The nominees for the 8th Sun FM Kwacha Music Awards have officially been unveiled, setting the stage for another major celebration of Zambia’s music industry. The 2026 nominations bring together established music stars, emerging artists, producers, songs and projects across a wide range of categories, with artists from all 10 provinces represented. Kwacha Awards

The nominations span provincial and national categories, recognising achievements across music, production, collaborations, gospel, humanitarian work, international achievement and other areas of Zambia’s creative industry. According to the awards organisers, the nomination process draws on fan interaction and radio airplay through participating stations across the country, with nominees progressing to the public voting stage. Kwacha Awards

Among the national categories are Best Artist (Male), Best Artist (Female), Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Music Producer, Best International Achievement, Best Hip Hop/Rap Song, Best R&B/Afro Fusion Song, Best Dancehall/Reggae Song and Best Duo/Group, among others. The Album of the Year shortlist includes Chile One’s Destiny, Tio Nason’s God Sound, Petersen’s So Cha Cha Toa, T-Sean’s Still Waters, Mag44’s The Way, Yo Maps’ Vibes on Vibes and Kayz Adams’ Witina.

The public voting process is now open and runs until November 13, 2026, according to the official Kwacha Music Awards website. The awards say voting takes place through established channels including the website and SMS, with results subject to verification by an independent auditing firm. Kwacha Awards

The awards ceremony is scheduled for Friday, November 27, 2026, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. The red carpet is set to begin at 18:00hrs, followed by the main ceremony at 19:00hrs. This year’s event carries the theme “Empowering Talent, Building Legacy.” Kwacha Awards

With the nominees now confirmed and voting underway, attention shifts to artists and fans across the country as the road to the 8th Sun FM Kwacha Music Awards officially begins.

Full List of 2026 Kwacha Music Awards Nominees

PROVINCIAL CATEGORIES

Best Artist – Central Province

• Ama Sweet Dondo
• Bad Boy Shezy
• Born Vicious
• Brokenhill Emmy
• Shadrek
• Young Trexy

Best Artist – Copperbelt Province

• B Quan Phamaika
• Bloodkid YVOK
• JC Kalinks
• Landmark Sounds
• Mizzy C
• Mwana Kalampa
• T-Low

Best Artist – Luapula Province

• Born Bugah
• Jay Nazo
• Kam Charles
• Knack Unity
• Machete
• PLK Wise

Best Artist – North Western Province

• B Rox
• Boy Kay Naneka Fye
• Cox
• J.M Blue Spec
• Kell Cee Zambia
• Mighty C

Best Artist – Southern Province

• Black Marck
• Kadas
• Mizi Wayne
• Mordecai
• Raycie
• Rockstone

Best Artist – Eastern Province

• Alifatiq
• Chile 84
• Chimzy Kelly
• DJ Ndunwa
• KD Giza
• Molto Zambia

Best Artist – Lusaka Province

• 76 Drums
• Frank Ro
• Kayz Adams
• Minister Temwani
• Miss Wizzy
• Shoki Mwana Chibolya
• Y-Cool

Best Artist – Muchinga Province

• Afri Boy
• Celeb City
• Emmy 3
• Happy K
• Rock G Zambia
• Shushushu

Best Artist – Northern Province

• Andyzoh
• Jean Ubusaka
• King G2
• Kiss B Sai Baba
• Muzo Aka Alphonso
• Newman

Best Artist – Western Province

• Jah Bwoy
• Kasy Nalu
• Mumble Jumble
• O’Nelly
• Ozone Africa
• Y-Coasty

MAIN CATEGORIES

Best Music Producer

Ben Blazer, C-Mak, Icon Mu Speaker, Killa Beats, King Nachi Beats, Kingtec, Melar Beats, T-Sean, Witty Beats.

Humanitarian Award

Abel Chungu, B-Flow, Dizmo, Macky 2, Maiko Zulu, Mampi, Pompi, Wezi, Yo Maps.

Best International Achievement

Cleo Ice Queen, El Mukuka, Mampi, Pompi, Roberto, Sampa The Great, Yo Maps.

Best Folk / Indigenous Song

• 40 Ngombe – 76 Drums ft Chanda Na Kay & Shanga
• Biwacha – Kadas
• Isambi – Chester
• Mpyango – Shirtless Boys
• Munibulae – Y-Coasty
• Tutu – James Sakala ft Chef 187 & Caitlin De Ville
• Ubwafya – Afunika
• Umwinko – Mumba Yachi

Best Newcomer (Female)

Chicheba Aree, Faith Kalaba, Kunda, Kutowa, Nyarai, Tina Selemani, Zian SZ.

Best Newcomer (Male)

Boy Kay, Dreckzine, Mizzy C, Mwana Kalampa, Way Dee, Y-Cool, Young Trexy.

Best Dancehall / Raggae Song

• Gweh (WYFL Riddim) – T-Sean
• Mulilo – Milz ft Massa Xrossfyah, Ras Aka & Admiral P
• Pressure – Miss Wizzy ft Vinchenzo
• Sling Dat – Mikrophone 7
• U Mek Mi – Gabriel GS
• Ukutalala – DJ Cosmo
• Weka – Bombshell ft Yo Maps
• Zambian Dancehall Kuchalo – Petersen

Best R&B / Afro Fusion Song

• It’s Over – Yo Maps
• Konkosha – T-Low ft Jae Cash
• Oh Baby – JC Kalinks ft Slap Dee
• One and Only – Nyarai ft Y-Cool
• Ready – Mordecai ZM
• Sober – Roberto
• Stay – T-Sean ft Xaven
• Virgo – Warren Mills

Best Hip Hop / Rap Song

• Abo – Slapdee ft Dizmo & Kayz Adams
• Gang Affiliated – Jae Cash, Dizmo & Y-Cool
• Ku Bar – D Bwoy Telem ft Chef 187, Xaven & Jay Rox
• Mukaninga – King Illest ft 76 Drums
• One Fight – Zone Fam
• Shadow Boxing – Chef 187
• Simon Says – Sampa The Great
• Sky Pombe – Y-Cool ft Dreckzine, Shokii & Trendy Kidai

Best Mainstream Song (Pop)

• 40 Ngombe – 76 Drums ft Chanda Na Kay & Shanga
• Aye – Nez Long ft Xaven & Yo Maps
• Ba Neighbor – Chile One Mr Zambia
• Beauty Station – 76 Drums ft JC Kalinks
• Chingelengle – Drimz ft Chile One
• It’s Over – Yo Maps
• My Man My Man – Vinchenzo ft Towela Kaira
• Sober – Roberto

Best Gospel Song (Female)

• Amalaila Kumwine Wabubumbo – Janet JMK
• Calvary – Medoreen Besa
• Christine Nkole – Tataswele
• Endeni – Racheal Nanyangwe
• Final Say – Theresa Mubonda
• IKA – Minister Temwani
• Makafye Yakwe – Faith Kalaba
• Ubunje – Chileshe Bwalya ft Mag44

Best Gospel Song (Male)

• Ba Yaweh – Tio Nason
• Ishina Lyenu – Anointed Musonda
• Joy of the Lord – Mag44 ft Tim & Julian Roberts
• Shimwili – Pompi ft Tasha Nyambe & VOH
• Soft Life – Abel Chungu
• The Blood – Washy Mtambo
• Ubukata – Joshua Nankwe Nankwe
• Yesu Ni Boss – Kings Malembe

Most Conscious Song

• Amapalo – Mwanaka Kalampa ft D Bwoy, King Kizo & MSH Tyga
• Balupwa – Young Trexy ft Triple M & Chile One
• Chafina – Yo Maps ft Muzo Alphonso
• Destiny – Chile One
• God Is Good – Macky 2
• Katek(a) Umusuma – Triple M ft Reuben
• Petersen – Mwana Mungono
• Tulo – Kayz Adams ft Jae Cash

Best Collaboration

• Asante – Slapdee & Dizmo ft Dreckzine
• Aye – Nez Long ft Xaven & Yo Maps
• Ba Neighbor (Remix) – Chile One ft Harmonize & Onesimus
• Beauty Station – 76 Drums ft JC Kalinks
• Finish – Jay Rox ft Way Dee
• It’s Over – Yo Maps ft Makadzi
• My Man My Man – Vinchenzo ft Towela Kaira
• Weka – Bombshell ft Yo Maps

Best Duo / Group

Abena Swanky T, Celeb City, Chanda Na Kay, Dope Boys, HD Empire, Jay Trigga & Ari, Peace Preachers, Zone Fam.

Best Band

Amayenge Band, Barotse Band, Mo Fire Band, Sansamukeni Band, Shirtless Boys, The Glorious Band.

Best Choir

Busokololo Choir, Defense and Security Choir, Faithful Melodies, Good Shephard Choir, Holy Angels Choir, Kitwe Central Church Choir, Mount Sinai, Voice of Praise.

Gospel Album of the Year

• God Sound – Tio Nason
• Kamitsha – Costa Chibwe
• Not By Sight – Eddie Black
• Pempela – Elijah Aka Zambia
• The Way – Mag44

Best Artist (Male)

76 Drums, Chef 187, Chile One, Dizmo, Drimz, Pompi, T-Sean, Yo Maps.

Best Artist (Female)

Bombshell Grenade, Mampi, Medoreen Besa, Rockstone, Sampa The Great, Tianna, Towela Kaira, Xaven.

Song of the Year

• Asante – Slapdee & Dizmo ft Dreckzine
• Aye – Nez Long ft Xaven & Yo Maps
• Ba Neighbor – Chile One
• Beauty Station – 76 Drums ft JC Kalinks
• Hello – Yo Maps
• It’s Over – Yo Maps ft Makadzi
• Mpeniko Finile – Dizmo ft Reuben
• My Man My Man – Vinchenzo ft Towela Kaira

Album of the Year

• Destiny – Chile One
• God Sound – Tio Nason
• So Cha Cha Toa – Petersen
• Still Waters – T-Sean
• The Way – Mag44
• Vibes on Vibes – Yo Maps
• Witina – Kayz Adams

With the nominations now unveiled, attention shifts to the public voting stage as artists and fans across the country rally behind their preferred nominees. The awards committee says the Kwacha Music Awards are designed to recognise Zambian music excellence on a national scale, with participation from radio stations across the country’s provinces.

The 8th Sun FM Kwacha Music Awards will take place on November 27 at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, under the 2026 theme “Empowering Talent, Building Legacy.”

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