Nigeria again affirmed its leading position in the African pop culture space at the AFRIMA 2026 award night. The 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards wrapped up in Lagos with Nigerian artistes winning big and dominating nominations as well.
Rema led the charge on the list of AFRIMA 2026 winners. The Mavin star walked away with three major awards, including the biggest prize of the night, Artiste of the Year. Burna Boy followed closely, securing Album of the Year for ‘No Sign of Weakness’ and sharing Best African Collaboration with Shallipopi for ‘Laho.’
Yemi Alade also reminded everyone she is still very much that woman, winning Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for ‘You Are’ from the animated series ‘Iyanu.’ Phyno flew the flag for hip-hop, Qing Madi confirmed her rising-star status, and Chella proved fans indeed know their favourites. 
Beyond the awards, the night had everything AFRIMA promises, including top individual performances from legends like Adewale Ayuba and combo performances like when we saw Stonebwoy and Peter of P-Square perform together.
Attendees also enjoyed pan-African fashion statements, emotional speeches, and a noticeable absence of a few heavyweights that fans were hoping to see.
Full List of AFRIMA 2026 Winners and Nominees
Below is the complete list of AFRIMA 2026 winners and nominees.
ALSO READ: Africa’s Most Awarded Artists of 2025: See Who Tops The List
Best Male Artist in 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 in 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 in Eastern Africa
Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Element Eleéh (Rwanda)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Juma Jux (Tanzania) – Winner
Marioo (Tanzania)
Mbosso (Tanzania)
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Sat-B (Burundi)
Yared Negu (Ethiopia)
Best Female Artiste in 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 in Northern Africa
A.L.A. (Tunisia)
Adviser (Mauritania)
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 in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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
Best Male Artiste in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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)
Best Soundtrack in Movie, Series, or Documentary
Igho’le Trap Mix Version – Oscar Heman-Ackah (Ghana)
El Ma2as – Tamer Hosny & Reda Elbahrawy (Egypt)
You Are – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) – Winner
Timpi Tampa – Ismaël Lo (Senegal)
Tori Ife – Tolu Obanro (Nigeria)
Saatte Ragouj – Kafon (Tunisia)
Songwriter of the Year
Bakhaw Dioum – “Choix” (Senegal) – Winner
Emel, Jehanny Beth & Camille Berthomier – “Fall in the Light” (Tunisia)
Emma’a – “Trop d’amour” (Gabon)
Emmanuel Ayobami Alli-Hakeem – “Za” (Nigeria)
Ferre Gola – “Amour Illusoire” (DRC)
Mohammed Ismail Sharrif – “Rebel Music” (Ghana)
Mugisha Fred Robinson – “Tombé” (Rwanda)
Olamide Adedeji – “Hassibunallah” (Nigeria)
Prince Omoferi & Nwamu Francis Chukwudubem – “It Hurts” (Nigeria)
Victor Ngatuvese Kaune – “Oputuri ‘Queens’” (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)
Kelvin Momo (South Africa)
DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
DJ Moh Green (Algeria) – Winner
Oscar Mbo (South Africa)
DJ Mombochi (The Congo)
Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)
DJ Tunez (Nigeria)
Woodblock DJs (South Africa)
DJ YK Mule (Nigeria)
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 et al. (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 – 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 et al. (Morocco)
Song of the Year
“Isaka (6AM)” – Ciza et al. (South Africa)
“Bengicela” – Mawhoo et al. (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 et al. (Ghana)
“With You” – Davido (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)
By the end of the night, the list of AFRIMA 2026 winners further confirmed how dominant Afrobeats is globally and in Africa. Also, judging by the reactions online, one can tell that fans are already counting down to the next edition as the event was “lit asf and well organised,” according to an attendee.
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