The wait is over! The nominees for the 7th edition of the Kwacha Music Awards have officially been announced, shining a spotlight on Zambia’s finest musical talents who dominated the airwaves over the past year.
The announcement, based entirely on radio airplay across 45 radio stations nationwide, features Zambia’s top artists competing in both provincial and national categories.
Voting officially opens on Wednesday, 17th September 2025, through the Kwacha Music Awards website and SMS short code, running until 14th November 2025. The awards ceremony will then take place on Saturday, 29th November 2025, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.
And the nominees are…
PROVINCIAL CATEGORIES
BEST ARTIST – CENTRAL
Ama Sweet Dondo
Born Vicious
Broken Hill Emmy
Shadreck
Tripo Cezo
BEST ARTIST – COPPERBELT
4 Na 5
B Quan Phamaika
Blood Kid Yvok
JC Kalinks
Mirriam Vow Chama
Slick Bwoy
Xaven
Y Celeb
BEST ARTIST – LUAPULA
Born Bugah
Jay Nazo
Kam Charles
Knack Unity
Machete
Pat Kayz
BEST ARTIST – NORTH WESTERN
Boy KK
Cox
Denny Gee
Kell Cee Zambia
Mighty C
Nakawala Mwewa
BEST ARTIST – SOUTHERN
Kadas
Mordecai
Mpande
Mr Crown
Rockstone
Tiger Tonka
BEST ARTIST – EASTERN
Alifatiq
Chile 84
Chimzy Kelly
KD Giza
Mr Blaq
BEST ARTIST – LUSAKA
Dizmo
Frank Ro
Jae Cash
Kayz Adamz
Miss Wizzy
Neo Slayer
Pst Gift Kaputula
Triple M
BEST ARTIST – MUCHINGA
Afriboy
Celeb City
Emmy 3
Happy K
Mr Zed Official
Rock G Zambia
BEST ARTIST – NORTHERN
Andyzoh
King G2
Kiss B Saibaba
Maserati Pa Ngoma
Muzo Aka Alphonso
Newman
BEST ARTIST – WESTERN
Jah Bwoy
Kasi Nalu
Mumble Jumble
Qnelly Muzic
Ozone Africa
Y Coasty
MAIN CATEGORIES
BEST MUSIC PRODUCER
C Mark On The Track
Eazy The Producer
Icon Mu Speaker
King Nachi Beats
King Tec
Magg 44
Mela Beats
T Sean
Witty Beats
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Cleo Ice Queen
Jay Rox
Pompi
Roberto
Sampa The Great
Yo Maps
BEST NEWCOMER (FEMALE)
Janet Mwandi
Khondwani
Nomalanga Judy
Norma
Ranjie Barbie
Raycie
BEST NEWCOMER (MALE)
B Quan Phamaika
Chewe Superstar
Jay Trigga
Original Bukasa
Shokii – Mwana Chibolya
Slick Bwoy
HUMANITARIAN AWARD
B Flow
Abel Chungu
JK
John Chiti
Macky 2
Maiko Zulu
Mampi
Sista D
BEST FOLK / INDIGENOUS SOUND
Ba Mebo – T Low ft Chef 187 & Mumba Yachi
Chakufikila – Rich Bizzy
Eondongana Nankwe – Chester
Imbeka – Shirtless Boys
Kandenu – Denny Gee Kachaku
Mapopwe – Chanda Na Kay ft Sianene & Coop Ticker
BEST DANCEHALL / REGGAE SONG
Corpsemyelitis – Matthew Tembo ft Milz
Ifibyongo – T Sean ft Goodson Chizo & Bow Chase
It’s Giving – Jay Rox ft Willz Mr Nyopole
Sticky – Towela Kaira ft JC Kalinks & Kayz Adams
Wafola Wafulwa – Damiano Mwanamfumu ft Pompi
Waya Say – DJ Cosmo
Yeh Yeh – Vinchenzo ft Mic Burner
BEST HIP HOP / RAP SONG
Dear Slapdee – Macky 2
Father Of The Year – Dizmo ft 76 Drums
Fyoto Fyoto – Jemax ft Wallydoo
Hustlers Prayer – Jae Cash ft Jemax, Goddy Zambia & C Square
I Am Her – Cleo Ice Queen
Mvwine Filimu – Drifta Trek ft Slap Dee & Kayz Adams
Spylng 2 – Chef 187 ft Immortal C’zar
BEST GOSPEL SONG (FEMALE)
Balesa Band! Nemwine – Janet Mwandi
Embela Yenu – Mirriam Vow Chama
Lesa Ima – Nakawala Mwewa
Mvwalinga – Medoreen Besa
Naikoselesha – Christine Nkole
Teti – Chileshe Bwalya
Walitulwila Kale – Minister Temwani
BEST GOSPEL SONG (MALE)
Echo Tuwila Panshi – Kings
Fipelele Ukutali – Joshua Nankwe Nankwe
Greater – Pompi ft VOH
Kafwa Wandi – Pst Gift Kaputula
Kaposha – Pastor Leo Kakungu
Talalika Umutima – Zarrell Clouds
You’re God – Reuben Katiyo
MOST CONSCIOUS SONG
Cha Kwa Mu’zimai – Jae Cash ft JC Kalinks & Dizmo
Injato – T Sean ft Chef 187
Lesa Umo – HD Empire ft Triple M
My Hero – Yo Maps
Remember Me – Chile One
True Story – Super Kena
Winsula – Macky 2 ft The Glorious Band
BEST BAND
Amayenge
Mo Fire Band
Sansamukeni Band
Shirtless Boys
The Glorious Band
Uncle Rex
BEST CHOIR
Busokololo Choir
Faithful Melodies
Golden Vocals
Mt Sinai Choir
Voice of Praise
Zambia Defense and Security Choir
BEST COLLABORATION
Cheers To The Good Times – Vinchenzo ft Bobby East
Follow – Triple M ft Driemo
Mukaimwewa – Chile One ft Macky 2
Peace Of Mind – Yo Maps ft Roberto
Sotambe – Frank Ro ft Yo Maps
Teti – Dizmo ft Yo Maps
Winsula – Macky 2 ft The Glorious Band
BEST DUO / GROUP
4 Na 5
Celeb City
Chanda Na Kay
Dope Boys
HD Empire
Peace Preachers
BEST R&B / AFRO FUSION SONG
Efyo Unsunga – K’Millian ft Chichi Praise
Final Say – Neo ft Tim
Iwe Na Ine – T Low ft Chile One
Make Me A Dad – Chile One ft Natasha Chansa
Nationality – Jay Trigger & Ari
Nileke – KB & Chewe ft Frank Ro
BEST MAINSTREAM / POP SONG
Bestie – Roberto
Eagle One – Chile One
Eondongana Nankwe – Chester
Mr and Mrs – Yo Maps
Nationality – Jay Trigger & Ari
Sotambe – Frank Ro ft Yo Maps
Winsula – Macky 2 ft The Glorious Band
GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Afisobolola – Collins Coli
Heart Cry – Minister Divine
Ichikupempula Echikulya – Enoch Mbewe
Isokololeni – Joseph Zulu
Lesa Sumbulweni – Reuben Katiyo
Move Mountains – Olivia Kalenga
BEST MALE ARTIST
Chef 187
Chester
Chile One
Dizmo
Jae Cash
Roberto
Yo Maps
BEST FEMALE ARTIST
Christine Nkole
Cleo Ice Queen
Mampi
Sampa The Great
Tianna
Towela Kaira
Xaven
SONG OF THE YEAR
Bestie – Roberto
Cheers To The Good Times – Vinchenzo ft Mic Burner
Eondongana Nankwe – Chester
Follow – Triple M ft Driemo
Mr and Mrs – Yo Maps
Remember Me – Chile One
Teti – Dizmo ft Yo Maps
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Eagle One – Chile One
Full Circle – K’Millian
I Am Her – Cleo Ice Queen
I Am On My Way – Chester
Most Wanted – Y Celeb
My Hero – Yo Maps
Voice Yo Dula – Jae Cash
