AFRIMA 2026 ceremony celebrates Africa’s top musical talents.
The 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA 2026) took place from January 7 to 11 in Lagos, Nigeria, following a postponement from its original November 2025 schedule.
The event celebrates African musical talent, creativity, and cultural heritage, providing a platform to recognise achievements across mainstream and emerging genres, including Afropop, hip-hop, jazz, inspirational music, and alternative sounds.
How Winners Are Selected
AFRIMA follows a two-step selection process to balance expert judgment with fan engagement. An international jury, alongside the African Union Commission, reviews thousands of submissions to shortlist artists meeting the awards’ criteria.
Once nominees are confirmed, fans worldwide vote online, with each supporter allowed up to 40 votes per day via the official AFRIMA website. For the 2026 edition, voting ran from September 10, 2025, until shortly before the awards ceremony, ensuring both critical and popular recognition for established and emerging talent.
Nigeria’s Major Winners
Nigeria made a strong showing at AFRIMA 2026, dominating multiple categories:
Rema: Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artist in Western Africa, Best African R&B & Soul
Shallipopi: Song of the Year, Best African Collaboration for “Laho” with Burna Boy
Chella: African Fans’ Favourite
Qing Madi: Most Promising Artiste of the Year
Phyno: Best African Hip-Hop
Burna Boy: Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness
Yemi Alade: Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series, or Documentary (“You Are” from Iyanu: The Animated Series)
These wins highlight Nigeria’s continued influence across Africa’s diverse music scene, from mainstream Afropop to cinematic soundtracks.
Caption for featured image: Rema and Shallipopi celebrate their wins at AFRIMA 2026 in Lagos.
Alt text for image: Nigerian artists Rema and Shallipopi holding AFRIMA 2026 awards on stage in Lagos.
Continental Highlights
Central Africa
Best Male Artist: Singuila (Congo)
Best Female Artist: Cindy Le Coeur (DRC)
Eastern Africa
Best Male Artist: Juma Jux (Tanzania)
Best Female Artist: Denise (Madagascar)
Northern Africa
Best Artist: Sherine (Egypt)
Southern Africa
Best Male Artist: Yo Maps (Zambia)
Best Female Artist: Nontokozo Mkhize (South Africa)
Western Africa
Best Male Artist: Rema (Nigeria)
Best Female Artist: Wendy Shay (Ghana)
Continental & Special Categories
Best Male African Inspirational: Milo (Côte d’Ivoire)
Best Female African Inspirational: Morijah (Côte d’Ivoire)
Best African Artist, Duo, or Group in African Jazz: Haddinqo (Ethiopia)
Best African Artist, Duo, or Group in African Contemporary: Axel Merryl (Benin)
Songwriter of the Year: Bakhaw Dioum – “Choix” (Senegal)
Best African DJ: DJ Moh Green (Algeria)
Producer of the Year: Element Eleéh & Mugisha Fred Robinson (Rwanda)
AFRIMA 2026 reaffirmed the importance of African music in shaping global culture, while also highlighting the rising generation of talent set to influence the continent’s creative industry. With fan engagement and expert evaluation at its core, AFRIMA continues to empower artists and strengthen the connection between African music and international audiences.
About the Author
