ABBAS Hamis, best known as '20 Percent,' was the king of the Tanzania Music Awards as he topped off a great year with a record five trophies during the awards presentation ceremony, at the Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam on Saturday night.

The fast-rising 'Bongo Flava' star was absent at the colourful Kili Music Awards gala but still managed to take home the most gongs. 20 Percent had the most nominations with seven and won for Male Artist of the Year, Best Male Singer and Best Song Writer of the Year, while his two hit tracks 'Tamaa Mbaya' and 'Ya Nini Malumbano' were voted Song of the Year and Best Afro Pop Song respectively.

It was a remarkable success for 20 Percent, an incredible singer and composer, who keeps an amazingly low profile. Producer John Shariza 'Man Walter' of Combinations Sounds, the man behind 20 Percent's ascendance to the top collected the trophies on his behalf.

Man Walter lost to Lamar in the Producer of the Year category, but he was still the proudest man following his artist's great achievement. The fan-voted gala saw an upcoming songbird Linah, who also dominated the nominations with five nods, picked up two awards Best Female Singer and Best Upcoming Artist.

Linah, the product of the Tanzania House of Talent (THT), missed the hat-tricky as she was beaten by Judith Daines Wambura Mbibo 'Lady Jaydee' in the Best Female Artist of the Year. CPWAA - the night's other big winner after his 'Action', featuring Ngwear, Dully and Ms Trinity, was voted Most Popular Video of the Year, Best Ragga/ Dancehall Song.

Gentle singer Barnaba scooped Best Zouk Song with his Nabembelezwa, while Arusha-based hip hop star Joh Makini maintained his stardom in the category after being named Best Hip Hop Artiste for the second year running.

Upcoming Ben Poul's 'Nikikupata' was voted R&B Song of the Year, beating off stiff competitions from We ni Wangu- Belle 9 Hello- Hussein Machozi ft Maunda Zorro, Atatamani- Linah, Kisiwa cha Malavidavi- Z-Anton.

Arusha scored a clean sweep of hip hop after JCB's track Ukisikia Paah-, ft Fid Q& Chidi Benz, won two awards --Hip-hop Song of the Year and Best Collaboration Song. Nasib Abdul Juma, famously known as Diamond, winner of three awards during the 2009 edition, was in the running for a hat-trick of awards, including Best Male Artist, Best Male Singer of the Year, while his 'Mbagala' hit was among the tunes vying for Best Afro Pop Single, but he was left empty-handed.

Mapacha Watatu, a year-old dance music band comprising three artists Jose Mara, Khalid Chokoraa and Kalala Junior, landed trophy for Best Swahili Song of the Year award for their 'Shika Ushikapo' song, with Chokoraa also bagging Best Band Rapper of the Year prize.

Hall of Fame trophies went to legendary OTTU Jazz Band musician Said Mabera and the Tanzania Broadcasting Radio (TBC). Also reaching the stage to accept awards were Hardmad for Best Reggae Single, Jahazi Modern Taarab for Taarab Song of the Year, Kidumu & Lady Jaydee Best East African Single, Mpoki ft Cassim for Best Traditional Song- Tanzania.