Rema Tops Winners List as Burna Boy, Yemi Alade and Others Shine at AFRIMA 2026 Awards
The 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2026 celebrated Africa’s best musicians at the Eko Hotels and Suites Convention Centre in Lagos. Nigerian stars, led by Rema, dominated with 3 major awards, with key wins for Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Phyno, Shallipopi, Qing Madi and more. Below is the full list of award categories, nominees, and winners:
REGIONAL CATEGORIES
Best Male Artiste 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)
• 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)
• Wegz (Egypt) – Winner
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
CONTINENTAL CATEGORIES
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 Hiphop
• 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 in African 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)
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)
Best African Lyricist/Rapper
• ALA (Tunisia)
• Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire) – Winner
• Jessy B (Congo B)
• Klassafan le Mélangeur (Guinea)
• Nasty C & Usimamane (South Africa)
• Nyashinski (Kenya)
• Reminisce (Nigeria)
• Sarkodie (Ghana)
• Switch (Libya)
• Yacou B OG (Mali)
OTHER CONTINENTAL AWARDS
Song of the Year
Shallipopi – “Laho”
Album of the Year
Burna Boy – No Sign of Weakness
Songwriter of the Year
Bakhaw Dioum – “Choix” (Mia Guissé ft. Wally B. Seck)
African Fans’ Favourite
Chella (Nigeria)
Best African DJ
DJ Moh Green (Algeria)
Best African Dance/Choreography
Weeha – “Dimama” (Ethiopia)
Best African Act Reggae & Dancehall
Takana Zion (Guinea)
Most Promising Artist of the Year
Qing Madi (Nigeria)
Breakout Artist of the Year
Ciza (South Africa)
Final Thoughts
The AFRIMA 2026 awards reaffirmed the depth, diversity, and global impact of African music, bringing together established superstars and rising talents from across the continent. With Rema emerging as the night’s biggest winner and strong showings from artists like Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Phyno, Shallipopi, and Qing Madi, the ceremony highlighted both commercial success and creative excellence.
Beyond individual victories, the widespread spread of winners across regions and genres underscored AFRIMA’s mission of celebrating Africa’s rich musical heritage while embracing contemporary sounds shaping the global music scene. As African music continues to command international attention, AFRIMA 2026 stands as a powerful reminder of the continent’s influence, innovation, and enduring cultural relevance.
