The vibrant city of Lagos, Nigeria, recently transformed into the epicenter of African music, hosting the spectacular 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). The event, held from January 7 to 11, 2026, lived up to its reputation as the continent's premier music awards platform, drawing a massive gathering of talent and industry leaders.
A Continent United Through Rhythm and Melody
This year's ceremony was a powerful demonstration of Pan-African unity, with participation from artistes, delegates, and stakeholders from at least 48 African countries. The week-long celebration painted a vivid picture of Africa's rich cultural tapestry, all woven together through the universal language of music. Mike Dada, the President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, emphasized the event's core mission, stating it was about more than just trophies.
"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. He expressed his delight at the broad representation, noting that the 1,216 artistes, delegates, and production team members present created an unforgettable atmosphere of colour and creativity.
Celebrating Winners from Every Corner of Africa
The distribution of awards highlighted the continental scope of the event, with winners emerging from West, East, North, Central, and Southern Africa, as well as the diaspora. This widespread success underscored AFRIMA's role as a true platform for the entire continent. Major categories saw strong performances from nations like South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, and Ethiopia.
Côte d’Ivoire enjoyed a particularly successful night, with multiple victories. Milo and Morijah claimed the male and female African Inspirational categories, respectively, while Didi B was crowned Best African Lyricist or Rapper. The group Team Paiya secured the award for Best African Duo, Group or Band.
The winners' list was a testament to Africa's incredible musical diversity:
- Ethiopia: Haddinqo (Best African Jazz), Weeha (Best African Dance/Choreography), Veronica Adane (Best African Traditional).
- Guinea: Manamba Kanté (Best African Pop), Takana Zion (Best African Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall).
- Algeria: DJ Moh Green (Best African DJ), Izlan (Best African Rock).
- East Africa: Jux from Tanzania (Best Male Artiste), Denise from Madagascar (Best Female Artist in Eastern Africa).
- West Africa: Ghana's Wendy Shay (Best Female Artist in Western Africa).
Other notable winners included Senegal's Bakhaw Dioum (Songwriter of the Year) and Rwanda's Element Eleéh and Mugisha Fred Robinson (Producer of the Year).
A Week of Unforgettable Events in Lagos
The 9th AFRIMA was not just a single awards night but a full week of immersive experiences. The festivities kicked off with a Welcome Soiree at the residence of the Deputy British High Commissioner on Wednesday, January 7. The following day, industry minds converged at the Eko Convention Centre for the Africa Music Business Summit.
The energy shifted to the public on Friday, January 9, with the AFRIMA Music Village at Ikeja City Mall. Here, over 25 A-list artistes performed for a crowd of more than 20,000 people at a high-octane concert that showcased the best of African music.
The grand finale, the awards ceremony itself, was held at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites. The venue was filled beyond capacity as thousands witnessed the dazzling event where creatives were honoured with the prestigious 23.9-carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy. The 9th AFRIMA has once again set a high bar for celebrating and uniting Africa through its dynamic and ever-growing music industry.
