Kelly (USA) Life Time Achievement Award Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe)
Europe/ Caribbean Diaspora Avalon (Mohombi & Djo Moupondo) (Sweden) Special Judge Award Soumbil (Ivory Coast) & Notre Dame de la salette (Gabon)
2004
Best Traditional Artiste King Mensah (Togo) Best West African Female Kamaldine (Guinea) Best West African Male Kunle (Nigeria) Best African Group JJC&419 Squad (Nigeria)
Best African Video Reggie Rockstone (Ghana) Best Gospel Group Schekina (Ivory Coast) Promising Male Artist Madson Junior (Burkina Faso) Best East African Female Achieng Abura (Kenya)
Best East African Male Big Pin (Kenya) Best Gospel Male Artist Kunle (Nigeria) DNG (Kenya) Best East African Female Tsedenia Gebremarkos (Ethiopia) Best Central African Male Félix Wazekwa (DRC) & Werrason (DRC)
Best Male African Artist Werrason (DRC) Promising Female Artist Dinally (Cameroon) Best S.A. Male Artist Kabelo Mabalane (South Africa) Best S.A. Female Artist Thandiswa Mazwai (South Africa)
Best African Group Malaika (South Africa) Best Gospel Female Deborah Fraser (South Africa) Best Traditional Group Mahube (South Africa) Promising Female Artist Swazi (South Africa)
Best African Video Zola (South Africa) Best Arrangement Wanda Baloyi (South Africa) Revelation of the Year Malaika (South Africa) Best African Female Thandiswa Mazwai (South Africa)
2005
Best Male Artist of Africa Hugh Masekela (South Africa) Best Female Artist of Africa Adja Soumano (Mali) Most Promising Male Artist of Africa 2 Face Idibia (Nigeria) Most Promising Female Artist of Africa Kaz (Kenya)
Best Male Artist of West Africa Martin Hod (Benin) Best Male Artist of West Africa Neji (Nigeria) Best Female Artist of West Africa Zeinab (Benin) Best Female Artist of Central Africa Naneth (Gabon)
Best Female Artist of East Africa Neema (Kenya) Best Male Artist of East Africa Alain Auriant (Mauritius) Best Video of Africa Afrotenors (South Africa) Best Group of West Africa and Africa Ade Bantu (Nigeria)
Best Group of East Africa Longombas (Kenya) Best Female Artist of Southern Africa Perola (Angola) Best Group of West Africa Praye (Ghana) Best Arrangement of Africa Toumani Diabate (Mali)
Best Artiste of Diaspora USA Will Smith (USA) Best Male Artist of Central Africa Werrason (DRC) Best Artist of Diaspora Europe / Caribbean Kaysha (France) Best Gospel Group of Africa Maximum Melodies (Kenya)
Best Female Artist of West Africa Adja Soumano (Mali) LifeTime Achievement Award Koffi Olomide (DRC)
2010
Best Female Artist of Africa Asa (Nigeria) Best Traditional Artist of Africa Bassekou Kouyate (Mali) Best Ragga Group of Africa Chronik 2H (Senegal) Best Group of Diaspora Europe / Caribbean Mc Malcriado (Cape Verde)
Best Reggae Artist of Africa King Wadada (Nigeria) Best Traditional Group of Africa Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa) Best Arrangement of Africa Toumani Diabate (Mali) Best Male Artist of Africa P Square (Nigeria)
Best Gospel Male Artist of Africa Sammie-Okposo (Nigeria) Best Hip Hop Artist of Africa Smockey (Burkina Faso) Best Reggae Artist of Africa Sasha Marley (Ghana) Most Promising Female Artist of Africa Chidinma (Nigeria)
Best Gospel Female Artist of Africa Noellie (Togo) LifeTime Achievement Award Pierre Akendegue (Gabon) LifeTime Achievement Award Cesaria Evora (Cape Verde) Best Gospel Group of Africa Black Diamond (Senegal)
Best Group of Africa P Square (Nigeria) Best Video of Africa P Square (Nigeria) Best Female Artist of Diaspora Europe/Carrebean Felia (Senegal) Best Female Artist of Diaspora USA Alicia Keys (Kenya)
2012
Best Artist of Africa DJ Arafat (Côte d'Ivoire) Best Traditional Female Artist of Africa Aida Samb (Senegal) Best Artist of North Africa Cheb Khaled (Algeria) Best Female Artist of West Africa Chidinma (Nigeria)
Most Promising Male Artist of Africa Davido (Nigeria) Best Female Artist of North Africa Hasna El Necharia (Algeria) Best Female Artist of East Africa Juliana Kanyomozi (Uganda) Best Male Artist of East Africa Kidum (Burundi)
Best Male Artist of Central Africa Lord Ekomy Ndong (Gabon) Best Male Artist of West Africa DJ Arafat (Côte d'Ivoire) Best Female Artist of Central Africa Mounira Mitchala (Tchad) Best Gospel Group of Africa Seraphim Songs (Burundi)
Best Gospel Male Artist of Africa Yvan(Benin) Best Female Artist of Southern Africa Zahara (South Africa) Best Group of Africa Magic Systeme (Côte d'Ivoire) Best Female Artist of Diaspora Europe/Caribbean Sega El (Reunion)
Most Promising Female Artist of Africa Sessime (Benin) Best Traditional Male Artist of Africa Stanlux (Togo) Best Male/Group of Diaspora Europe/Caribbean Sexion D'Assaut (France) Best Male Artist of Diaspora USA Chris Brown (USA)
Best Female Artist of Diaspora USA Rihanna (USA) Best Traditional Group of Africa Les Freres Guedehoungue (Benin) Best Director of Africa Gelongal (Senegal) Best Male Artist of Southern Africa The Dogg (Namibia)
Best Gospel Female Artist of Africa Soeur Lydie (DRC)

References

  1. ^ a b "Buying into Adjovi's empty dream by Wonder Guchu 4 March 2016". The Nambibian. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Kora Awards Chairman Ernest Adjovi Arrested By Lagos Police by Osagie Alonge 15 August 2011". Net. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Kora Awards return with million dollar grand prize by In-house team 29 May 2015". Music Africa. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Koras boss reveals struggle by Patience Bambalele 23 May 2015". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Kora founder Adjovi vanishes by Ndapewoshali Shapwanale 1 June 2016". The Nambibian. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Kora Awards [host countries]". Kora Awards. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Winners". Kora Awards. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.