In the running for the UK-based African Music Awards are three South African acts - DJ Black Coffee, RnB star Loyiso Bala and the world-renowned Soweto Gospel Choir. Taking place at Wembley Arena on 15 October, the awards will showcase Africa's music giants and other top musicians from the UK, America and the Caribbean.

The date of the 2010 AMAs also co-incides with the late Fela Kuti's birthday, born 15 October 1938 and are thus dedicated to this Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer. He was also a human rights activist, politicial maverick and pioneer of Afrobeat, a complex fusion of jazz, funk (especially the music of James Brown), Ghanaian/Nigerian high-life, psychedelic rock and traditional West African chants and rhythms. Afrobeat also borrows heavily from the native 'tinker pan' African-style percussion that Kuti acquired while studying in Ghana with South Africa's Hugh Masakela.

An audience of 10,000 is expected and 10% of the ceremony's proceeds will go towards supporting UNICEF’s  project of helping HIV/Aids Orphans in Africa.