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This is only the second year the Best African Act category has been included in the show - with five of Africa’s finest contemporary musicians battling it out in the polls to win the award (won last year by Nigeria’s 2-FACE Idibia).

Tanzania’s Juma Nature, Nigeria’s P-Square, South Africa’s Freshlyground, Kenya’s Nameless and Angola’s Anselmo Ralph are the five artists putting African music on the map at the Awards, which were originally designed to honour European music tastes, but which included an African award category after the launch of MTV base, MTV’s African music channel in 2005. All but Anselmo Ralph are anticipated to attend the glittering show in Copenhagen (Ralph is finishing his latest album in the studio and sadly can’t make the bash).

There’s still a chance to influence the voting up until the 2 November so make sure you get voting at www.mtvbase.com/ema, or tune into the live transmission of the Awards which airs across Africa on 2 November on MTV base (DStv Channel 88) or MTV (DStv Channel 85), and on MTV Networks around the world.

Freshly Ground
For each of the seven members of Freshlyground, this South African band is about more than music. From each of their backgrounds comes a unique version of ‘being African’. Each of their styles, flavours, colours and attitudes is swirled into a process not unlike nuclear fission - and the results have the energy of an atomic blast.

Everywhere they go, Freshlyground are a sensation. In South Africa audiences of every race cram in to see them. Old people get up and dance. Hip black teenagers sing to their lyrics. White kids emulate their moves. The very presence of this band in South Africa is a promise for a harmonious future. Sony BMG has lured them to Europe, where they released ‘Nomvula’ in July. Having supported Robbie Williams at the launch of his recent world tour, expect them to draw crowds as they go.

Bridge historical divides. Defy musical stereotypes. It’s about time an Afro-pop band brought some of Africa’s magical music to the world.

Anselmo Ralph
Anselmo Ralph started his musical career in Angola, when he founded the Hip hop group NGB (Nova Geração Bantu).

In 2003 Anselmo started arranging his first album in Portuguese entitled ‘Histórias de Amor’, aimed at the Angolan market. The album was edited in 2005 and released in January 2006 under the label ‘Bom Som’ which intends to promote Angolan new talents. The album Historias de Amor has had a very successful reception from both the public and the media, having sold out its first edition of 4.000 copies in less than one month. The video for his most recent single, ‘Super Homen’, has been a 2006 MTV base staple

Nameless
Born David Mathenge in August 1976, Nameless didn’t have much musical training to attain his fame and success; he just relied on determination and the love for his music. A background that has made him a respected home-grown artist who has proven to the masses that Kenya has its own unique musical talent that can be showcased internationally. With a career spanning over 3 years, it’s impossible to discuss Kenyan contemporary music without mentioning his name.

Apart from the success of his music, Nameless is also a young Kenyan entrepreneur who makes most of any chance that he gets. Awards, record sales, tours and endorsements don’t come by luck to Nameless, they are all part of his master plan and he’s ready to take on the world with it.

P Square
The story of P Square began in a small Catholic school in Nigeria when a set of gifted identical twins, Peter and Paul, joined their school music and Drama club and began singing, dancing, and miming songs by Mc Hammer, Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson.

Flash forward to the present day and P Square have now released their second Album titled ‘Get Squared’ under their very own Label ‘Square Records’, won the Amen Award for best R&B group of the year in 2003 and performed alongside artists such as Akon, Ginuwine and Sean Paul. A far cry from their humble beginnings. Their new single, ‘Busy Body’ has just been released and their new album, Say Ur Love will be released later this year. Watch this space.

Juma Nature
Tanzanian artist Nature is one of the best, well known and most creative artists in the ‘Bongo Flava’ Swahili hip hop genre, not only a great composer and uniquely talented rap artist but also gifted with a soulful and touching voice.

Having formed a band with his school friends, a more mature Nature progressed to a solo career and collaborations with Dollo of SGS Crew and Bongo Records owner Pfunk which led to a successful tour of Tanzania in 2005.

Hoping to break through in other international countries Juma Nature has recorded a 10 track album titled Historia and the most recent video ‘Dance With Me’ is already placed in numerous radio charts in Tanzania. All in all Juma Nature is definitely ready to make history.