AFRIMA Awards 2026, More Than a Ceremony

The city of Lagos was alive with movement and anticipation as some of the continent’s finest celebrities arrived from their respective countries, all converging to vouch for the prestige of the AFRIMA Awards. From hotels to event halls, the city carried a familiar electricity, one that only African music’s biggest gathering knows how to create. As always, the celebration extended far beyond a single night. Workshops, industry seminars, creative exchanges, and networking sessions ran from January 7 to January 12, steadily building conversation and momentum before reaching their peak at the awards ceremony.

The AFRIMA Awards 2026 celebrated African music’s most influential voices while reflecting the continent’s evolving sound.
Held in Lagos, the ceremony rewarded consistency, authenticity, and cross generational impact, with major wins from Rema, Burna Boy, Shallipopi, and emerging talents shaping the future.

What AFRIMA 2026 Says About African Music Today

AFRIMA has always been more than an awards night.

It is a mirror held up to African music each year, reflecting what the streets embraced, what crossed borders, and what quietly shaped the culture long before the applause arrived. This time, the reflection felt especially clear. From breakout voices to global heavyweights, the winners’ list told a deeper story, one defined by growth, patience, and a sound that continues to expand without shrinking itself for the world.

Beyond the trophies and red-carpet flashes, this year’s ceremony felt like a reckoning. A moment where consistency was rewarded, creative risks were acknowledged, and the continent’s evolving sound paused, just long enough, to be fully celebrated.

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At the center of it all stood Rema. Not loud. Not forced. Just undeniable. Rema emerged as the most awarded artiste of the night, walking away with three major honours, including Artist of the Year. It was the kind of moment that felt earned, not manufactured. Years of sonic risk taking, global stages, quiet reinvention, all collapsing into one defining AFRIMA night. The awards did not crown him prematurely, they acknowledged what listeners across Africa and beyond already knew.

But AFRIMA never belongs to one name alone. Burna Boy, already cemented as a global heavyweight, added another chapter to his story with Album of the Year. His win felt less like a breakthrough and more like a reminder, longevity still matters. Even more telling was his collaboration win with Shallipopi, a pairing that symbolized something important, generations and sounds colliding, mainstream polish meeting street hunger.

And then there was Shallipopi himself. From cult internet favorite to AFRIMA winner, his Song of the Year victory captured the spirit of the moment. The continent is listening differently now. Virality matters, yes, but authenticity matters more. AFRIMA rewarded both.

The night also carried hope. Qing Madi taking home Most Promising Artiste of the Year felt like a nod to the future, a quiet message that the industry is still watching the next wave closely. Chella, crowned African Fans’ Favourite, proved that connection with listeners can sometimes outweigh industry politics.

Across regions, AFRIMA stayed true to its pan African soul. From Ghana to Tanzania, South Africa to Ivory Coast, winners emerged not as side notes but as essential voices shaping their local scenes. Wendy Shay, Juma Jux, Phyno, Yemi Alade, each carrying their region with pride, each reminding us that African music is not monolithic, it is layered, textured, and constantly evolving.

By the time the final award was handed out and the music faded into late night conversations, one thing was certain.

This AFRIMA was not about spectacle alone. It was about alignment, between the streets and the charts, between emerging voices and established legends, between Africa and the world watching closely. Lagos hosted it. Africa owned it. The music spoke for itself.

Frequently Asked Questions About AFRIMA Awards 2026

Who won Artist of the Year at AFRIMA 2026?
Rema won Artist of the Year at the AFRIMA Awards 2026, emerging as the most awarded artiste of the night with three major honours.

Who won Album of the Year at AFRIMA 2026?
Burna Boy won Album of the Year at AFRIMA 2026, reinforcing his position as one of Africa’s most consistent global music figures.

Who won Song of the Year at AFRIMA 2026?
Shallipopi won Song of the Year at AFRIMA 2026, highlighting the growing influence of authentic street driven sounds across the continent.

Where was AFRIMA 2026 held?
The AFRIMA Awards 2026 were held in Lagos, Nigeria, with events and industry activities spanning several days leading up to the main ceremony.

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