2010 is going to be a big year for Abolore Akande, the Alapomeji man. Tradition, his third album, was released in December 2009 and he's already out with a follow-up, called Versus. The album will feature 9ice versus a different artiste on each track.

The Nigerian superstar is mostly known for his famous hit, Gongo aso. 9ice has a lot to say in the albums, especially given what he's gone through recently. He divorced his wife, Toni Payne and they've been stories of him 'stealing songs'. He did feature Asa on Pete Pete, which is quickly becoming a Yoruba classic, from his Tradition album.

Some of the tracks on Versus are Sarafawe - 9ice Vs M.I, Loni Ni: 9ice Vs Dagrin, Atamatase 9ice VS Mode 9. Click the links to listen to them.

Busi Mhlongo, Big Nuz, Thandiswa, Black Coffee, HHP, Parlotones, Teargas, lead the nominations for the MTN SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS, 16th edition.

Below is the full list of nominees.

Album of the Year
Busi Mhlongo Amakholwa Believers
BLK JKS After Robots
Big Nuz Undisputed
Teargas Dark Or Blue
Selaelo Selota Lapeng Laka

Best Duo / Group
Big Nuz Undisputed
Teargas Dark Or Blue
Joyous Celebration Vol. 13 Live At The Mosaiek Theatre - JHB

Sarkodie, Ayigbe Edem, Wutah, 4x4, Bradez, Becca, Ohemaa Mercy and Obrafour lead the number of nominations for the Ghana Music Awards slated for April 10. You can click the songs and artistes below to learn more about them.

Ameyaw Debrah reports - The nominees for the 11th Annual Ghana Music Awards were announced last night at an event that brought together industry players, keen to know who gets nominated for what in the foremost award for music in the country. The well attended event that saw performances from the likes of Kwabena Kwabena, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Celestine Donkor, Ohemaa Mercy and Wutah ended with the big reveal of nominees. Sarkodie, touted as the fastest rapper in Ghana led the pack with 8 nominations plus one for his collaboration with Ayigbe Edem and Kwaw Kesse on ‘You dey Craze’. Edem also had 6 other nominations with Wutah following with 5 plus a nod for best male vocal performance for PV, one half of the duo. 4x4 and Bradez both had 5 tallies.

Here is there complete list of nominees:

Artist of the year
4x4
Wutah
Ohemaa Mercy
Sarkodie
Becca
Bradez

News spread like wild fire late last year about Ghana's Sarkodie being signed to Akon's Konvict Music label. This was confirmed by Babs, the President of Konvict International, who was in Ghana recently to assure Ghanaians Sarkodie was now konvicted. The deal would make an international artist out of Sarkodie without changing too much about him. Many people wondered how true this deal especially when the international press hadn't picked up the story. A Youtube video of Akon endorsing Sarkodie with Babs (Museke was notified through twitter by ghanamixtapes) by his side will put to bed all doubts now.

Watch the video of Akon endorsing Sarkodie

One of the biggest African anthems recently has been JJC's "We are Africans". With its resounding cheer, Awoo!, it's becoming an anthem for the United States of Africa. Watch the music video for the original song at this link. JJC was in Nigeria to launch the "We are Africans" movement and this also gave birth to yet another remix of this viral hit. The "We are Africans" remix features Femi Kuti, Dagrin, Eldee, DJ Zeez, Kel, Ay.com, Moe Money & Ragga Remi. In the song, JJC sings "Let's go back to the roots, I wanna go back to the roots, let's take it back to the roots, Africans, Awoo!

Africa's Grammy's are back after a long hiatus. After releasing the nominees for the regional and non-regional categories in 2008, not much was heard about Kora's. The awards ceremony is now scheduled for April 4th, 2010 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and there have been different stages of nominations. The semi-final stage is next in March and that would lead to the awarding of Africa's best musicians in April.

Here is the full schedule

# 06/02/2010Reopening of votes by SMS

The month ends with GS, Tunakie, DNaff and ML on top. The "yo music video countdown" show on one Africa television was created to offer the local artists in the Namibian music industry a chance to showcase their music videos and compete along side others.

Bubbling under was Damara Dik Ding
10) Os - Originias
9) Sunny boy ft Lady May - Touch me, tease me
8) Catty Cat - The Hood
7) Swartbaster - YZK
6) Ovandu vou pamba - Kondjera ezumo

When I was notified of Akon's new video, Oh Africa, I was intrigued by the song's name. Oh Africa? What did Africa do again? Is Akon going to lambast us? Shouldn't he be on our side, praising the motherland? Is it a public service announcement? I hope it's a song from his upcoming album. Well, it turns it is a 'charity single' and he does praise Africa in this video. This new video is geared towards the upcoming World Cup in South Africa and he sings "This is our time to shine, our time to fly". It surely is. I don't know why he's hiding the music video he made for Mama Africa. Trust me, I know the video has been shot. I know people who have the video on their computers. I hope the Mama Africa video is finally released this year. Kudos to Akon for 'Oh Africa' and continuing to rep the motherland big!

20 artists whose songs are ruling the airwaves in French-speaking Africa now and beyond as we enter 2010. These are the songs bound to keep the dance floors busy at all the picnics, shows and parties. 20 African artistes making the waves in this Museke chart/countdown.

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.

Here's your chart/countdown/menu as we usher in 2010. Click the links to find more information.

20 artists whose songs are ruling the airwaves in Mocambique now and beyond as we enter 2010. These are the songs bound to keep the dance floors busy at all the picnics, shows and parties. 20 Mozambican artistes making the waves in this Museke chart/countdown.

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.

Here's your chart/countdown/menu as we usher in 2010. Click the links to find more information.