The 2026 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) have officially concluded, bringing together some of the biggest names in African music, entertainment and culture for a night celebrating the continent’s creative excellence.
The awards returned in 2026 after a two-year break, with this year’s ceremony taking place on September 12 at Annette Strauss Square in Dallas, Texas, as part of the expanded AFRIMMA MusicFest.
The 2026 edition saw artists from across Africa and the diaspora compete across regional, musical and cultural categories, with 41 honors ultimately presented.
DR Congo’s Fally Ipupa emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night, taking home Artist of the Year and the Crossing Boundaries with Music Award. Nigeria’s Davido won Album of the Year for 5ive, while BNXN and Sarz took home both Song of the Year and, alongside Diamond Platnumz and Juma Jux, competed among the year’s biggest collaborations.
Other notable winners included Tems, Ruger, Tyla, Marioo, Nikita Kering, Fola, Phyno, Mercy Chinwo, Eno Barony, DJ Tunez, London, Patoranking, Shenseea, Dope Nation, Victor Osimhen, Victony and Didi B.
Full AFRIMMA 2026 Winners List
Regional Awards
Best Male West Africa
Nominees: Davido, Black Sherif, BNXN, Rema, Asake, Didi B, Djodje, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Ruger, Dino Santiago
Winner: Ruger
Best Female West Africa
Nominees: Hadzi Vodushi, Tems, Josey, Viviane Chidid, Ayra Starr, Moliy, Tiwa Savage, Mariam Ba Lagare, Teni, Soraia Ramos
Winner: Tems
Best Male East Africa
Nominees: Lij Michael, Marioo, Eddy Kenzo, Diamond Platnumz, Juma Jux, Bien, Mbosso, Joshua Baraka, Single Dee, Barnaba
Winner: Marioo
Best Female East Africa
Nominees: Abigail Chams, Veronica Adane, Bridget Blue, Zuchu, Nikita Kering, Ariel Wayz, Njerae, Winnie Nwagi, Salemia
Winner: Nikita Kering
Best Male Central Africa
Nominees: Matias Damásio, Dadju, TayC, Fally Ipupa, Calema, Gims, Gerilson Israel, Ko-C
Winner: Gerilson Israel
Best Female Central Africa
Nominees: Anna Joyce, Rebo, Krys M, Blanche Bailly, Cindy Le Coeur, Espoir La Tigresse, Jessy B, Emma’a
Winner: Emma’a
Best Male Southern Africa
Nominees: Scott Maphuma, Nutty O, Yo Maps, DJ Maphorisa, Zeze Kingston, Cassper Nyovest, William Last KRM, Kabza De Small
Winner: DJ Maphorisa
Best Female Southern Africa
Nominees: Mawhoo, Tamy Moyo, Charma Gal, Babalwa M, Hanna, Uncle Waffles, Bombshell Grenade, Makhadzi, Tyla
Winner: Tyla
Best Male North Africa
Nominees: Wegz, Stormy, Adviser, Amr Diab, Marwan Moussa, ElGrandeToto, DJ Snake, Cheb Momo
Winner: DJ Snake
Best Female North Africa
Nominees: Marwa Loud, Chirine Lajmi, Manal, Souhila Ben Lachhab, Sherine, Latifa, Kenza Morsli, Zina Daoudia
Winner: Latifa
Music Awards
Crossing Boundaries with Music Award
Nominees: Burna Boy, Aya Nakamura, Rema, Davido, Toby Nwigwe, Flavour, Wizkid, Fally Ipupa, Odeal
Winner: Fally Ipupa
Best Newcomer
Nominees: Lisandro Cuxi, Mavo, Abigail Chams, 6uff, Lava Lava, Florito, Toxic Lyrikali, Fola
Winner: Fola
Artist of the Year
Nominees: Asake, Fally Ipupa, Diamond Platnumz, Burna Boy, Rema, Tyla, Tems, Davido, Bien
Winner: Fally Ipupa
Best Gospel
Nominees: Mercy Chinwo, Prosper Germoh, Christina Shusho, Miguel Buila, Bidemi Olaoba, Deborah Lukalu, Joel Lwaga, Moïse Mbiye, Sunmisola Agbebi Okeleye
Winner: Mercy Chinwo
Best Female Rap Act
Nominees: Rosa Ree, Eno Barony, Bombshell Grenade, Freda Rhymz, Moozlie, Ssaru, Ami Yerewolo, Candy Bleakz
Winner: Eno Barony
Best Male Rap Act
Nominees: Odumodublvck, Jeriq, Ninho, Black Sherif, A-Reece, 6uff, Blxckie, Yung Lunya, Phyno, Himra
Winner: Phyno
Best Collaboration
Nominees: Bien & Alikiba — “Finale”; BNXN & Sarz — “Back Outside”; Davido & Omah Lay — “With You”; Diamond Platnumz ft. Juma Jux — “Joy”; Patoranking ft. Ruger — “Shake That”; Fally Ipupa ft. Wizkid — “Jam”; Jazzworx & Tukuthela — “Bengicela”; Flavour ft. Baaba Maal — “Afroculture”; Marvais Djo ft. Kano Choir — “Pile”
Winner: Diamond Platnumz & Juma Jux — “Joy”
Song of the Year
Nominees: Davido ft. Omah Lay — “With You”; BNXN & Sarz — “Back Outside”; Bien & Alikiba — “Finale”; Diamond Platnumz ft. Juma Jux — “Joy”; Moliy ft. Shenseea & Skillibeng — “Shake It to the Max”; Black Sherif — “So It Goes”; Ciza — “Isaka (6AM)”; Young Jonn — “Elumelu”; DopeNation — “Kakalika”; Marvais Djo ft. Kano Choir — “Pile”; DJ Kedjevara — “Ça Fait Mal”
Winner: BNXN & Sarz — “Back Outside”
Best Video Director
Nominees: Hanscana, Director Pink, Elias Belkader, Mateo Da Silva, TG Omori, Babs Direction, Jake Zaral, Dammy Twitch
Winner: Pink
Best DJ Africa
Nominees: DJ Spinall, DJ Dollar, Uncle Waffles, DJ Obi, DJ Tunez, DJ Sly King, DJ Commissioner Wysei, DJ Nelasta, Major League DJs, DJ Kaywise, DJ Dope Caesar, DJ Moh
Winner: DJ Tunez
Best African DJ USA
Nominees: DJ Kuncept, DJ Akua, DJ Prince, DJ Bode, DJ Chelsea, DJ Shinski, DJ Birame BB L’amour, DJ Oreo, Lex and Answer, DJ Nani
Winner: DJ Prince
Music Producer of the Year
Nominees: Masterkraft, Andre Vibez, 207, Dlala Thukzin, Magicsticks, MOG Beatz, Xduppy, London
Winner: London
Best African Dancer
Nominees: Masaka Dance Kids, Incredible Zigi, Poco Lee, Ghetto Kids, Angel Nyigu, Hope Ramafalo, Wet Bad Gang, Dancegod Lloyd, Hooliboy
Winner: Ghetto Kids
Best Male Reggae/Dancehall
Nominees: Valiant, Mr. Killa, Patoranking, Shatta Wale, Skillibeng, Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, Kranium
Winner: Patoranking
Best Female Reggae/Dancehall
Nominees: Shenseea, Jada Kingdom, Moliy, Spice, Koffee, Lila Iké, Shaneil Muir, Vanessa Bling
Winner: Shenseea
Best African Group
Nominees: Disco Misr, Calema, Show Dem Camp, Toofan, DopeNation, Team Paiya, Mi Casa, Bracket
Winner: Dope Nation
Album of the Year
Nominees: Black Sherif — Top of The Morning Era; Omah Lay — Clarity of Mind; Asake — M$NEY; Tyla — A-Pop; Burna Boy — No Sign of Weakness; Lloyiso — Never Thought I Could; Davido — 5ive; Leigh-Anne — My Ego Told Me To; Himra — SORRY I’M BAD
Winner: Davido — 5ive
Best African USA-Based Artist
Nominees: Kwate, Bills, Mannywellz, Moses Sumney, Libianca, Palmwine Tappers Band, Detty K, J Pako, Emma Nyra
Winner: Kwate
AFRIMMA Music Without Borders Award
Winner: Juma Jux
AFRIMMA Timeless Impact Award
Nominees: Timaya, Amr Diab, Sarkodie, Nameless, Oskido, Kcee, Slap Dee, Bebe Cool, Flavour, Mafikizolo
Winner: Timaya
Culture & Impact Awards
African Athlete of the Year
Nominees: Victor Osimhen, Serhou Guirassy, Ademola Lookman, Achraf Hakimi, Pascal Siakam, Faith Kipyegon, Nnamdi Madubuike
Winner: Victor Osimhen
Best Influencer
Nominees: Peller, Carter Efe, Khaby Lame, Nasty Blaq, Lasizwe Dambuza, Ilyas El Maliki, Crazy Kennar, Sabinus
Winner: Nasty Blaq
Best Actor/Actress
Nominees: Timini Egbuson, Uzor Arukwe, Bimbo Ademoye, Uche Montana, Elizabeth Michael “Lulu”, Zander Adika, Pallance Dladla, Masali Baduza
Winner: Uche Montana
Best Comedian
Nominees: Basketmouth, Bovi, Warri Pikin, Eric Omondi, Trevor Noah, Godfrey, Patrick “Salvado” Idringi, Ty Ngachira
Winner: Warri Pikin
Best Hypeman/MC
Nominees: Big Smart, Shody, Ogee The MC, MC Wild, Robot Boii, Balaa MC, MC Mignon, Do2dtun
Winner: Big Smart
Community Impact Award
Nominees: Ester Mathew Tonlagha Foundation, Noella Foundation, FAWE, Educate!, IkamvaYouth, Street Child, Tony Elumelu Foundation
Winner: Esther Mathew Tonlagha
The remaining special recognition categories were also revealed as part of AFRIMMA’s expanded 2026 honors.
Best Francophone – Innoss’B
Best Lusophone – Gerilson Israel
AFRIMMA Fans Choice Award – Victony
AFRIMMA Rising Star – Florito
Francophone Viewers Choice Award – Didi B