Nigerian global star Rema dominated the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) held in Lagos, emerging as the night’s biggest winner with three major honours in a ceremony that celebrated African music excellence across regions, genres and generations.

The event attracted top artistes, executives and fans from across Africa and the diaspora, reinforcing AFRIMA’s reputation as the continent’s biggest music awards platform.

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BIG WINS OF THE NIGHT

Rema won:

• Artist of the Year
• Best Male Artiste – Western Africa
• Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African R&B & Soul

Other major winners included Shallipopi & Burna Boy, Phyno, Yemi Alade, Jux, Wendy Shay and Cindy Le Coeur, highlighting the pan-African spread of talent celebrated at the ceremony.

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AFRIMA 2026 – FULL LIST OF WINNERS & NOMINEES

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Artist of the Year

🏆 Winner: Rema (Nigeria)

Nominees:

• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Davido (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Black Sherif (Ghana)

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Best Male Artiste – Western Africa

🏆 Winner: Rema (Nigeria)

Nominees:

• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Davido (Nigeria)
• Wizkid (Nigeria)
• Black Sherif (Ghana)
• Fireboy DML (Nigeria)

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Best Female Artiste – Western Africa

🏆 Winner: Wendy Shay (Ghana)

Nominees:

• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
• Tems (Nigeria)
• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
• Simi (Nigeria)

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Best Male Artiste – Eastern Africa

🏆 Winner: Jux (Tanzania)

Nominees:

• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Bien (Kenya)
• Mbosso (Tanzania)
• Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
• Joshua Baraka (Uganda)

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Best Female Artiste – Eastern Africa

🏆 Winner: Denise (Madagascar)

Nominees:

• Zuchu (Tanzania)
• Winnie Nwagi (Uganda)
• Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
• Lady Jaydee (Tanzania)
• Weeha (Ethiopia)

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Best Female Artiste – Central Africa

🏆 Winner: Cindy Le Coeur (DRC)

Nominees:

• Charlotte Dipanda (Cameroon)
• Blanche Bailly (Cameroon)
• Emma’a (Gabon)
• Rebo (DRC)
• Anna Joyce (Angola)

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Best African Collaboration

🏆 Winner: Shallipopi & Burna Boy – “Laho II”

Nominees:

• Davido & Musa Keys – Unavailable
• Ayra Starr & Giveon – Last Heartbreak Song
• Diamond Platnumz & Koffi Olomidé – Waah!
• Oxlade & Camila Cabello – KU LO SA (Remix)

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Best African Hip-Hop Song

🏆 Winner: Phyno – “Trouble Maker”

Nominees:

• Sarkodie – Country Side
• M.I Abaga – Bigger
• Nasty C – Crazy Crazy
• Odumodublvck – Declan Rice

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Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African R&B & Soul

🏆 Winner: Rema (Nigeria)

Nominees:

• Tems (Nigeria)
• Elaine (South Africa)
• Lojay (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Berita (South Africa)

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Best African Dance / Choreography

🏆 Winner: Weeha – “Dimama” (Ethiopia)

Nominees:

• Wizkid – Kese (Nigeria)
• Tyla – Push 2 Start (South Africa)
• Toofan – Deodorant (Togo)
• Serge Beynaud – Taper Dedans (Côte d’Ivoire)
• Uncle Waffles & Royal Musiq – Zenzele (Eswatini)

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Best Soundtrack in Movie, Series or Documentary

🏆 Winner: Yemi Alade – “You Are”
(Iyanu: The Animated Series)

Nominees:

• Oscar Heman-Ackah – Igho’le Trap Mix Version
• Tamer Hosny & Reda Elbahrawy – El Ma2as
• Ismaël Lo – Timpi Tampa
• Tolu Obanro – Tori Ife
• Kafon – Saatte Ragouj

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Songwriter of the Year

🏆 Winner: Bakhaw Dioum – “Choix”
(Mia Guissé ft. Wally B. Seck)

Nominees:

• Olamide – Hassibunallah
• Black Sherif – Rebel Music
• Johnny Drille & Don Jazzy – It Hurts
• Anendlessocean – Za
• Ferre Gola – Amour Illusoire

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Lifetime Achievement Awards

🏅 Kenny Ogungbe
🏅 Dayo “Dee 1” Adeneye

AFRIMA 2026 delivered pan-African dominance, unforgettable performances, emotional reunions and a clear message: African music continues to shape global culture.

With Rema’s historic sweep and strong representation from East, West and Central Africa, Lagos once again proved to be the beating heart of African entertainment.

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