The African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) has officially announced the nominees for its highly anticipated 2026 edition, signaling the event’s return after a two-year break. The list, unveiled on Wednesday, features a star-studded lineup of Africa’s finest musical talents, with Nigerian Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, emerging as the most-nominated artist.
Davido, a titan of the Afrobeats genre, leads with five nominations across major categories. His entries include prestigious nods for “Artist of the Year,” “Best Male West Africa,” “Crossing Boundaries With Music Award,” and “AFRIMMA Album of the Year” for his project 5ive. Additionally, his collaboration with Omah Lay, “With You,” secured nominations for “Best Collaboration” and “Song of the Year,” further solidifying his dominance in the current music landscape.
Other industry heavyweights follow closely. Burna Boy, the “African Giant” known for his global impact, Ghanaian rap sensation Black Sherif, and Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz each secured four nominations. South African sensation Tyla leads the female contenders with three nominations, while Nigerian powerhouse Tems earned two nods.
A Celebration of African Icons
The nominees represent the diverse and evolving soundscape of African music. Tyla, dubbed the “Queen of Popiano,” has seen a meteoric rise since her 2023 global anthem “Water,” which made history by entering the US Billboard Hot 100. Her unique fusion of amapiano, pop, and R&B has made her a force to be reckoned with, recently securing her second Grammy win for “Push 2 Start”.
Tems, another Nigerian export, has consistently captivated global audiences with her soulful, distinct vocals. Since her breakout, she has achieved critical acclaim, including a Grammy win in 2025 for her song “Love Me Jeje”.
Burna Boy continues to maintain his status as one of Africa’s most influential artists, frequently topping charts and breaking records, such as becoming the first African artist to top the Billboard Global 200.
AFRIMMA founder, Anderson Obiagwu, announced the nominees on Instagram on Wednesday, explaining that the break was necessary to improve the event and deliver a more exciting edition.
“For the last two years, AFRIMMA took a break to make it even bigger and create something sensational. AFRIMMA is coming back bigger and better this year. It’s going to be epic, one of a kind,” Obiagwu said.
See full list below:
Best Male West Africa
Davido (Nigeria)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
BNXN (Nigeria)
Rema (Nigeria)
Asake (Nigeria)
Didi B (Ivory Coast)
Djodje (Cape Verde)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Ruger (Nigeria)
Dino Santiago (Cape Verde)
Best Female West Africa
Hadzi Vodushi (Ghana)
Tems (Nigeria)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Moliy (Ghana)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Mariam Ba Lagare (Mali)
Teni (Nigeria)
Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
Best Male East Africa
Lij Michael (Ethiopia)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Juma Jux (Tanzania)
Bien (Kenya)
Mbosso (Tanzania)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Single Dee (South Sudan)
Barnaba (Tanzania)
Best Female East Africa
Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Veronica Adane (Ethiopia)
Bridget Blue (Kenya)
Zuchu (Tanzania)
Nikita Kering (Kenya)
Ariel Wayz (Rwanda)
Njerae (Kenya)
Winnie Nwagi (Uganda)
Salemia (Ethiopia)
Best Male Central Africa
Matias Damásio (Angola)
Dadju (DR Congo)
TayC (Cameroon)
Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
Calema (São Tomé & Príncipe)
Gims (DR Congo)
Gerilson Israel (Angola)
Ko-C (Cameroon)
Best Female Central Africa
Anna Joyce (Angola)
Rebo (DR Congo)
Krys M (Cameroon)
Blanche Bailly (Cameroon)
Cindy Le Coeur (DR Congo)
Espoir La Tigresse (Gabon)
Jessy B (Republic of the Congo)
Emma’a (Gabon)
Best Male Southern Africa
Scott Maphuma (South Africa)
Nutty O (Zimbabwe)
Yo Maps (Zambia)
DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
Zeze Kingston (Malawi)
Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
William Last KRM (Botswana)
Kabza De Small (South Africa)
Best Female Southern Africa
Mawhoo (South Africa)
Tamy Moyo (Zimbabwe)
Charma Gal (Botswana)
Babalwa M (South Africa)
Hanna (Zimbabwe)
Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
Bombshell Grenade (Zambia)
Makhadzi (South Africa)
Tyla (South Africa)
Best Male North Africa
Wegz (Egypt)
Stormy (Morocco)
Adviser (Mauritania)
Amr Diab (Egypt)
Marwan Moussa (Egypt)
ElGrandeToto (Morocco)
DJ Snake (Algeria)
Cheb Momo (Algeria)
Best Female North Africa
Marwa Loud (Morocco)
Chirine Lajmi (Tunisia)
Manal (Morocco)
Souhila Ben Lachhab (Algeria)
Sherine (Egypt)
Latifa (Tunisia)
Kenza Morsli (Algeria)
Zina Daoudia (Morocco)
Crossing Boundaries with Music Award
Burna Boy
File: Burna Boy
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Aya Nakamura (Mali)
Rema (Nigeria)
Davido (Nigeria)
Toby Nwigwe (Nigeria)
Flavour (Nigeria)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
Odeal (Nigeria)
Best Newcomer
Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
Mavo (Nigeria)
Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
6uff (Nigeria)
Lava Lava (Tanzania)
Florito (Angola)
Toxic Lyrikali (Kenya)
Fola (Nigeria)
Artist of the Year
Asake (Nigeria)
Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Rema (Nigeria)
Tyla (South Africa)
Tems (Nigeria)
Davido (Nigeria)
Bien (Kenya)
Best Gospel
Mercy Chinwo
File photo: Mercy Chinwo
Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)
Prosper Germoh (Cameroon)
Christina Shusho (Tanzania)
Miguel Buila (Angola)
Bidemi Olaoba (Nigeria)
Deborah Lukalu (DR Congo)
Joel Lwaga (Tanzania)
Moïse Mbiye (DR Congo)
Sunmisola Agbebi Okeleye (Nigeria)
Best Female Rap Act
Rosa Ree (Tanzania)
Eno Barony (Ghana)
Bombshell Grenade (Zambia)
Freda Rhymz (Ghana)
Moozlie (South Africa)
Ssaru (Kenya)
Ami Yerewolo (Mali)
Candy Bleakz (Nigeria)
Best Male Rap Act
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Jeriq (Nigeria)
Ninho (DR Congo)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
A-Reece (South Africa)
6uff (Nigeria)
Blxckie (South Africa)
Yung Lunya (Tanzania)
Phyno (Nigeria)
Himra (Ivory Coast)
Best Collaboration
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
Song of the Year
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
Best Video Director
Hanscana (Tanzania)
Director Pink (Nigeria)
Elias Belkader (Algeria)
Mateo Da Silva (Cameroon)
TG Omori (Nigeria)
Babs Direction (Ghana)
Jake Zaral (Zimbabwe)
Dammy Twitch (Nigeria)
Best DJ Africa
DJ Spinall (Nigeria)
DJ Dollar (Senegal)
Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
DJ Obi (Nigeria)
DJ Tunez (Nigeria)
DJ Sly King (Ghana)
DJ Commissioner Wysei (Nigeria)
DJ Nelasta (Angola)
Major League DJs (South Africa)
DJ Kaywise (Nigeria)
DJ Dope Caesar (Nigeria)
DJ Moh (Kenya)
Best African DJ USA
DJ Kuncept (Nigeria)
DJ Akua (Ghana)
DJ Prince (Nigeria)
DJ Bode (Nigeria)
DJ Chelsea (Canada)
DJ Shinski (Kenya)
DJ Birame BB L’amour (Ivory Coast)
DJ Oreo (Nigeria)
Lex and Answer (Zimbabwe)
DJ Nani (Nigeria)
Music Producer of the Year
Masterkraft (Nigeria)
Andre Vibez (Nigeria)
207 (Uganda)
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Magicsticks (Nigeria)
MOG Beatz (Ghana)
Xduppy (South Africa)
London (Nigeria)
Best African Dancer
Masaka Dance Kids (Uganda)
Incredible Zigi (Ghana)
Poco Lee (Nigeria)
Ghetto Kids (Uganda)
Angel Nyigu (Tanzania)
Hope Ramafalo (South Africa)
Wet Bad Gang (Angola)
Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)
Hooliboy (Ghana)
Best Male Reggae/Dancehall
Valiant (Jamaica)
Mr. Killa (Grenada)
Patoranking (Nigeria)
Shatta Wale (Ghana)
Skillibeng (Jamaica)
Vybz Kartel (Jamaica)
Popcaan (Jamaica)
Kranium (Jamaica)
Best Female Reggae/Dancehall
Shenseea (Jamaica)
Jada Kingdom (Jamaica)
Moliy (Ghana)
Spice (Jamaica)
Koffee (Jamaica)
Lila Iké (Jamaica)
Shaneil Muir (Jamaica)
Vanessa Bling (Jamaica)
Best African Group
Disco Misr (Egypt)
Calema (São Tomé & Príncipe)
Show Dem Camp (Nigeria)
Toofan (Togo)
DopeNation (Ghana)
Team Paiya (Ivory Coast)
Mi Casa (South Africa)
Bracket (Nigeria)
AFRIMMA Album of the Year
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
Best African USA Based Artist
Kwate (Nigeria)
Bills (Nigeria)
Mannywellz (Nigeria)
Moses Sumney (Ghana)
Libianca (Cameroon)
Palmwine Tappers Band (Nigeria)
Detty K (Ivory Coast)
J Pako (DR Congo)
Emma Nyra (Nigeria)
AFRIMMA Timeless Impact Award
Timaya (Nigeria)
Amr Diab (Egypt)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Nameless (Kenya)
Oskido (South Africa)
Kcee (Nigeria)
Slap Dee (Zambia)
Bebe Cool (Uganda)
Flavour (Nigeria)
Mafikizolo (South Africa)
African Athlete of the Year
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Pascal Siakam (Cameroon)
Faith Kipyegon (Kenya)
Nnamdi Madubuike (Nigeria)
Best Influencer
Peller (Nigeria)
Carter Efe (Nigeria)
Khaby Lame (Senegal)
Nasty Black (Nigeria)
Lasizwe Dambuza (South Africa)
Ilyas El Maliki (Morocco)
Crazy Kennar (Kenya)
Sabinus (Nigeria)
Best Actor/Actress
Timini Egbuson (Nigeria)
Uzor Arukwe (Nigeria)
Bimbo Ademoye (Nigeria)
Uche Montana (Nigeria)
Elizabeth Michael “Lulu” (Tanzania)
Zander Adika (Kenya)
Pallance Dladla (South Africa)
Masali Baduza (South Africa)
Best Comedian
Basketmouth (Nigeria)
Bovi (Nigeria)
Warri Pikin (Nigeria)
Eric Omondi (Kenya)
Trevor Noah (South Africa)
Godfrey (Nigeria)
Patrick “Salvado” Idringi (Uganda)
Ty Ngachira (Kenya)
Best Hypeman/MC
Big Smart (Nigeria)
Shody (Nigeria)
Ogee The MC (Ghana)
MC Wild (Kenya)
Robot Boii (South Africa)
Balaa MC (Tanzania)
MC Mignon (DR Congo)
Do2dtun (Nigeria)
Community Impact Award
Ester Mathew Tonlagha Foundation (Nigeria)
Noella Foundation (Nigeria)
FAWE – Forum for African Women Educationalists (Kenya)
Educate! (Uganda)
IkamvaYouth (South Africa)
Street Child (Sierra Leone)
Tony Elumelu Foundation (Nigeria)
