Draft:Balafon Music Awards

The Balafon Music Awards are awards that recognize each year the best artists and players in the music industry in Cameroon. Created in 2013 by the private radio station, Radio Balafon, the Balafon Music Awards are one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in Cameroon..

The tenth edition of the Balafon Music Awards was held on November 17, 2022, at Place St David de Bonanjo in Douala.

History and plaque
The Balafon Music Awards were created in 2003 by Cyril Bojiko, the promoter of Radio Balafon. The first edition was held in December 2013 and pays tribute to the artist Makossa Nelle Eyoum Emmanuel

Appointments to the Balafon Music Awards are made by players in the music industry in Cameroon. Each year 100 Cameroonian personalities from the music scene are selected to offer 3 names in each of the categories in the competition. Artists who have been named the most times in each of the categories are then retained as finalists. The winners of each category are chosen based on the public vote which is by SMS and online on the Radio Balafon website.

The Balafons Music Awards have been held annually since their creation in 2013. The first ten editions were held in the city of Douala in the hall of the Place St David, party room located in the Bonanjo district.

Categories
The number of categories and their names have changed over the years. We went from 16 categories in 2013 to 12 categories in 2019 with the abolition of regional prices and certain categories such as Best Single / EP, Best divine-inspired Song / Best Song Gospel, Best Traditional Song / Best Traditional Music Artist and Cmost downloaded Hanson on MTN ZIK (awarded in 2018 only )Special Balafon.


 * Special Balafon
 * Honorary scarlet
 * Male artist of the year
 * Female artist of the year
 * Male revelation of the year
 * Female revelation of the year
 * Best video clip
 * Best divine-inspired song
 * Best traditional inspiration song
 * Male voice of the year
 * Female voice of the year
 * Album of the year
 * Song of the year
 * Better collaboration

Old Categories

 * Best single / EP ( 2013 - 2018 )
 * Best tradi-modern music artist ( 2016 only )
 * The most downloaded song on MTN ZIK ( 2018 only )
 * International artist ( 2013 - 2015 )
 * Grand Center Regional Artist ( 2013 - 2015 )
 * Grand Ouest Regional Artist ( 2013 - 2015 )
 * Far North Regional Artist ( 2013 - 2015 )
 * Grand Littoral Regional Artist ( 2013 - 2015 )
 * Best Resumption ( 2014 )

2013 Edition
The first edition of the Balafon Music Awards was held on December 13, 2013, at St David de Douala. The award-winning artists were.


 * Balafon of Honor : Anne Marie Nzié, André Marie Tala and Eko Roosevelt.
 * Song of the year: Silver Coco
 * Album of the year: Dube L'am by Charlotte Dipanda
 * Female voice of the year: Charlotte Dipanda
 * Best video clip : Huh father of Stanley Enow

2014 Edition
Here is the track record of the 2014 edition of the Balafon Music Awards held on December 16, 2014.


 * Song of the year: Palau Palau by Mani Bella
 * Album of the year: Tresor by Coco Argentee
 * Best new artist: Dynasty The Tiger
 * International artist: Stanley Enow
 * Regional artist of the Grand Center: Val Chammar
 * Regional artist from the Grand West: Tchamba Marole
 * Far North Regional Artist: Selagai
 * Regional artist of the Grand Littoral: Mouyengue Group
 * Clip of the year: Pala Pala ( Mani Bella )
 * Show of the year: X Maleya at the'Olympia
 * Artist of the Year: Silver Coco
 * Best featuring: Coco Argentee feat. Andre Marie Tala
 * Better recovery: Sina Loba of'Eboa Lotin of X-Maleya

2015 Edition
Here is the track record of the 2015 edition of the Balafon Music Awards.


 * Regional artist of the Grand Center-Sud: Lab'l
 * Regional artist of the Grand Littoral: Hervé Nguebo
 * Regional artist of the Great West: Amina Rasta
 * Regional artist from the Far North: François Lenoi
 * Male voice of the year: LeTigre Dynasty
 * Female voice of the year: Charlotte Dipanda
 * Song of the year : Paste the Little of Franko
 * Best featuring : Coco Argentee feat. Andre Marie Tala
 * Revelation of the Year: Lab'l
 * Best Concert of the Year : X Maleya Canada Montreal
 * Popular clip of the year : Paste the Little by Franko
 * Album of the year : Massa by Charlotte Dipanda
 * Artist of the Year: Charlotte Dipanda

2016 Edition
Here is the track record of the 2016 edition of the Balafon Music Awards held on December 8, 2016 at Place St David in Douala.


 * Female artist of the year: Lady Ponce
 * Male artist of the year: X-Maleya
 * Best song of the year : We will manage of Mr Leo
 * Best album of the year: Playlist from X-Maleya
 * Best female voice of the year: Daphne
 * Best male voice of the year: Mr. Leo
 * Best sacred music artist: Lab'l
 * Best traditional music artist: Soumi
 * Female revelation of the year: Blanche Bailly
 * Male revelation of the year: Locko
 * Best featuring of the year: Ndolo by Daphne Njie & Ben Decca
 * Best videogram of the year: In the Sauce of Reniss
 * Special scar: Foly Dirane, Salatiel, Alain Noumsi, Jacques Logmo
 * Balafon of honor: Sissy Dipoko, Dina Bell, Jean Dikoto Mandengue, Aladji Touré

2017 Edition
Here is the track record of the 2016 edition of the Balafon Music Awards held on December 13, 2017.


 * Special Jury Prize: Alpha Better Records
 * Honorary prize: Aladji Touré, Nkotti François, Toto Guillaume
 * Artist of the Year: Tenor
 * Best divine inspiration song : Thank you Lord by Locko
 * Best traditional song : Twins by Dj Gérard ben
 * Revelation of the Year: Tenor
 * Better collaboration : Support by Locko & Mr Leo
 * Best clip of the year. : Bad Things by Tenor
 * Song of the year : Caléed by Daphne
 * Best female voice : Daphne
 * Best Male Voice : Mr Leo
 * Best maxi single / EP: Mr Leo
 * Album of the year : Flower & Venus by Sergeo Polo

2018 Edition
Here is the track record of the 2018 edition of the Balafon Music Awards held on December 12, 2018.


 * Female artist of the year : Daphne
 * Male artist of the year: Mr Leo
 * Balafon of honor: Moni Bile and Charles Lembe
 * Special Balafon ( Best Video Director ) : Dr Nkeng Stephen
 * Best traditional inspiration song : Ella by Lady Ponce
 * Best female voice of the year: Charlotte Dipanda
 * Male voice of the year: Locko
 * Best International artist : Fanicko
 * Group of the year: Featurist
 * Better collaboration: Swung by Ko-C & Tenor
 * Videogram for the year: Sista by Charlotte Dipanda feat. Yemi Alade
 * Song of the year: Suffering from Love by Ben Decca
 * Album of the year: The Bridge by Locko
 * The most downloaded song on MTN ZIK : Swung by Ko-C & Tenor

2019 Edition
Here is the track record of the 2019 edition of the Balafon Music Awards held on December 12, 2019.


 * Female artist of the year : Daphne
 * Male artist of the year : Salatiel
 * Balafon of honor: Georges Dickson
 * Special Balafon: Southern Nyangono
 * Female voice of the year: Nabila
 * Male voice of the year: Locko
 * Better collaboration: My way by Stanley Enow, Locko & Tzy Panchak
 * Videogram for the year: Anita by Salatiel
 * Female revelation of the year: Kameni
 * Male revelation of the year: Aveiro Djess
 * Song of the year: Suffering from Love by Ben Decca
 * Album of the year: Cloud 9 by Locko

2020 Edition
The charts the eighth edition of the Balafon Music Awards was held in Douala on December 10, 2020.


 * Female artist of the year: Kameni
 * Male artist of the year : Ko-c
 * Honorary scar: John Room
 * Balafon Special: The Cameroonian Artists Movement for Peace
 * Song of the year: Let me love you of Darina Victry
 * Female revelation of the year: Darina Victry
 * Female voice of the year: Darina Victry
 * Male voice of the year: Locko
 * Better collaboration: Tommorrow by Tzy Panchak, Vivid and Gasha
 * Videogram for the year: The same things from Locko
 * Male revelation of the year: Medeline's doctors
 * Album of the year: Locked Up by Locko

2021 Edition
The charts the eighth edition of the Balafon Music Awards was held in Douala on 16th December 2021

Best Male Artist of the Year: Happy d’Effoulan

Male Musical Revelation of the Year: Happy D’Efoulan

Female Musical Revelation of the Year: Maureen Forbah

Best Female Artist of The Year: Lady ponce

Album of the Year: Lady Ponce

Best Traditional Song: ( Be Proud Remix ) Witty minstrel

Best Collaboration: ( Be Proud Remix) Witty Minstrel Ft Magasco, Mr. Leo – Artist, Kameni , Vernyuy Tina , AWU SING SONG & GASHA

Video of the year: ( Be Proud Remix ) Dr. Nkeng Stephens & Witty Minstrel

Female Voice of the Year: Charlotte Dipanda

Male Voice of the year: Cysoul

Music Producer of the year: Phillbill

Song of The Year: ( Le Nyama) Aveiro DJESS

Best Gospel Artist: Indira Baboke

Best Dj: Nivakine Djmix

2022 Edition
Here are the nominees for the Balafon Music Awards 2022 (for certain categories)

Multiple awards

 * 8 Balafon Music Awards: Locko
 * 7 Balafon Music Awards : Charlotte Dipanda
 * 6 Balafon Music Awards : Mr Leo, Daphne
 * 5 Balafon Music Awards : X-Maleya, Coco Argentée
 * 4 Balafon Music Awards : Tenor
 * 3 Balafon Music Awards : Ben Decca, Salatiel, André Marie Talla, Darina Victry