The well-known Egyptian independent band Cairokee has been nominated for the MTV European Music Awards (MTV EMA) in the Best Middle East Act category, the group announced on their fan page on 16 September.

They are competing against Palestinian singer and Arab Idol winner Mohamed Assaf; Lebanese singer Jana, Saudi DJ, producer and record label owner Omar Basaad and Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred, making them the only non-solo contestant in their category.

Voting through the MTV EMA website will continue for the next 53 days, and the award ceremony is scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland on 9 November.  

Last year, Moroccan Afro-Arabian soul singer Ahmed Soultan scooped the award. In 2010, Egyptian Mohamed Hamaky went home with the top prize, the only Egyptian to have won the award since its inception in 2007.

Cairokee rose to fame in 2011 after releasing their revolutionary hit Sout El-Horreya alongside singer and actor Hany Adel of Wust El-Balad. Formed in 2003, the band has released three albums to date.