Nigerian musicians stole the spotlight at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) held in Lagos on Sunday night, the 11th of January, 2026, dominating several top categories.
Leading the night’s celebrations was Rema, who secured three major accolades: “Artiste of the Year”, “Best Male Artiste in Western Africa”, and “Best African Artiste in RnB and Soul”.
Burna Boy also made a remarkable impact, taking home “Album of the Year” for No Sign of Weakness. He further shared the “Best African Collaboration” award with Shallipopi, who independently won “Song of the Year” for Laho.
In recognition of her work on screen, Yemi Alade clinched “Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary” for her song You Are, featured in the animated series Iyanu.
The hip-hop scene saw Phyno honored as “Best African Artiste in African Hip-Hop”, while Juma Jux of Tanzania earned “Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa”.
For emerging talents, Qing Madi was named “Most Promising Artiste of the Year”, and Chella took home “African Fans’ Favourite”.
Full list of winners below:
Best Male Artiste – Central Africa
C4 Pedro (Angola)
Eboloko (Gabon)
Gims (DRC)
Gerilson Insrael (Angola)
Kocee (Cameroon)
L’Oiseau Rare (Gabon)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Magasco (Cameroon)
Singuila (The Congo) – Winner
Werrason (DRC)
Best Female Artiste – Central Africa
Anna Joyce (Angola)
Blanche Bailly (Cameroon)
Charlotte Dipanda (Cameroon)
Cindy Le Coeur (DRC) – Winner
Deborah Lukalu (DRC)
Emma’a (Gabon)
Jessy B (The Congo)
Krys M (Cameroon)
Liriany (Angola)
Rebo (DRC)
Best Male Artiste – Eastern Africa
Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Element Eleéh (Rwanda)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Jux (Tanzania) – Winner
Marioo (Tanzania)
Mbosso (Tanzania)
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Sat-B (Burundi)
Yared Negu (Ethiopia)
Best Female Artiste – Eastern Africa
Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Bridget Blue (Kenya)
Denise (Madagascar) – Winner
Haleluya Tekletsadik (Ethiopia)
Lady Jaydee (Tanzania)
Mahlet Wendimu (Ethiopia)
Salemia (Ethiopia)
Weeha (Ethiopia)
Winnie Nwagi (Uganda)
Zuchu (Tanzania)
Best Male Artiste – Northern Africa
A.L.A. (Tunisia)
Adviser (Mauritania) – Winner
Amr Diab (Egypt)
Cheb Momo (Algeria)
El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Hamza Namira (Egypt)
Lbenj (Morocco)
Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
Stormy (Morocco)
Wegz (Egypt)
Best Female Artiste – Northern Africa
Chirine Lajmi (Tunisia)
Inez (Morocco)
Jannat (Egypt)
Jaylann (Morocco)
Manal (Morocco)
Meryem Aboulouafa (Morocco)
Sherine (Egypt) – Winner
Zina Daoudia (Morocco)
Best Male Artiste – Southern Africa
Anderson Mário (Mozambique)
Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe)
Manana (Eswatini)
Nasty C (South Africa)
Teddy Makadi (Malawi)
Tyler ICU (South Africa)
Wanitwamos (South Africa)
Yo Maps (Zambia) – Winner
Zeze Kingston (Malawi)
Kazba De Small (South Africa)
Best Female Artiste – Southern Africa
Babalwa M (South Africa)
Hanna (Zimbabwe)
Makhadzi (South Africa)
Nkosazana Daughter (South Africa)
Nontokozo Mkhize (South Africa) – Winner
Sha Sha (Zimbabwe)
Temwah (Malawi)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)
Zee Nxumalo (South Africa)
Best Male Artiste – Western Africa
Asake (Nigeria)
Axel Merryl (Benin)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Davido (Nigeria)
Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire)
Djodje (Cape Verde)
Rema (Nigeria) – Winner
VJ (Senegal)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best Female Artiste – Western Africa
Amaarae (Ghana)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Djelykaba Bintou (Guinea)
Josey (Côte d’Ivoire)
Mariam Ba Lagaré (Mali)
Mia Guissé (Senegal)
Moliy (Ghana)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
Wendy Shay (Ghana) – Winner
Continental Categories
Best Male Artiste – African Inspirational Music
Christian Mukuna (DRC)
Djunny Beatz (Mozambique)
Gaise Baba (Nigeria)
Israel Mbonyi (Rwanda)
Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe)
Joel Lwaga (Tanzania)
Kocee (Cameroon)
Lawrence Oyor (Nigeria)
Milo (Côte d’Ivoire) – Winner
Sjava (South Africa)
Best Female Artiste – African Inspirational Music
Ada Ehi (Nigeria)
Choisie Basolua (DRC)
Krys M (Cameroon)
Martha Mwaipaja (Tanzania)
Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)
Morijah (Côte d’Ivoire) –Winner
Nontokozo Mkhize (South Africa)
Roseline Layo (Côte d’Ivoire)
Vestine & Dorcas (Rwanda)
Best African Artiste, Duo or Group – African Jazz
Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Ghana)
Haddinqo (Ethiopia) – Winner
Mádé Kuti (Nigeria)
Rorisang Sechele (South Africa)
Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane (South Africa)
The Cavemen (Nigeria)
Alune Wade (Senegal)
Nomfundo Xaluva (South Africa)
Kyle Shepherd Trio (South Africa)
Best Artiste, Duo or Group – African Contemporary
Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
Axel Merryl (Benin) – Winner
Espe Bass (Congo B)
Bien (Kenya)
Jaylann (Morocco)
Kizz Daniel, Angélique Kidjo & Johnny Drille (Nigeria)
Mbosso (Tanzania)
Ferre Gola & Rayvanny (DRC)
Didine Canon 16 (Algeria)
Wendy Shay (Ghana)
READ ALSO: Rema Takes Home Best Male Artiste in Western Africa at AFRIMA 2026
Best Soundtrack – Movie, Series or Documentary
Igho’le Trap Mix Version (To Kill a Monkey: Series) – Oscar Heman-
El Ma2as (The Start: Film) – Tamer Hosny, Reda Elbahrawy (Egypt)
You Are (Iyanu: Animated Series) – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) – Winner
Timpi Tampa (Timpi Tampa: Film) – Ismaël Lo (Senegal)
Tori Ife (Seven Doors: Series) – Tolu Obanro (Nigeria)
Saatte Ragouj (The Last of the
Mohicans: Film) – Kafon (Tunisia)
Songwriter of the Year
Bakhaw Dioum – Choix (Mia Guissé ft. Wally B. Seck) (Senegal) – Winner
Emel, Jehanny Beth & Camille Berthomier – Fall in the Light (Tunisia)
Emma’a – Trop d’amour (Gabon)
Emmanuel Ayobami Alli-Hakeem – Za (Anendlessocean) (Nigeria)
Ferre Gola – Amour Illusoire (DRC)
Mohammed Ismail Sharrif – Rebel Music (Black Sherif) (Ghana)
Mugisha Fred Robinson – Tombé (Element Eleéh) (Rwanda)
Olamide Adedeji – Hassibunallah (Olamide) (Nigeria)
Prince Omoferi & Nwamu Francis Chukwudubem – It Hurts (Johnny Drille & Don Jazzy) (Nigeria)
Victor Ngatuvese Kaune – Oputuri ‘Queens’ (One Blood Namibia) (Namibia)
African Fans’ Favourite
Ali Jita (Nigeria)
Barnaba (Tanzania)
BNXN & Rema (Nigeria)
Chella (Nigeria) – Winner
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Innoss’b (DRC)
Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
Parazar (Algeria)
Faceless (Nigeria)
Tul8te (Egypt)
Best African DJ
DJ Malvado (Angola)
DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
DJ Moh Green (Algeria) – Winner
DJ Mombochi (The Congo)
DJ Tunez (Nigeria)
DJ Tunez (Nigeria)
DJ YK Mule (Nigeria)
Kelvin Momo (South Africa)
Oscar Mbo (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)
Woodblock Djs (South Africa)
Producer of the Year
Beneth Seraphin Akatché Koffi (Senegal)
Butternut, Xolani Majoz (South Africa)
Dina One (Mali)
Element Eleéh & Mugisha Fred Robinson (Rwanda) – Winners
Jazzworx (South Africa)
Progrex (Nigeria)
DaVinci (Angola)Tempoe (Nigeria)
Themba Sekowe, Gomolemo Joy Gumede, Kabelo Motha (South Africa)
Album of the Year
Ebtadena – Amr Diab (Egypt)
No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy (Nigeria) – Winner
5ive – Davido (Nigeria)
Diyilem & Bazarhoff: Genius – Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire)
Ngomoya – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy (South Africa)
Salgoat – El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Big Aka 4 Aka Kai – Himra (Côte d’Ivoire)
Thato Ya Modimo – Kelvin Momo (South Africa)
Idrache (Traces of the Past) – Tinariwen (Mali)
Best African Video of the Year
“Rebel” – Black Sherif (Ghana)
“Meta” – Nomcebo Zikode & Sofiya Nzau (South Africa)
“Ki Lo Wa Wa” – Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
“Timpi Tampa” – Ismaël Lo (Senegal)
“Tori Ife” – Tolu Obanro (Nigeria)
“Ova” – Mbosso (Tanzania) – Winner
“Ololufe” – Juma Jux & Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
“Shaolin” – Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
“Stk Stk” – Dizzy Dros, Kekra & Norfafrica (Morocco)
Song of the Year
“Isaka (6AM)” – Ciza, Jazzworx & Thukuthela (South Africa)
“Bengicela” – Mawhoo Gl Ceejay & Thukuthela (South Africa)
Choix” – Mia Guissé (Senegal)
“Diplomatico” – El Grande Toto (Morocco)
“Kaay Waay” – VJ (Senegal)
“Laho” – Shallipopi (Nigeria) – Winner
“Ololufe Mi” – Jux & Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
“Push 2 Start” – Tyla (South Africa)
“Shake it to the Max” – Moliy, Shenseea, Skillibeng & Silent Addy (Ghana)
“With You” – Davido (Nigeria)
Best African Dance/Choreography
Jaylann – “Ha Wlidi” (Morocco)
Lady Ponce – “Je veux danser”
(Cameroon)
Rebo – “Mobambo” (DRC)
Serge Beynaud – “Taper Dedans” (Côte d’Ivoire)
Toofan – “Deodorant” (Togo)
Tyla – “Push 2 Start” (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles & Royal Musiq – “Zenzele” (Eswatini)
Weeha – “Dimama” (Ethiopia) – Winner
Werrason – “Tout se paie ici bas” (DRC)
Wizkid – “Kese” (Nigeria)
Best African Act – Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall
Magasco – “Dirty Whine” (Cameroon)
Moliy, Shenseea, Skillibeng & Silent Addy – “Shake it to the Max” (Ghana)
Ruger & Kranium – “Dudu” (Nigeria)
Sean Morgan – “Vuu” (Malawi)
Black Sherif – “Rebel Music” (Ghana)
Takana Zion – “On My Eyes” (Guinea) – Winner
Tiwa Savage – “Forgiveness” (Nigeria)
Wakadinli – “Kum Baba” (Kenya)
Yemi Alade – “Baddie” (Nigeria)
Iyani, Mwanaa & Cedo – “Kifo cha Mende” (Kenya)
Best African Collaboration
Blanche Bailly & Lady Ponce – “Lève toi” (Cameroon)
Goon Flavour, Master Kg & Eemoh – “Ngishutheni” (South Africa)
Mia Guissé ft. Wally Seck – “Choix” (Senegal)
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – “Shake It to the Max” (Ghana)
Paki Chenzu ft. Himra – “Assaut” (Togo/Côte d’Ivoire)
Shallipopi ft. Burna Boy – “Laho” (Nigeria) – Winner
Uncle Waffles ft. Cowboii, Royal Musiq, Uncool MC & Xduppy – “Zenzele” (Eswatini)
Davido ft. Omah Lay – “With You” (Nigeria)
Mawhoo, GL Ceejay & Thukuthela ft. Jazzworx – “Bengicela” (South Africa)
Benny Adam & Khadija El Warzazia – “Mok Ya Mok” (Morocco)
Most Promising Artiste of the Year
Cysoul (Cameroon)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
King Luca (Cameroon)
L’Oiseau Rare (Gabon)
Lwah Ndlunkulu (South Africa)
Massamba Amadeus (Senegal)
Qing Madi, Valorant (Nigeria) – Winner
Rym (Morocco)
Kunmie (Nigeria)
Fola (Nigeria)
Artiste of the Year
Amr Diab (Egypt)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Davido (Nigeria)
DJ Maphorisa (South
Africa)
El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Jux (Tanzania)
Rema (Nigeria) – Winner
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
Tyla (South Africa)
Breakout Artiste of the Year
Blaq Major (South Africa)
Ciza (South Africa) – Winner
Eboloko (Gabon)
Himra (Côte d’Ivoire)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Mawhoo (South Africa)
Moliy (Ghana)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
Trap King (Algeria)
VJ (Senegal)
Best African Lyricist Rapper
ALA (Tunisia)
Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire) – Winner
Jessy B (Congo B)
Klassafan le Melangeur (Guinea)
Nasty C & Usimamane (South Africa)
Nyashinski (Kenya)
Reminisce (Nigeria)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Switch (Libya)
Yacou B OG (Mali)
Best African Artiste, Duo or Group – African Hip-Hop
ALA ft. Mootjeyek (Tunisia)
Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
Eboloko (Gabon)
El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Himra (Côte d’Ivoire)
Phyno (Nigeria) – Winner
Nasty C & Usimamane (South Africa)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Suspect 95 (Côte d’Ivoire)
Best African Artiste, Duo or Group – RnB & Soul
Bensoul & V- Be (Kenya)
Big Zulu ft. Malungelo (South Africa)
Braye (Nigeria)
Calema (Sao Tome)
Emma’a (Gabon)
Kunmie (Nigeria)
Manal (Morocco)
Naledi Aphiwe & Mawelele (South Africa)
Rema (Nigeria) – Winner
Wegz ft. Tayc (Egypt)
Best African Duo, Group or Band
Babylone (Algeria)
Blaq Diamond (South Africa)
Celema (Sao Tome & Principe)
Team Paiya (Côte d’Ivoire) – Winner
The Cavemen (Nigeria)
Tinariwen (Mali)
Toofan (Togo)
Vestine & Dorcas (Rwanda)
Wapendwa Muziki (Kenya)
We Are Nubia (Kenya)