The producers of the NEA announced the 13th NEA Awards nominations today (September 12), live via NEAAwards social media platforms (@neaawards).

Amongst this years’ top nominees are Davido, who dominated the charts in 2018; Omotola, who delivered a classic performance in “Alter Ego”, Kiss Daniel, who bagged multiple nominations including Afropop Male artist of the year and DJ Spinall, who became the first DJ to be nominated for Hottest single of the year for “Baba”.

The winners will be announced at the Award ceremony scheduled for November 10th, 2018 in Washington, DC.


Best Album
Simi (Similola)
Sugarcane (Tiwa Savage)
First Daze of Winter (Maleek Berry)
Outside (Burna Boy)
About 30 (Adekunle Gold)

Best Single
Legbegbe (Mr Real)
Science Student (Olamide)
Baba (DJ Spinall x Kizz Daniel)
Assurance (Davido)
Soco (Wiz Kid)

Afropop Female Artist
Yemi Alade
Tiwa Savage
Seyi Shay
Simi
Niniola

Afropop Male Artist
Olamide
Wiz Kid
Davido
Kiss Daniel
2Face

Alternative Artist
Flavour
Patoranking
Johnny Drille
Adekunle Gold
Zoro Swagbag

Diaspora/International Artist
Rotimi (U.S.)
MNEK (U.K.)
Skepta (U.K.)
Kah-lo (U.K.)
J Hus (U.K.)

Best New Act
Slimcase
Small Doctor
Lady Donli
Dice Ailes
Mr Real

Most Promising Act to Watch
Teni
Idowest
Bella Alubo
Wilfresh
Dapo Tu Burna

Trailblazer
Maleek Berry
Duncan Mighty
Mayorkun
Mz Kiss
CDQ

Best Music Video (Director)
Malo (by Tiwa, dir: Meji Alabi)
Big Daddy (by Ice Prince, dir: Clarence Peters)
Closer (by Wiz Kid, Dir: Daps)
This is Nigeria (by Falz, dir: Prodigeezy)
Ire (by Adekunle Gold, dir: Aje)

Music Producer
Killertunes
Spellz
Fresh
Kriz beat
Philkeyz
Jaypizzle

Best Male Artist – Non Nigerian / Africa
Sarkodie (GH)
Khaligraph Jones (KQ)
FA (LIB)
Fikfameica (UG)
KiDi (GH)

Best Female Artist – Non Nigerian / Africa
Betty G (ET)
Becca (GH)
Victoria Kimani (KQ)
Sheebah (UG)
Heyden Adama (SL)

Freshvibes
sq££ze Tarela
Mr Shaa
Kayjay
Peruzzi
Marz Brown
SammyLee

Best Lead Role in Film (Female)
Adesua Etomi (Wedding Party 2)
Lilian Afegbai (Bound)
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Alter Ego)
Bimbo Ademoye (Back up Wife)
Dakore Akande (Isoken)
Lilian Echelon (Blackrose)

Best Lead Role in Film (Male)
Femi Adebayo (Etiko Onigedu)
Blossom Chukwujekwu (The Big Fat Lie)
Kalu Ikeagwu (Benevolence)
Ali Nuhu (Mansoor)
Adebayo Salami (Adaba)
Odunlade Adekola (A Million Baby)

Best Picture
Alter Ego (Moses Inwang/Esther Eyibio)
Isoken (Jade Osiberu)
Banana Island Ghost (Biola Alabi)
Hakkunde (Oluseyi Amuwa)
Etiko Onigedu (Femi Adebayo)
Children of Mud (Imoh Umoren)

Best Lead Role in TV
Funke Akindele (Jenifa Dairies)
Eniola Badmus (Papa Ajasco Reloaded)
Koye Kekere-Ekun (Inpector K)
Aborisade Motunrayo (Jenifa Dairies)
Kunle Idowu (Papa Ajasco Reloaded)
Lilian Esoro (3 is A crowd)

Best TV Show
Papa Ajasco Reloaded
Jenifa Dairies
This Is It
Gina and Friends
Inspector K

Best Lead Role in Film (Non Nigerian)
Chris Attoh (Esohe)
Cindy Sanyu (Bella)
Rushabiro Raymond (The Torture)
Adjetey Anang (Keteke)
Nyce Wanjeri (Auntie Boss)
Pearl Thusi (Catching Feelings)

Best World DJs
DJ Brave
DJ TTB
DJ Buka
DJ Dee Money
DJ Jamstar
DJ Expressions

Best Singles by DJ
DJ E Cool (Ada ft. Davido)
DJ Spinall (Baba ft Kizz Daniel)
DJ Xclusive (Shempe ft Mz Kiss/Slimcase)
DJ Cuppy (Fight ft Mr Eazi)
DJ Enimoney (Diet ft Tiwa/Reminisce/Slimcase)
DJ Consequence (Do Like This ft Tiwa/Mystro)

Radio On Air Personalities
Moet (Soundcity)
Tisan (Raypower)
Adeshope (Beat FM)
Sophia Anidugbe (Cool FM)
Jennifer Nzewunwah (Kiss FM)

Comedy Act
Kenny Blaq
Charles Okocha
Lasisi Elenu
Oluwakaponeski
Maraji_