Caster Semenya, Pearl Thusi and Black Coffee get MTV MAMAs nods

The first half of the nominees for this year's MTV Africa Music Awards have been released, with three of South Africa's biggest icons making the list

Caster Semenya, Pearl Thusi and Black Coffee all scored nominations for this year's event, to be held at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg on October 22.

Caster and Pearl will compete against the likes of Linda Ikeji, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Wizkid in the Personality of the Year category.

There were also nominations for SA rap stars AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Riky Rick and Emtee.

Nigerian music superstar Wizkid leads the nominations so far, with three nods.

The first half of the nominees were unveiled at a glitzy ceremony in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening, with live performances by Nathi, Riky Rick, Shekinah and Mi Casa.

The rest of the nominees for this year's event will be announced in Lagos, Nigeria on October 2.

• Babes Wodumo and Nasty C to set the MTV MAMAs 2016 stage alightNasty C, Babes Wodumo and Nigerian songstress Yemi Alade are the first artists to be unveiled as part of the highly-anticipated music extravaganza's lineup.  

The MTV MAMAs will be broadcast live across the world on MTV Base (Dstv Channel) and MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and will feature performances from the likes of Nasty C, Babes Wodumo, Cassper Nyovest and Nigerian songstress Yemi Alade.

Tickets for the ceremony are available from R250.

Here are all of the announced nominations so far:

Best Live Act
Cassper Nyovest
Eddy Kenzo
Flavour
Mafikizolo
Stonebwoy

Personality of the Year
Caster Semenya
Linda Ikeji
Pearl Thusi
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Wizkid

Best Pop/AlternativeAct
Shekinah & Kyle Deutsch
Desmond and the Tutus
Lcnvl
Tresor
TiMO ODV

Best Collaboration
Baddest - AKA, Burna Boy, Khuli Chana & Yanga
Juice Back Remix - Nasty C, Davido & Cassper Nyovest
No Kissing Baby -  Patoranking & Sarkodie
Soweto Baby - DJ Maphorisa, Wizkid & DJ Buck
Unconditionally Bae - Sauti Sol & Ali Kiba

Best Male Act
AKA
Patoranking
Black Coffee
Diamond Platnumz
Wizkid

Best Group

Toofan
Sauti Sol
R2Bees
Navy Kenzo
Mi Casa

Best International Act
Adele
Beyonce
Drake
Rihanna
Future

Best Lusophone Act
NGA
Preto Show
Nelson Freitas
Lizha James
C4 Pedro

Best Hip Hop Act
Emtee
Ycee
Riky Rick
Kiff No Beat
Olamide