the 1st Africa Music Awards came off last weekend and we have the list of winners. The 2nd edition is scheduled for 24th October 2009. Congratulations to all the winners

African Artist of the year
* P Square (Nigeria)

African Music Video of the year
* Mr Solek (Nigeria)

African Song of the year
* Do me P-Square (Nigeria)

Okay, we have another countdown of top Ghanaian songs. These are some of the songs that will define the festive season in Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, etc. 20 Ghanaian artistes making the waves in this Museke chart/countdown. You sure do want to know so that you are not left behind, whether you are moving forward or changing for the better of Ghana.

It's not the easiest thing to say which song is the most popular, but you can make a case for whichever you choose. And please let us know the glaring omissions we've made.

The 2 face album Unstoppable has been released in nigeria on monday. Tracks produced by r.kelly, jiggy jegg, Sway, Chaka demus and pliers, Ozzie, Wayne Mcneish , J Sleek and Mic Tunes have made the 19 track album. Yes the R.kelly track named Flex is on the album. the first video for the album is enter the place directed by Luke Biggins, and the second video will be Go down There feat Sway. The video's will be screened on mtv europe, mtv base and BET. The video will be screened in nigeria this weekend.

The Africans By the Bay concert came off at DA CENTER at 8945 GOLF LINKS RD in
OAKLAND, CA on 5th December. The concert featured Tanzanian superstar, ALI KIBA and Kenyan duo, LONGOMBAS. It also featured West Africa's upcoming artist /dancer DODOYE and South Africa's DANANAI & HAKI. It was organized by DJ Slim. The event ended around 5am after sterling performances by Awilo Longomba's nephews - Christian and Lovy Longomba, as well as Alikiba.

Museke.com interviews Alikiba
Museke.com interviews Longombas

Here are some pictures from the event.

We first heard about Acho when he was nominated for the Best Artiste or Group in the Carribean category for the upcoming Kora awards. Who was this Nigerian artiste who's running for an award meant for Caribbean artistes? He must be pretty special. Yes he is. He's even a petroleum engineer by trade. Museke.com caught up with him to talk about his music, profession and his thoughts on the industry. Below is the interview transcript.

Museke.com: How are you?
Acho: Am beautiful and you?

Museke.com: Feeling good too. What’s your real name? Can you tell us about your background and family?
Acho: My real names are Iheanacho Onuoha from where I got my stage name which is the last four alphabets of my first name Iheanacho.
I am a native of Otulu Amumara Ezinihitte Mbaise in Imo state Nigeria. I was born in 1976 in Lagos state into a family of nine children (All graduates) .I am the sixth child and the second son in the family. I am a Petroleum Engineer and as well a singer. I graduated from the Federal University of Port Hartcourt in Rivers state Nigeria in 2000.

Alikiba, one of the most popular musicians in East Africa, performed for fans in the Bay Area of California this past weekend, alongside Longombas (Kenya and DR Congo). Props to DJ Slim for making this possible. Alikiba sat down with Museke.com for an interview before and after he performed. Here is the transcript below.

Museke.com: Habari yako?
Alikiba: Nzuri sana

Museke.com: What’s your real name? Can you tell us about your background and family?
Alikiba My name is Ally Salehe Kiba. I grew up in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Museke.com: What made you take up music as a career?
Alikiba: I have the talent. I was born with it. When I was in primary school in 1997, I started being involved in music. I got serious in 2000. I released my first song in 2004 called ‘Kuteseka nimechoka’.

Over the weekend, the Longombas brothers were in the Bay area to perform at the "Africans by the Bay" concert" also featuring Tanzania's Alikiba. They sat down with Museke.com for an interview. They talked about their music, their interests and how they handle their many female fans, Below is the transcript of the interview.

Museke.com: Habari yako?
Longombas: Nzuri sana

Museke.com: How did you get into music and when did you start rapping? Did you rap in school?
Lovy Longomba: Music is in our family and we have been surrounded by it all our life. We grew up in a music family. Our grandfather, Vicky Longomba, was a member of T P OK Jazz, together with Franco Luambo Makiadi.

Museke.com: Habari yako?
STL: Mzuri sana.

Museke.com: When were you born? can you tell us about your background and family?
STL: I was born on 1st September 1986 in Kenya and we moved to Norway when I was 5. I'm the second born in a family of three and we all live in Norway.

Museke.com: Was your family into music? How did you get into music?
STL: My Dad used to take us around Norway when we were young, performing Kenyan songs like .....Jambo jambo bwana Habari gani mzuri sana... but at a young age I faced a lot of racism in Norway and every time I came home, I'd tell my Dad about it and he told me to listen to the Public Enemy song “Fight the power”, so after a while I took Hip hop as a weapon to get me by whatever I was facing. When I was seven, I was now rapping and listening to more hip hop female artists like Queen Latifah, Salt and pepper and Mc Lyte. When I was 8, I knew this is what I wanted to do thus I started taking it really serious.

The 9th Metro FM awards came off during the weekend at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria on November 29, 2008. The big winner was Rhythmic Elements which won song of the year and best dance album. See the list of nominees at this Museke.com link.

Song Of The Year
"2 by 2" by Rhythmic Elements

Hit Single of the Year
Umsindo by Slikour

The 1st Africa Music Awards (AMA) event comes off Saturday 27 December 2008 in London. The AMA aims to expose the incredible richness of African music and culture, showcasing the breath-taking performances from the Continent’s music giants and top musicians. The event is expected to be broadcasted to over 10million viewers worldwide, and 2,500 live audiences consisting of the crème de la crème of society.