Organisers of African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA), have released nominations for the 26 categories of the reward scheme, which has been in promotion in Texas, United States as the next stop for African stars in the month of July.

The nominations revealed strength of dominance by Nigeria, which has three nods from Flavour, Davido and Wizkid, who are contenders in the Artiste of the Year category. The trio, who will be battling one another in that category, will also have artistes such as Diamond (Tanzania), Sarkodie (Ghana), Mafikizolo (South Africa), Anselmo Ralph – A Dor do Cupido (Angola) and Jaguar (Kenya) to contend with.

Released by Big A Entertainment, an event’s company, the highly competitive list also has four Nigerian artists: Wizkid, Iyanya, Davido and Flavour; two Ghanaian acts, Sarkodie and Shatta Wale, and an Ivorian act, DJ Arafat, competing in the Best Male West Africa category.

In the Best Female West Africa category, the battle will be among Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage and Chidimma, Senegal’s Viviane Chidid, Ivory Coast’s Teeyah, Benin Republic’s Sessima and Ghana’sEfya.

The show, according to Mr. Anderson Obiagwu, Founder/CEO of Big A Entertainment, will also feature spectacular performances from top artistes from Africa, including a duet from Hip hop act, 2face Idibia and Grammy award-winning rapper, Faheem Najm, alias T-pain.

During the award show scheduled to take place on July 26, at the Eisemann Centre, Richardson, Texas, the two singing sensations will be thrilling the crowd individually and jointly. Their duet will be the remix of 2face’s song, Rainbow, which features the American star. The song is 2face’s popular single on his 2012 album, Away & Beyond.

Obiagwu said his company was determined to sustain the drive towards a world-class African awards show through what he described as its “crossing boundaries with music.”

“This event will not only celebrate the music of Africa, but celebrate the unique sounds, culture and artistes who tell the stories of our continent as a whole.

“AFRIMMA represents growth, celebration and pushing the culture and music of Africa continuously forward for the better. It will be an amazing night while celebrating the artistes who have influenced and impacted the culture as well as the pioneers who laid the framework for the music of today,” he said.

Other categories of the award include: Best Male East Africa to be contested by Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Ben Pol (Tanzania), Bebe Cool (Uganda), Wyre (Kenya), Navio (Uganda) and Jackie Gosee (Ethiopia); Best Male Central Africa with Fally Ipupa (DR Congo), Stanley Enow (Cameroon), Ferre Gola (Congo), Privato “Lill’P” Niyintunze (Burundi), Anselmo Ralph (Angola) and Sine (Cameroon). It will be recalled that international airline carrier, Arik Air, has signed on as the sponsor of the AFRIMMA.

Also, Laura Maczka, Mayor of Richardson, has issued an official proclamation from the city endorsing its support of AFRIMMA.

According to Obiagwu, the event, which will be hosted by comedian Basket Mouth and actress Juliet Ibrahim, is expected to attract guests from the United States as well as over 17 African countries.