One of America’s finest rappers, Nasir Oludara Jones, popularly known as Nas, has confirmed full participation at the prestigious MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain (MAMAs).

Nas, formerly Nasty Nas, will be visiting Abuja for the first time, and has an amazing opportunity to thrill guests at the awards night.

According to Zain’s Chief Marketing Officer, Norman Moyo, other artistes that have confirmed participation at the awards include Kelly Rowland, The Game, Florider, Cassete, HHP, Jozi, Samini, Juacali, Naeto C, Asa, 9ice, Ikechukwu, 2face, P-Square and D’banj.

The awards, which will hold at the Velodrome, Abuja, on Saturday, 22 November and broadcast on MTV base DStv Channel 322, GTV Channel 40, partner networks as well as terrestrial television channels such as AIT (Nigeria), STV (Nigeria), RTGA (Democratic Republic of the Congo), TV3 (Ghana), NTV (Kenya), TBC (Tanzania) and WBS (Uganda), from 29 November, 2008.

Moyo said the idea of bringing an international rap act like Nas to the awards demonstrates Zain’s willingness to always explore opportunities that will allow for cross-cultural musical experiences, adding that as the brand is most associated with music in Africa, the company will continue to contribute immensely to the development of music on the continent.

P.M.Entertainment learnt that prominence on the nomination roll call for MAMAs, are R&B duo, P-Square who are contending for the Best Group, Best Live Performer, Best R&B, Best Video and Artiste of the Year; Nigeria’s hip pop star, D’Banj (Best Male, Best Live Performer and Best Group), South African HHP nominated for Best Male and Artiste of the Year categories; Wahu (Kenya) and Nigeria’s Bukola Elemide popularly known as Asa (Best Female, Artist of the Year).