The 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) once again underscored its status as the continent’s largest and most inclusive music platform, as artistes, delegates and industry stakeholders from at least 48 African countries converged on Lagos, Nigeria, to celebrate Africa’s rich and diverse musical heritage.
Held from January 7 to 11, 2026, the week-long event unfolded in an atmosphere of unity, colour and creativity, with winners emerging from West, East, North, Central and Southern Africa, as well as the African diaspora.
The wide regional spread of winners reinforced AFRIMA’s reputation as a truly pan-African platform that reflects the depth and growth of the continent’s music industry.
AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, Mr. Mike Dada, described the success of the event as further evidence of the awards’ unifying role across Africa.
“AFRIMA is not just about giving awards. It is about bringing Africa together under one roof to celebrate our stories, culture and future through music,” Dada said.
“This year, we welcomed delegates from at least 48 countries, including 1,216 artistes, delegates and members of the production team. When you look at the winners, you see all regions of Africa represented, which clearly shows the growth and global relevance of African music. Artistes from South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria and Ethiopia were among those who stood out in major categories.”
Côte d’Ivoire emerged as one of the standout countries at the awards, recording multiple wins. Milo and Morijah clinched the Male and Female African Inspirational categories respectively, while Didi B won Best African Lyricist or Rapper. Team Paiya also secured the award for Best African Duo, Group or Band.
Ethiopia also had a strong showing, with Haddinqo winning Best African Jazz, Weeha taking Best African Dance/Choreography, and Veronica Adane emerging as Best African Traditional Artiste. Guinea celebrated Manamba Kanté as Best African Pop Artiste, while Takana Zion was named Best African Reggae, Ragga and Dancehall Artiste.
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Other notable winners included Benin’s Axel Merryl, who won Best African Contemporary, and Senegal’s Bakhaw Dioum, crowned Songwriter of the Year. Algeria produced two winners, with DJ Moh Green taking Best African DJ and Izlan winning Best African Rock. Rwanda’s Element Eleéh and Mugisha Fred Robinson jointly won Producer of the Year.
In East Africa, Tanzania’s Jux was named Best Male Artiste, while Fole X won Best African Video of the Year for the hit song “Ololufe.” Madagascar’s Denise emerged as Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa. Northern Africa’s winners included Adviser from Mauritania and Sherine from Tunisia.
Southern Africa recorded strong performances, with Yo Maps of Zambia and South Africa’s Nontokozo Mkhize and Ciza among the winners. Central Africa honours went to Singuila of the Republic of Congo and Cindy Le Cœur from the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Ghana’s Wendy Shay won Best Female Artiste in Western Africa.
Beyond the awards ceremony, the 9th AFRIMA featured a series of high-profile events aimed at promoting networking, learning and cultural exchange. The celebration officially kicked off with a Welcome Soirée for nominees and guests at the residence of the Deputy British High Commissioner on Wednesday, January 7.
Activities continued with the Africa Music Business Summit held at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, bringing together key players to discuss trends, opportunities and challenges within the African music industry.
On Friday, January 9, attention shifted to the AFRIMA Music Village at Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, where more than 25 A-list artistes thrilled an audience of over 20,000 people in a high-energy concert that showcased the vibrancy of African music.
The successful hosting of the 9th AFRIMA further reinforced Lagos’ position as a major hub for African entertainment and highlighted the growing global influence of African music as a powerful tool for unity, cultural expression and economic growth across the continent.