Omawumi Shone, Jim Iyke, 2Face, MI & DaGrin Won, Jesse Jagz Lit Up the Stage – Scoop from the Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) 2010

The 2010 edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) took place in New York over the weekend. The awards show is positioned as the premiere diaspora based awards event for the Nigerian Entertainment Industry. The event was hosted by powerhouse crooner Omawumi who also scooped up two awards at the event.  Omawumi was a confident and vivacious hostess! She got commendations from all those at the event. There were also standout performances from Jesse Jagz and Lara George (she won the award for Gospel Artist of the Year).

We wish Da Grin was alive to enjoy all the fruits of his work. The late entertainer won the Album of the Year award. Music producer Kid Konnect who created a recent sensation with his “video for a beat” – Afu Lah Gah Fu Le Geh won the award for Best International Producer of the Year award. 2Face, MI and Jim Iyke were among A-List Nigerian celebrities at the event. 2Face won two awards while MI reiterated his recent statement that he is leaving the music industry to pursue a career in Nollywood. Sorry Mr. Incredible! We are not buying that – We reckon that this is part of the hype strategy for his new album – MI2.

The red carpet was hosted by Uduak Oduok, the lawyer/entrepreneur behind the Ladybrille Media Group. She interviewed all the stars and guests  who graced the red carpet. There were an array of guests at the event including Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and models, Kendra and Ify Jones.

What is a Nigerian Entertainment Awards show without controversy? Iceberg Slim performed his MI diss track during the event right soon after left the stage after picking up his award for Best Rap Act of the Year. Awkward.  At the after party, the two MCs engaged in a freestyle battle. Want to guess who won? You don’t have to, check out the video below. There were also some complaints around the timing and organization of the event. It is worthy to note that we have never witnessed a Nigerian awards ceremony start on time and devoid of complaints around sound and stage management. We encourage all awards show organizers to improve in these areas.

Overall, it was an interesting show and a great opportunity for diaspora based Nigerian entertainers such as Tolumide and DJ Xclusive to shine alongside their Nigeria-based counterparts.

Special Thanks to  Trendy Africa and Face2FaceAfrica for the photos and Olamild Entertainment for the information. We encourage you to visit these sites.

At the NEA After Party, Iceberg Slim & MI faced off in a mini freestyle battle:

BN Contributor, Suzanne Brume caught up with MI and 2Face just prior to the NEAs, check out the video interviews below.
Here is what Suzanne had to say:

Prior to the event, I had fun catching up with two of the nominees, Mr Incredible and the Baba themselves. There was a lot I learnt about both of the entertainers from this interview. For example, 2 Face’s inspiration comes from Bob Marley himself, and M.I. and Jesse Jagz worked with their mother, who is also into music, to release a few ‘under the radar’ tracks.

Also visit Suzanne’s blog – http://eightsandweights.blogspot.com/ – to view a special interview with Omawumi.
The videos are a special collaboration between Suzanne and Tope Adeyoju from View Naija

NEA 2010 Winners

BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Mushin 2 Mohits – Wande Coal
CEO- Da Grin
Wonder Woman-Omawumi
Unstoppable-Tuface

HOTTEST SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Kondo- Da Grin
Kokoroko – Kefee ft. timaya
Omoba- D Prince
Free Madness- Terry G
Bad- Wande Coal

BEST NEW ACT OF THE YEAR
Jaywon
D’Prince
Jesse Jagz
Lami
Omawumi

GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
KSB
Kefee
Bouqui
Lara George
Kore

INDIGENOUS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
ASA
Nneka
9ice
Pasuma
Jesse King

BEST POP/R&B ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Banky W
Wande Coal
Chuddy K
Omawumi
P Square

BEST RAP ACT OF THE YEAR
Jesse Jagz
Modenine
M.I.
Da’Grin
Naeto C

BEST SOUL/NEO SOUL ACT OF THE YEAR
2FAce
Lami
EVA
Nneka
Toba Gold

BEST COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
Born Champion- Pype ft. Dagrin, Vector, Naeto C, Sasha & GT
Kokoroko – Kefee ft Timaya
E No Easy P Square ft J Martins
Nobody- Tuface ft M.I.
Thank God- DaGrin ft Omawumi

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST
Wale
Keno
JJC
Kas
Moeazy

MUSIC PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Don Jazzy
So Sick
J. Sleek
Dokta Frabz
Cobhams

BEST INTERNATIONAL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Kid Konnect
Dogmites
JJC
Mictunes

BEST MALE MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (ARTIST & DIRECTOR)
One day- eLDee/eLDee
Fall in love- Dbanj/Sesan
Implication- 2Face
Lagos Party- Banky/Kemi Adetiba
E no easy- P Square ft. J. Martins/Jude Okoye

BEST FEMALE MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (ARTIST & DIRECTOR)
You know it- Goldie/Clarence Peters
Today na today- Omawumi/Kemi Adetiba (winner)
If u want me – Mo’cheddah/Clarence Peters
Know- Lami/Brandon
Kokoroko – Kefee ft. Timaya/Wudland

BEST ACTOR IN A FILM/SHORT STORY
Ramsey Noauh – Guilty Pleasure
Jim Iyke – The Shepherd / Dream Maker
Femi Adebayo/ Ifederu
Desmond Elliot – Before the light
Kayode Akinbayo/ Bi a ti ko

BEST ACTRESS IN A FILM/SHORT STORY
Nse Ikpe Etim – Reloaded
Ini Edo – Native son
Genevieve Nnaji- Silent Scandal
Stephanie Okereke-Nnenda
Omotola Jolade – Deepest of dreams

BEST FILM (DIRECTOR)
The Figurine – Kunle Afolayan
Guilty Pleasure – Daniel Adenimokan and Desmond Elliot
Nnenda – Izu Ojukwu
Silent Scandal -T.K. Falope
Behind a Smile -by Frank Rajah Arase

BEST ACTRESS IN TV SERIES/REALITY/GAME SHOW
Genevieve Nnaji/Guinness Ultimate Search – Celebrity edition
Bimbo Akintola/Circle of 3
Kate Henshaw Nuttal/Circle of 3
Damilola Adegbite/Tinsel
Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi/Tinsel

BEST ACTOR IN TV SERIES/REALITY/GAME SHOW
Frank Edohor- who wants to be a millionaire
Kayode Peters- Flat Mates
Gideon Okeke/Tinsel

BEST ON SCREEN PERSONALITY (PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD)
Denrele
Ill
Andre Blaze
Dorisha Brick George
Adaure Achumba

BEST TV SERIES/REALITY SHOW/GAME SHOW
Half Sisters
Circle 3
Tinsel
Star quest
Gulder Ultimate search

INTERNATIONAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (TO A PROMOTER)
Thisday Music Festival
UK Naija Carnival
Arise Africa – New York Fashion Week Shows
Ovation Red Carol
Miss Nigeria in America

BEST WORLD DJ
DJ DeeMoney
DJ MightyMike
DJ Vinny
DJ Stramborrella
DJ Ike
DJ Xclusive

BEST RADIO PERSONALITY
Rhythm 93.7- Ik (Wild Child)
99.9 beat fm- Toolz
Top Radio- Tosyn Buknor
Beat FM- Olisa Adibua
Inspiratiom fm- Dan foster

BEST COMEDIAN
Seyi Law
Wale Gate
Jedi
AY
I Go Die

FASHION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Deola Sagoe
Alvins
Momo couture
Adebayo Jones
Ouch!

ENTERTAINMENT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Nduka Obiagbena
Cecil Hammond
Keke and D1
Dele Momodu
Obi Asika

MOST PROMISING ACT TO WATCH
Chuddy K
D’Prince
Eva
Femi Adeyinka
Mo’Cheddah