R&B SUPERSTAR MIGUEL JOINS LINE-UP FOR THE MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS

MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS KWAZULU-NATALFLAVOUR, TIWA SAVAGE, UHURU, OSKIDO & PROFESSOR SET TO ELECTRIFY STAR-STUDDED SPECTACULAR IN DURBAN, 7 JUNE

Durban/Johannesburg/Lagos, 21 May 2014: Music and youth lifestyle brand MTV Base has revealed that R&B superstar Miguel is to join the star-studded line-up of performers at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA).  Miguel will be performing at the global celebration of African creativity, talent and youth culture, taking place on 7 June at the ICC in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The MTV Africa Music Awards is brought to you by KwaZulu-Natal Province in association with Absolut & The City of Durban.  South Africa Tourism is also on board as a partner for the MAMA.

Also adding star power to the awards ceremony will be Nigerian sensations Flavour and Tiwa Savage, while urban hit makers Uhuru, Oskido and Professor will be flying the flag for South Africa.  They join previously announced African artists Davido (Nigeria) and Mafikizolo (South Africa) at the stunning music event and live telecast that will be broadcast around the world on MTV, MTV Base, BET International and affiliate stations.

Commenting on his involvement in the MAMA, Miguel said, "What I love most about Africa is the people and the spirit there.  What makes me most proud to be involved in the MAMA is the feeling that my music has reached further than I imagined it could…it's inspiring.”

Picked as one of Time Magazine’s “Most Influential People” in 2013, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Miguel has become one of the genre’s most significant artists thanks to his personal brand of daring, soulful and emotionally authentic R&B, tinged with traces of avant garde hip-hop, funk, soul, electro and classic rock.

Since his breakthrough year in 2010 with hit song "All I Want Is You", Miguel has gone on to deliver chart-climbing songs. In October 2012, Miguel released a second album “Kaleidoscope Dreams” to tremendous critical acclaim; the single "Adorn" became his second number one R&B single and won him the Grammy for Best R&B Song (2012).  Miguel is currently working his new album, due to be released later this year.

Celebrating musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African youth culture throughout the year, MAMA 2014 takes place at the ICC, Durban, South Africa on Saturday 7 June.  For the first time ever, the awards is premiering LIVE across Africa on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130) at 21:00 CAT.

The 2014 MAMA is set to feature stunning performances from African and international artists, including the awards’ signature collaborations between artists of different genres and cultures – a high point of every show. The show will be amplified on radio by media partners Gagasi FM, Yfm and Capricorn FM.

Nominees from the length and breadth of sub-Saharan Africa are represented in the nominations for this year’s music categories, including 2Face, AKA, Amani, Amr Singh, Anselmo Ralph, Arielle T, Beatenberg, Big Nuz, Burna Boy, Chidinma, Clarence Peters, Danny K, Davido, Diamond, DJ Buckz, DJ Clock, DJ C'ndo, DJ Ganyani, DJ Kent, The Arrows, Donald, Don Jazzy, Dr Malinga, Dr Sid, Efya, Espoir 2000, Fally Ipupa, FB, Ferre Gola, Flavour, Fuse ODG, Gangs of Ballet, Goldfish, Heavy K, Ice Prince, JD, KCEE, Khuli Chana, Kyle Lewis, LCNVL, Lizha James, Mafikizolo, Matthew Mole, May D, Mi Casa, Michael Lowman, Nakhane Toure, Nelson Freitas, Olamide, Oskido, P Square, Professor, The Parlotones, Phyno, Radio and Weasel, R2bees, Sarkodie, Sauti Sol, Shortstraw, Stanley Enow, Tiwa Savage, Toofan, Uhuru, Wizkid, Youssoupha, Yuri Da Cunha and Zakes Bantwini. 

In this year’s newly introduced lifestyle award categories, Chimamanda Adiche, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Trevor Noah, Lupita Nyong’o and Yaya Toure are nominated for Personality of the Year.  Clarence Peters, Leti Arts, Rasty and Anisa Mpungwe are nominated in Transform Today by Absolut.  The nominees for the MTV Base Leadership award and Best International are still to be revealed.

With hundreds of thousands of votes already cast, public voting for 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards continues online at www.mtvbase.com until midnight on 4 June 2014. The winners of the MTV Base Leadership Award and Best Video are chosen exclusively by MTV Base.  Voting for Song of the Year continues up until the show on 7 June.

Tickets for the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal are on sale at www.computicket.com, on 0861 915 8000 and at Computicket retail outlets. Seated tickets cost R450 (incl. VAT) while general access (standing) tickets are R200 (incl. VAT).

For more information on the MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal supported by Absolut & The City of Durban, please go www.mtvbase.com, like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MTVBaseVerified, or follow us on Twitter @MTVBaseAfrica. To join the conversation about the awards please use the hashtag #MTVMAMA.