9th AFRIMA finale: Live updates from red carpet to final win

The final day of the 9th All Africa Music Awards has begun in Lagos. Excitement is building at Eko Convention Centre as cameras, fans, and media teams lock in for the biggest night. Recall that organi...

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Published 11 Jan 2026

By Musa Adekunle

AFRIMA

The final day of the 9th All Africa Music Awards has begun in Lagos. Excitement is building at Eko Convention Centre as cameras, fans, and media teams lock in for the biggest night.

Recall that organisers moved the 9th AFRIMA from November 25 to 30, 2025, to January 7 to 11, 2026.

Stay tuned as Guardian Life brings you updates on arrivals, 3:30 performances, winners, and everything happening inside the hall. Red carpet opens at 3:30pm.

Below is the full list of nominees and winners as the event unfolds.

Best Male Artist 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) • 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) • 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)

Best Female Artiste in Northern Africa • Chirine Lajmi (Tunisia) • Inez (Morocco) • Jannat (Egypt) • Jaylann (Morocco) • Manal (Morocco) • Meryem Aboulouafa (Morocco) • Sherine (Egypt) • 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

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 Jazz • Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Ghana) • Haddinqo (Ethiopia) – Winner • Mádé Kuti (Nigeria) • Rorisang Sechele (South Africa) • Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane (South Africa) • The Cavemen (Nigeria) • Alune Wade (Senegal) • Nomfundo Xaluva (South Africa) • Kyle Shepherd Trio (South Africa)

Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop • Adviser (Mauritania) • Amadeus (Senegal) • Amr Diab (Egypt) • Burna Boy (Nigeria) • Gims (Congo DRC) • Lbenj (Morocco) • Manamba Kanté (Guinea) • Seyi Vibez (Nigeria) • Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt) • Saad Lmjarred (Morocco)

Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Contemporary • Fireboy DML (Nigeria) • Axel Merryl (Benin) – Winner • Espe Bass (Congo B) • Bien (Kenya) • Jaylann (Morocco) • Kizz Daniel, Angélique Kidjo & Johnny Drille (Nigeria) • Mbosso (Tanzania) • Ferre Gola & Rayvanny (DRC) • Didine Canon 16 (Algeria) • Wendy Shay (Ghana)

Best Soundtrack in Movie, Series, or Documentary • Igho’le Trap Mix Version (“To Kill a Monkey”: Series) – Oscar Heman-Ackah (Ghana) • El Ma2as (“The Start”: Film) – Tamer Hosny, Reda Elbahrawy (Egypt) • You Are (“Iyanu”: The Animated Series) – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) – Winner • Timpi Tampa (“Timpi Tampa”: The Film) – Ismaël Lo (Senegal) • Tori Ife (“Seven Doors”: Series) – Tolu Obanro (Nigeria) • Saatte Ragouj (“The Last of the Mohicans” Film) – Kafon (Tunisia)

Songwriter of the Year • Bakhaw Dioum – “Choix” (Mia Guissé ft. Wally B. Seck) (Senegal) – Winner • Emel, Jehanny Beth & Camille Berthomier – “Fall in the Light” (Tunisia) • Emma’a – “Trop d’amour” (Gabon) • Emmanuel Ayobami Alli-Hakeem – “Za” (Anendlessocean) (Nigeria) • Ferre Gola – “Amour Illusoire” (DRC) • Mohammed Ismail Sharrif – “Rebel Music” (Black Sherif) (Ghana) • Mugisha Fred Robinson – “Tombé” (Element Eleéh) (Rwanda) • Olamide Adedeji – “Hassibunallah” (Olamide) (Nigeria) • Prince Omoferi & Nwamu Francis Chukwudubem – “It Hurts” (Johnny Drille & Don Jazzy) (Nigeria) • Victor Ngatuvese Kaune – “Oputuri ‘Queens'” (One Blood Namibia) (Namibia)

Best Global Act • Rosé (South Korea/USA) • Joé Dwèt File (Haiti) • Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (USA) • Fantomel & Kate Linn (Romania) • Drake (Canada) • Alex Warren (USA) • Doechii (USA) • Ed Sheeran (UK) • Yung Bredda (Trinidad & Tobago)

African Fans’ Favourite • Ali Jita (Nigeria) • Barnaba (Tanzania) • BNXN & Rema (Nigeria) • Chella (Nigeria) – Winner • Dlala Thukzin (South Africa) • Innoss’b (DRC) • Kizz Daniel (Nigeria) • Parazar (Algeria) • Faceless (Nigeria) • Tul8te (Egypt)

Best African DJ • DJ Malvado (Angola) • DJ Maphorisa (South Africa) • DJ Moh Green (Algeria) • DJ Mombochi (The Congo) • DJ Tunez (Nigeria) • DJ YK Mule (Nigeria) • Kelvin Momo (South Africa) • Oscar Mbo (South Africa) • Uncle Waffles (Eswatini) • Woodblock Djs (South Africa)

Producer of the Year • Beneth Seraphin Akatché Koffi (Senegal) • Butternut, Xolani Majoz (South Africa) • Dina One (Mali) • Element Eleéh & Mugisha Fred Robinson (Rwanda) • Jazzworx (South Africa) • Progrex (Nigeria) • DaVinci (Angola) • Tempoe (Nigeria) • Themba Sekowe, Gomolemo Joy Gumede, Kabelo Motha (South Africa)

Album of the Year • Ebtadena – Amr Diab (Egypt) • No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy (Nigeria) • 5ive – Davido (Nigeria) – Winner • Diyilem & Bazarhoff: Genius – Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire) • Ngomoya – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy (South Africa) • Salgoat – El Grande Toto (Morocco) • Big Aka 4 Aka Kai – Himra (Côte d’Ivoire) • Thato Ya Modimo – Kelvin Momo (South Africa) • Idrache (Traces of the Past) – Tinariwen (Mali)

Best African Video of the Year • “Rebel” – Black Sherif (Ghana) • “Meta” – Nomcebo Zikode & Sofiya Nzau (South Africa) • “Ki Lo Wa Wa” – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) • “Timpi Tampa” – Ismaël Lo (Senegal) • “Tori Ife” – Tolu Obanro (Nigeria) • “Ova” – Mbosso (Tanzania) – Winner • “Ololufe” – Juma Jux & Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) • “Shaolin” – Seyi Vibez (Nigeria) • “Stk Stk” – Dizzy Dros, Kekra & Norfafrica (Morocco)

Song of the Year • “Isaka (6AM)” – Ciza, Jazzworx & Thukuthela (South Africa) • “Bengicela” – Mawhoo Gl Ceejay & Thukuthela (South Africa) • “Choix” – Mia Guissé (Senegal) • “Diplomatico” – El Grande Toto (Morocco) • “Kaay Waay” – VJ (Senegal) • “Laho” – Shallipopi (Nigeria) – Winner • “Ololufe Mi” – Jux & Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) • “Push 2 Start” – Tyla (South Africa) • “Shake it to the Max” – Moliy, Shenseea, Skillibeng & Silent Addy (Ghana) • “With You” – Davido (Nigeria)

Best African Dance/Choreography • Jaylann – “Ha Wlidi” (Morocco) • Lady Ponce – “Je veux danser” (Cameroon) • Rebo – “Mobambo” (DRC) • Serge Beynaud – “Taper Dedans” (Côte d’Ivoire) • Toofan – “Deodorant” (Togo) • Tyla – “Push 2 Start” (South Africa) • Uncle Waffles & Royal Musiq – “Zenzele” (Eswatini) • Weeha – “Dimama” (Ethiopia) – Winner • Werrason – “Tout se paie ici bas” (DRC) • Wizkid – “Kese” (Nigeria)

Best African Act Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall • Magasco – “Dirty Whine” (Cameroon) • Moliy, Shenseea, Skillibeng & Silent Addy – “Shake it to the Max” (Ghana) • Ruger & Kranium – “Dudu” (Nigeria) • Sean Morgan – “Vuu” (Malawi) • Black Sherif – “Rebel Music” (Ghana) • Takana Zion – “On My Eyes” (Guinea) – Winner • Tiwa Savage – “Forgiveness” (Nigeria) • Wakadinli – “Kum Baba” (Kenya) • Yemi Alade – “Baddie” (Nigeria) • Iyani, Mwanaa & Cedo – “Kifo cha Mende” (Kenya)

Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African Rock • Laeke – “Eskeneka” (Ethiopia) • Izlan – “Amezyan” (Algeria) • Franck Biyong – “Struggle 4 Money” (Cameroon) • Rash – “Do or Die” (Kenya) • Mdou Moctar – “Imouhar” (Niger) • Chrissy Zebby Tembo & The Ngozi Family – “I Am Not Made of Iron” (Zambia)

Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Traditional • Big Zulu – “Ng’sale Nobani” (South Africa) • Chirine Lajmi – “Echeh Echeh” (Tunisia) • Lady Ponce – “Je veux danser” (Cameroon) • Lama Shreif – “Jayek Lahsseb” (Tunisia) • Larry Gaaga, Flavour & Queen Theresa Onuorah – “Obodo” (Nigeria) • Sona Tata – “Nainai Bana” (Guinea) • Stonebwoy – “Jejereje” (Ghana) • Tinariwen – “Amoss Idjraw” (Mali) • Tonton Pal & Binguini Bakhaga – “Couronne” (Mali) • Veronica Adane – “Kante Lela” (Ethiopia)

Best African Collaboration • Blanche Bailly & Lady Ponce – “Lève toi” (Cameroon) • Goon Flavour, Master Kg & Eemoh – “Ngishutheni” (South Africa) • Mia Guissé ft. Wally Seck – “Choix” (Senegal) • Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – “Shake It to the Max” (Ghana) • Paki Chenzu ft. Himra – “Assaut” (Togo/Côte d’Ivoire) • Shallipopi ft. Burna Boy – “Laho” (Nigeria) – Winner • Uncle Waffles ft. Cowboii, Royal Musiq, Uncool MC & Xduppy – “Zenzele” (Eswatini) • Davido ft. Omah Lay – “With You” (Nigeria) • Mawhoo, GL Ceejay & Thukuthela ft. Jazzworx – “Bengicela” (South Africa) • Benny Adam & Khadija El Warzazia – “Mok Ya Mok” (Morocco)

Most Promising Artiste of the Year • Cysoul (Cameroon) • Joshua Baraka (Uganda) • King Luca (Cameroon) • L’Oiseau Rare (Gabon) • Lwah Ndlunkulu (South Africa) • Massamba Amadeus (Senegal) • Qing Madi, Valorant (Nigeria) • Rym (Morocco) • Kunmie (Nigeria) • Fola (Nigeria)

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) • Tyla (South Africa)

Breakout Artiste of the Year • Blaq Major (South Africa) • Ciza (South Africa) • Eboloko (Gabon) • Himra (Côte d’Ivoire) • Marioo (Tanzania) • Mawhoo (South Africa) • Moliy (Ghana) • Shallipopi (Nigeria) • Trap King (Algeria) • VJ (Senegal)

Best African Lyricist Rapper • ALA (Tunisia) • Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire) – Winner • Jessy B (Congo B) • Klassafan le Melangeur (Guinea) • Nasty C & Usimamane (South Africa) • Nyashinski (Kenya) • Reminisce (Nigeria) • Sarkodie (Ghana) • Switch (Libya) • Yacou B OG (Mali)

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 Artiste, Duo or Group in African EDM, House, Techno • Asake (Nigeria) • Black Coffee, Billie Eilish (South Africa) • DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy & Enny Man Da Guitar (South Africa) • Goon Flavour, Master Kg & Eemoh (South Africa) • Kvng Vinci ft. Zerrydl (Nigeria) • Mawhoo, GL Ceejay & Thukuthela ft. Jazzworx (South Africa) • Mbosso (Tanzania) • Nomcebo Zikode & Sofiya Nzau ft. Fireboy DML (South Africa/Kenya/Nigeria) • Sat-B ft. Champura Makhenzo (Burundi) • Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best African Act in Diaspora Male • DJ Snake (France/Algeria) • Gazo (France/Guinea) • Niska (France/DRC) • Tayc (France/Cameroon) • Tiakola (France/DRC) • Tif (France/Algeria/Morocco) • Werenoi (France/Cameroon) • WiztheMC (South Africa/Canada) • L’Algérino (Algeria/France) • Odeal (Nigeria/UK)

Best African Act in Diaspora Female • Aya Nakamura (Mali/France) • Annatoria (Zimbabwe/England) • Darkoo (Nigeria/UK) • Deborah Lukalu (DRC/USA) • Faouzia (Canada/Morocco) • Ronisia (Cape Verde/France) • Theodora (DRC/France) • Zaho (Algeria/Canada)

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)

Guardian Life