Duel:Yemi Alade Battles Tiwa savage For Best Female Artists

The subtle supremacy question between top Nigerian female hip hop
acts, Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade, will get a verdict in November when
the grand finale of this year's All Africa Music Festival holds in
Lagos.
Both singers have been nominated alongside other artistes in the Best
Female Artiste, West Africa category, respectively for their songs, If
I Start to Talk and Na Go De.
Many agree that Tiwa and Alade have, in recent years, been in the
vanguard of female artistes that are reshaping the content of Nigerian
music.
Although Savage broke into the limelight earlier, Alade later came in
very forcefully and she does not seem to have dropped then.
Even where Tiwa may have an edge over her in terms of a piercing
voice, Alade's songs are usually very forceful, just as the energy she
invests in performances and videos can be phenomenal.
When AFRIMA's panel of judges eventually come up with their judegement
on November 16, it will be interesting to see where the pendulum will
swing.
But this may be an arbitrary observation as there are
other female musicians they are contesting with on the
table
Indeed, based on how some of them are fairing in their recent works,
the game may just remain open as the jury would want to say.
Also nominated for the AFRIMA Best Female Artiste of the Year, West
Africa are Aramide, with the song, I Don't Care; Niniola, J'ete;
Seyi Shay, Right Now; and Temi Doll Face, School Hour.
Nominated from Senegal is Adiouza, with the song, Daddy; while Josey
is carrying the Ivoriene flag with her song,
Diplome.
The list for the Best Male Artiste, West Africa is also very
interesting. Here Flavour and Wizkid are in competition with their
songs Dance and Final Baba Nla respectively.
Brymo and Tekno are also in the race with In the City and Duro, while
two Ghanaian stars, Okyeame and Sarkodie, are shortlisted for their
songs, Small Small and Hand to Mouth .
From Mali, Idikiba & co completes the list with Confiance.
Many other artistes have been nominated in other regions of the
continent, while the organisers said nominations in other categories
of the competition would soon be released.
Unveiling the nominees' list, the African Union and the 13-man jury
expressed excitement at the quantity and quality of the entries
received.
According to the moderator of the adjudication process, Mr. Mike
Strano, about 2,700 entries from African music professionals were
received between of May 20, 2015 and July 30, 2016 when the submission
lasted.
Describing the nomination process as careful and thorough, Strano
harped on the Jury's resolve to be fair and transparent.
He said, "The Jjury is very careful about being accurate right from
the process of verifying eligibility of entries to the process
collating and finalising results. It is an evolving process but one we
work painstakingly at to ensure transparency and fairness."