Amidst glitz and glamour, the crowd went wild as the moderator of the night arrived in style. He drove a Buruburu route 58 matatu the venue and a motorbike to the podium.

South African rock band Zebra and Giraffe won Best Alternative Award

Joined by his four-man band, the multiple platinum selling artiste belted to the popular Fugees rendition, No Woman No Cry to a thunderous applause. He went ahead rendering a remixed rendition of his Gone Till November and 911 before fans went into a frenzy when he got hold of the electric guitar which he played on his back and with his teeth.

There were wild cheers when the Haitian-born American singer did a remix ofKenyan favourite Hips Don’t Lie before moving on to his duet with Akon singing Sweetest Girl.

His performances were energetic and his great humour kept the venue lively over the three hours the ceremony took place.

But it was his chemistry with Akon that got the crowd roaring as the two African sons cracked up the audience with hilarious antics. At some point they entered a fitness showdown, doing press-ups, somersaulting on stage and stripping half naked to a thunderous applause from the crowd.

The award ceremony was unique and a memorable one for Kenyan stars who registered historic wins to break the jinx that has followed them in such awards over the years.

It was a moment of glory for Nameless and Amani who have for the last four years failed to break through.

The crowd was tense and even chanted "Haki yetu!" as the award ceremony went underway.

And when Nameless was named the winner of the Best Male Artiste award beating D’banj, 2Face, HHP and Da L.E.S, the gymnasium bust into song. And it wasn’t long before Amani was announced the Best Female Artiste, beating South African Lira and Mozambican Lizha James who beat her in the same category during last year’s Channel O music awards held in South Africa.

And it wasn’t over in a night when Kenya seemed to acquire the long awaited supremacy in continental showbiz as Nameless, the hero of the night doubled his win by taking home the Listeners Choice Award for the hit single Sunshine (featuring Habida) which he dedicated to his celebrity wife Wahu and their daughter Tumiso.

And announcing the new dawn in Kenyan showbiz, Nameless broke into Swahili saying the time for Kenyan artistes to take over had come "Au sio?" he posed as teh crowd appaluded. The Nigerian artistes also garnered major wins. D’banj won the Artiste of the Year trophy. His fellow countryman MI won both the Best New Act and Best Hip-Hop awards as P Square and 2 Face scooped the Best Group and Best R&B positions respectively.

Other winners included Batman Samini (Ghana — Best Performer), HHP (South Africa — Best Video), Zebra and Giraffe (South Africa — Best Alternative)

The Lifetime Achievement award went to the late South African reggae legend Lucky Dube whose award was received by the legends son Thokozane Dube .

It was an emotional moment as the crowd rose and observed a one-minute silence in tribute for the fallen hero who Wyclef described as a true legend.

"Bob Marley represented Jamaica. Lucky Dube represented mother Africa. He taught me that revolution cannot be achieved through firearms but through the strength of sound mind," an emotional Wyclef said as the lights went dim, and fans lit up with their cell phones. He then sung a tribute song with Ghanaian reggae artiste Samini. Akon closed the event by inviting all the performing artistes on stage to join him in singing the late Michael Jackson’s hit Gotta Be Starting Somethin’.

The awards, the second edition of the MTV Africa awards were a great platform for African stars to unite and showcase their great talent to the world.

It was also an opportunity for Kenya to reassert its supremacy in the continental music scene as it seeks new market across the continent.

"I have waited for this moment too long after failing to make it in numerous continental nominations," said Amani who thanked God, her producer Lucas Bikedo of her signed up recording stable Ogopa DJs, her family and fans.

In fact, early the next morning, Amani was on a flight to South Africa where she was performed at the ongoing Big Brother Africa house.

"Our industry has grown and our music is being appreciated across the continent. All Kenyan artistes should feel proud and ride on the wave," added Amani, who has also been nominated in this year’s Channel O Music Awards.

It was a great learning process for the players in the local music industry and a statement that indeed, Kenya is capable of hosting continental events of such magnitude.