Nigerian inspirational music stars faced stiff competition and were ultimately bested by their counterparts from Côte d'Ivoire at the prestigious 2026 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) held in Lagos.
Nigerian Nominees Fall Short in Key Categories
In a significant turn of events at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Akinade Ibuoye, popularly known as Gaise Baba, and fellow Nigerian artiste Lawrence Oyor, lost the award for Best Male Artiste in Inspirational Music. The coveted trophy was clinched by Milo, an artiste from Côte d'Ivoire.
Gaise Baba was nominated for his work 'No Turning Back', while Lawrence Oyor was in the running with his single 'Favour'. They were part of a highly competitive field that included nominees from across the continent, such as Christian Mukuna from the DRC, Jah Prayzah from Zimbabwe, Kocee representing Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa's Sjava.
Female Category Also Sees Ivorian Victory
The trend continued in the female category, where the Nigerian duo of Ada Ehi and the celebrated Mercy Chinwo were also defeated. The award for Best Female Artiste in Inspirational Music went to Morijah, another talented performer from Côte d'Ivoire.
Other formidable contenders in this category included Choisie Basolua (DRC), Krys M (Cameroon), and Nontokozo Mkhize from South Africa.
AFRIMA's Mission and Lagos Hosting
The All Africa Music Awards is an annual event established to reward and celebrate musical works, talents, and creativity across the African continent. Its core mission is to promote African cultural heritage on a global scale.
Founded in 2014 by the International Committee AFRIMA in collaboration with the African Union (AU), the awards ceremony is being hosted in Lagos, Nigeria, for the third time. Previous editions have been held in Ghana and Senegal.
For the 2026 edition, the event drew a massive crowd, with over 5,000 physical delegates, international artists, media, and policymakers converging in Lagos. This influx provided a significant boost to the local economy, increasing hotel occupancy and demand for local transport, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Commenting on the strategic importance of the event, Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at FirstBank, highlighted how the partnership aligns with the bank's focus on youth, lifestyle, and digital adoption, while strengthening its pan-African brand presence.
