This year’s award, slated to hold on October 7 will take place at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas.
The highly competitive award sees artistes from various parts of the continent competing in various categories. With over 8,000 entries, organisers of the 2018 edition of the annual music awards on Friday released its nominees list comprising top acts across the continent.
The list covers five regional categories for both male and female.
Other popular Nigerian artistes who were nominated include Wizkid, Simi, DJ Spinall, and Olamide.
Public voting is expected to commence from Monday, August 27, 2018, ahead of the event taking place in November.
See the full list below.
| Best Female Artiste in Central Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Amanda Malela | DRC | Kumama |
| 2 | Anabela Aya | Angola | I love you Bue |
| 3 | Blanche Baily | Cameroon | BonBon |
| 4 | Bruna Tatiana | Angola | Amo-te |
| 5 | Charlotte Dipanda ft Yemi Alade | Cameroon | Sista |
| 6 | Daphne | Cameroon | Jusqu’à La Gare |
| 7 | Iyenga | DRC | Sorry |
| 8 | Shura | Cameroon | Allez Dire |
| Best Male Artiste in Central Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | AFROTRONIX | Chad | DYD |
| 2 | Belamy Paluku (DRC) | DRC | Blood Brothers |
| 3 | Dadju | DRC | Bob Marley |
| 4 | FALLY IPUPA FT KEBACK& NAZ | DRC | MANNEQUIN |
| 5 | GAZ MAWETE | DRC | PAULINA |
| 6 | Locko | Cameroon | Je Serai La |
| 7 | Magasco | Cameroon | Sokoto |
| 8 | Maite Gims Ft. Vianney | DRC | La Meme |
| Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Betty G | Ethiopia | Mengedegna |
| 2 | Irene namatovu | Uganda | Nsambila nyuma nga janzi |
| 3 | Maua Sama | Tanzania | Nakuelewa |
| 4 | Petra Ft. Victoria Kimani | Kenya | I got that |
| 5 | Rash Ft Ruff | Kenya | Nitachange |
| 6 | Sandra Nankoma | Uganda | kaddugala |
| 7 | Sheebah SASHA VYBZ | Uganda | Mummy Yo |
| 8 | Vibe ft MC Galaxy | Rwanda | Neza |
| Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Bebe Cool | Uganda | Freedom |
| 2 | Diamond Platnumz | Tanzania | A boy from Tandale |
| 3 | HARMONIZE FT DIAMOND PLATNUMZ | Tanzania | KWANGWARU |
| 4 | Kagwe Mungai Ft. Niniola | Kenya | Till the end |
| 5 | Khaligraph Jones Ft. Petra | Kenya | Rider |
| 6 | Nyashinski | Kenya | Bebi Bebi |
| 7 | RAYVANNY FT MAPHORISA & DJ BUCKZ | Tanzania | MAKULUSA |
| 8 | Yamiu Mola | Ethiopia | Wegegta |
| Best Female Artiste in Northern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Kenza | Algeria | Maliket Saba |
| 2 | Lyna Mahyem | Algeria | Boucan |
| 3 | Lyna Mahyem ft Medi Meyz | Algeria | Bye Bye |
| 4 | Maryam Saleh, Maurice Louca, Tamer Abu Ghazaleh | Egypt | Ekaa Maksour |
| 5 | N-S feat Kafon | Tunisia | Daloula |
| 6 | Souhia Ben Lachhab | Algeria | Lik Manwalich |
| Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Abu Ft. Yousta | Egypt | 3 Daqat |
| 2 | Balti ft Hamouda | Tunisia | Ya Lili |
| 3 | DJ Moh Green Ft. Magasco | Algeria | Por Favor |
| 4 | Hamza El Fadly | Morocco | Ya Mraya |
| 5 | Lartiste ft Carolina | Morocco | Mafiosa |
| 6 | Muslim | Morocco | Mama |
| 7 | Saad Lamjarred | Morocco | Casablanca |
| 8 | Sofiane Ft. Maitre Gims | Algeria | Arafricain |
| Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Ammara Brown | Zimbabwe | Akiliz |
| 2 | Babes Wodumu | South Africa | Ganda Ganda Ft. Mampintsha & Madanon |
| 3 | Lily | Malawi | Bad at Love |
| 4 | Mandisa Mamba | Swaziland | Party |
| 5 | Nadia Nakai | South Africa | Money Calling Ft. Frank Casino |
| 6 | Rouge | South Africa | Dololo Ft. Bigstar |
| 7 | Ruby the Pigeon | Namibia | Rorisang |
| 8 | Shekhinah | South Africa | Please Mr |
| Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Cassper Nyovest | South Africa | Ksazobalit |
| 2 | EXQ | Zimbabwe | Pahukama Ft. Jah Prayzah |
| 3 | Jah Prayzah | Zimbabwe | Nziyo Yerudo Ft. Yemi Alade |
| 4 | Kwesta | South Africa | Spirit Ft. Wale |
| 5 | Nasty C | South Africa | Jungle |
| 6 | Roberto | Zambia | Contolola Ft. Patoranking |
| 7 | Shane Eagle | South Africa | Let it Flow |
| 8 | Sibusiso Mashiloane | South Africa | Niza |
| Best Female Artiste in Western Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Angelique Kidjo | Benin | Once in a Lifetime |
| 2 | Aya Nakamura | Mali | Oumou Sangare |
| 3 | Becca | Ghana | Number One Ft. Mr. Eazi |
| 4 | Efya | Ghana | Mame Ft. Mr Eazi |
| 5 | Josey | Cote d’Ivoire | Jour J-O |
| 6 | Simi | Nigeria | Joromi |
| 7 | Tiwa Savage | Nigeria | Ma Lo Ft. Wizkid & Spellz |
| 8 | Viviane Chidid | Senegal | Marriage Force |
| Best Male Artiste in Western Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Davido | Nigeria | Fia |
| 2 | DJ Spinall | Nigeria | Nowo Ft. Wizkid |
| 3 | Djodje | Cape Verde | Be Mine Ft. Patoranking |
| 4 | King Promise | Ghana | CCTV Ft. Mugeez |
| 5 | Kuami Eugene | Ghana | Angela |
| 6 | Kwesi Arthur | Ghana | Grind Day Ft. Sarkodie & Medikal |
| 7 | MHD | Guinea | Bella Ft. Wizkid |
| 8 | Olamide | Nigeria | Wo! |
| 9 | Starboy | Nigeria | Soco Ft. Terry, Spotless, Ceeza Milli & Wizkid |