Shatta Wale, Salif Keita, Wizkid, others set for Glo-CAF Awards gala

 As the countdown to 2015 Glo – Caf Awards hots up; top artistes from different parts of Africa have been lined up to light up the Awards night holding in Abuja, Nigeria, on January 7, 2016.

The top acts expected to entertain guests and VIPs at the event include Salif Keita, an afro-pop singer cum songwriter from Mali, who is rated highly because of his reputation as the “Golden Voice of Africa”, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African male choral group that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence when they sang with Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland, and have won multiple awards, including four Grammy Awards.

The impressive line-up also includes Awilo Longomba, a Congolese musician who was a drummer in Viva la Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Generation. In 1995, he finally quit drumming for singing and released his first album Moto Pamba with help from Shimita and Ballou Canta. Awilo is well known in Africa and revered worldwide by lovers of his genre of music.

Other acts billed to perform at the show, which will be watched live all over the world are Shatta Wale, Ahmed Soultan, Wizkid, King Sunny Ade, Dija, Korede Bello, Flavour, Omawumi, Sammy Okposo, Bez and Ego.

Ghanaian Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr popularly known as Shatta Wale, is a producer and reggae-dancehall musician. He is best known for his biggest breakthrough hit song Dancehall King which led to his winning the Artiste of the Year at the 2014 edition of the Ghana Music Awards.

Ahmed Soultan, a Moroccan singer artist, is considered as one of the leaders of the “Nayda” (new urban Moroccan scene). Soultan is often called the OSNI (Objet Sonore Non Identifié), meaning”Unknown Sounding Object”, for his very particular style and Sammie Leigh Bush Jr. known professionally by the mononym Sammie. He is an American R&B singer best known for his hit, “I Like It” (1999) from his debut album, From the Bottom to the Top (2000). He released his second studio album, Sammie in 2006. He is about dropping his third album Coming of Age on his own label, StarCamp Entertainment, which partnered with Twenty Two Recordings and EMI.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, aka Wizkid, is a Nigerian recording artist, songwriter and performer and multiple-award winning star. His latest hit track, Ojuelegba has been regarded as a national anthem of sort.

Mavin records’ prince and princess, Korede Bello and Hadiza Blell popularly known as Di’ja, alternative soul singer, Bez Idakula, one of Nigeria’s most prominent female singers Omawumi, Ego ‘sweet voice’ Ogbaro and master guitarist and legendary king of Juju Music, Sunny Ade as well as Flavour (Nabania) will also thrill the guests. All of these top musicians cum entertainers are also Globacom Ambassadors.

All the performances will be spiced by LED dancers, water drum dancers, tap-dancers and numerous other classic dancers.

The event, touted as the Oscars of Football, is held annually to celebrate the continent’s finest football stars. It attracts the biggest names in world sports, particularly football, as well as other spheres of life, such as business, politics and entertainment.

It is expected to be a night of unending thrill, fun and excitement for the dignitaries expected at the continent’s most glamorous football event.

The Glo-CAF awards Gala in Abuja will also provide an opportunity for Glo subscribers and football fans to meet and interact with top African footballers and Administrators.

According to Globacom, “Our subscribers have been the brand’s pillar of strength since we rolled out service twelve years ago, and this is another golden opportunity to appreciate and reward them for their patronage”.