South African singer and songwriter Focalistic has been nominated for the MTV EMAS in the Best African Act category, and he’s excited about the honour.
It would have been just another honour except that Foca popped on the same list as some oldies and more accomplished names in the music business in Africa: diamond Platnumz of Tanzania, Wizkid and Tems of Nigeria and Amaarae, a Ghanaian-American.
The songster has commented about his MTV nomination on Instagram at the time of writing but elsewhere, his fans are celebrating his nomination.
To the press, though, the songster had commented it feels great that he was nominated in the Best African Act category and it meant that the amapiano message was actually catching up globally.
By the way, Focalistic is currently one of the famous faces in South Africa’s amapiano orbit. But he didn’t start with the genre. He was doing hip hop previously. Along the line he had ditched hip hop, complaining that he was given the support he needed after he was crowned the hottest emcee.
Well, from the look of things, amapiano has been giving him the support he seeks, and he’s more than happy to be flying the genre’s flag. See the full nomination list below:
Best African Act
- Amaarae
- Diamond Platnumz
- Focalistic
- Tems
- Wizkid
Best Artist
- Doja Cat
- Ed Sheeran
- Justin Bieber
- Lady Gaga
- Lil Nas X
- The Weeknd
Best Pop
- BTS
- Doja Cat
- Dua Lipa
- Ed Sheeran
- Justin Bieber
- Olivia Rodrigo
Best Song
- ‘Kiss Me More’ – Doja Cat ft. SZA
- ‘Bad Habits’ – Ed Sheeran
- ‘Peaches’ – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon
- ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’ – Lil Nas X
- ‘Driver’s License’ – Olivia Rodrigo
- ‘STAY’ – The Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber
Best Video
- ‘Kiss Me More’ – Doja Cat ft. SZA
- ‘Bad Habits’ – Ed Sheeran
- ‘Peaches’ – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon
- ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’ – Lil Nas X
- ‘Wild Side’ – Normani ft. Cardi B
- ‘Willow’ – Taylor Swift
Best Collaboration
- Black Eyed Peas, Shakira – ‘GIRL LIKE ME’
- Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – ‘Leave the Door Open’
- Doja Cat ft. SZA – ‘Kiss Me More’
- Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – ‘INDUSTRY BABY’
- The Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber – ‘STAY’
- The Weeknd & Ariana Grande – ‘Save Your Tears (Remix)’
Best New
- Giveon
- Griff
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Rauw Alejandro
- Saweetie
- The Kid Laroi
Best Electronic
- Calvin Harris
- David Guetta
- Joel Corry
- Marshmello
- Skrillex
- Swedish House Mafia
Best Rock
- Coldplay
- Foo Fighters
- Imagine Dragons
- Kings Of Leon
- Måneskin
- The Killers
Best Alternative
- Halsey
- Lorde
- Machine Gun Kelly
- Twenty-One Pilots
- WILLOW
- YUNGBLUD
Best Latin
- Bad Bunny
- J. Balvin
- Maluma
- Rauw Alejandro
- Rosalía
- Shakira
Best Hip Hop
- Cardi B
- DJ Khaled
- Drake
- Kanye West
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
Best K-Pop
- BTS
- LISA
- Monsta X
- NCT 127
- ROSÉ
- TWICE
Best Group
- BTS
- Imagine Dragons
- Jonas Brothers
- Little Mix
- Måneskin
- Silk Sonic
Best Push
- 24KGoldn
- Fousheé
- girl in red
- Griff
- JC Stewart
- JXDN
- Latto
- Madison Beer
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Remi Wolf
- SAINt JHN
- The Kid Laroi
Biggest Fans
- Ariana Grande
- BLACKPINK
- BTS
- Justin Bieber
- Lady Gaga
- Taylor Swift
Video for Good
- ‘Your Power’ – Billie Eilish
- ‘Dancing With The Devil’ – Demi Lovato
- ‘Serotonin’ – girl in red
- ‘Fight For You’ – H.E.R.
- ‘Treat People With Kindness’ – Harry Styles
- ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’ – Lil Nas X
Best US Act (Best Local Act)
- Ariana Grande
- Doja Cat
- Lil Nas X
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Taylor Swift
