We take great pleasure in announcing the Songlines Music Awards nominations.

The Songlines Music Awards recognise outstanding talent in world music and are run in partnership with WOMAD festival, culminating in performances by a selection of the nominees at this summer’s WOMAD in Charlton Park, July 24-26 2009, including Rokia Traoré, Dub Colossus and Los Desterrados.

There are four categories: Best Artist, Best Group, Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Newcomer.

The eligible artists are those who have had albums reviewed in Songlines during 2008 (from issues #50 to #57 inclusive) and were voted on by the public. The top four artists in each category give us the final nominees.

Please find below a list of the final nominees and their relevant album:

BEST ARTIST
Toumani Diabaté: The Mandé Variations on World Circuit
Lila Downs: Shake Away on EMI
Mariza: Terra on EMI
Rokia Traore: Tchamantché on Nonesuch

BEST GROUP
Amadou & Mariam: Welcome To Mali on Because
Bellowhead: Matachin on Navigator Records
Los Desterrados: Miradores on Crusoe Records
Umalali: The Garifuna Women’s Project on Cumbancha

CROSS-CULTURAL COLLABORATION
Balkan Beat Box: Nu-Made Remixes & Videos on Crammed Discs
Ska Cubano: Ajiaco! The Remix Album on Casino Sounds
Monkey (Damon Albarn & Jamie Hewlett): Journey to the West on XL
Jah Wobble & The Chinese Dub Orchestra: Chinese Dub on 30 Hertz

NEWCOMER
Kiran Ahluwalia: Wanderlust on World Connection
Buika: Nina de Fuego on Warner Jazz
Dub Colossus: In A Town Called Addis on Real World
Dengue Fever: Venus on Earth on Real World

The nominations will be discussed on BBC Radio 3’s World on 3 programme on March 20  at 11.15pm, presented by Lopa Kothari and with music journalist Nigel Williamson. 

The winners, to be selected by the Songlines editorial team, will be published in the June issue (#60), on sale May 1.