AFRIMMA 2026 Nominees Announced Across 14 Categories

AFRIMMA Unveils 2026 Nominees as Burna Boy, Davido, Tyla Lead the Pack

The organisers of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMMA) have released the nominees for the 2026 edition of the ceremony, recognising artists, producers, DJs and other music professionals from every region of the continent. The list honours the standout performers of the past year, with several of Africa’s biggest stars appearing in more than one category.

Artist of the Year Battle Pits Asake Against Diamond Platnumz and Tems

The headline category, Artist of the Year, features a heavyweight field of Asake, Fally Ipupa, Diamond Platnumz, Burna Boy, Rema, Tyla, Tems, Davido and Bien — a lineup that spans Nigeria, DR Congo, Tanzania, South Africa and Kenya.

Nigeria dominates the Best Male West Africa shortlist, where Davido, Rema, Asake, Burna Boy, Wizkid, BNXN and Ruger face competition from Ghana’s Black Sherif, Ivory Coast’s Didi B and Cape Verdean pair Djodje and Dino Santiago. On the female side, Tems, Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage and Teni are joined by Ghana’s Moliy and Hadzi Vodushi, Senegal’s Viviane Chidid and others.

Regional categories cover East, Central, Southern and North Africa, with names such as Eddy Kenzo, Zuchu, Nikita Kering, Dadju, TayC, Kabza De Small, Uncle Waffles, Makhadzi, Wegz, Amr Diab and DJ Snake all in contention. The Crossing Boundaries with Music Award lists Burna Boy, Aya Nakamura, Rema, Davido, Toby Nwigwe, Flavour, Wizkid, Fally Ipupa and Odeal, while Best Newcomer includes Fola, Mavo, Abigail Chams and Lisandro Cuxi. Best Gospel rounds out the slate with Mercy Chinwo, Bidemi Olaoba, Christina Shusho, Joel Lwaga, Deborah Lukalu and more.

Why the Continental Shortlist Sparks Debate Every Year

AFRIMMA has built a reputation as one of the platforms that brings artists from Africa’s different music markets — Afrobeats, amapiano, bongo flava, rumba and North African pop among them — into a single conversation. Its region-by-region structure means nominations often become a talking point across borders, not just within one country’s music scene.

For the artists involved, a nomination adds momentum ahead of the ceremony, fuelling fan campaigns and comparisons on social media. With Nigerian, Tanzanian, South African and Congolese stars stacked against each other in the marquee categories, the run-up to the 2026 awards is expected to generate lively debate among music fans across the continent.

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AFRIMMA has unveiled nominees for its 2026 awards, returning after a two-year hiatus, with Nigerian Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, Davido, leading nominations. https://t.co/3VmSPJvTY3

— The Guardian Nigeria (@GuardianNigeria) View on X

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