The battle between gospel hots Willy Paul, Bahati and Papa Dennis took a new twist yesterday after Papa Dennis was voted the Best Male Artiste of the Year during the Mwafaka Awards at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi.
This comes after Bahati, relatively a newbie, was voted the Groove Best Artiste of the Year, beating last year’s winner Willy Paul, an equally talented newcomer.
The three have been embroiled in a cold war of supremacy for the last eight months.
And after three years of waiting, Janet Otieno, who is arguably East Africa’s hottest gospel queen, won the Best Female Artiste of the Year award in a tight competition that featured gospel bigwigs Size 8, Eunice Njeri, Evelyn Wanjiru, Rosemary Njagi, Mercy Masika and Ruth Matete.
It was a glitzy affair attended by the who-is-who in the gospel fraternity.
Bahati won the Video of the Year award with Willy Paul too getting accolades in his nominated discipline.
Here are the artists and personalities who managed to scoop the winner trophies in their different categories:
Top Song of the Year - Mwema by Mercy Masika
Male Artist of the Year - Papa Dennis
Female Artist of the Year - Janet Otieno
Audio Producer of the Year - Tim of Still Alive Records
Gospel Group of the Year - Kelele Takatifu
Best Collabo of the Year - Tam tam by Willy Paul feat Size 8
Most Promising Artist of the Year - Timothy Kitui
Video of the Year - Lover by Bahati
Best DJ of the Year - Dj Ruff
Dance Group of the Year - Genje
Video Director of the Year - Tiger
Supportive TV Show of the Year – Crossover 101 (NTV)
Supportive Radio Show of the Year – Tambira (QFM)
Radio Presenter of the Year – Muturi wa Muiruri (Inooro FM)
Kikwetu Eastern Song of the Year - Tunwinire by Jojo ft Makena
Kikwetu Central Song of the Year - Rita Rimue tu by David Mambo
Kikwetu Western Song of the Year - Nyola luyali by Jackie Wanyama
Kikwetu Nyanza Song of the Year - Olemo by Christine Otieno
Kikwetu Rift Valley Song of the Year - Maaleji by L.Jay Maasai.
Kikwetu Pwani Song of the Year - Coco butter by Ellythomas
Audio Producer of the Year - Timothy Kitui Still Alive
TV Anchor of the Year – Betty Kyalo (KTN)