Joeboy, Ayra, 117 others up for Future Awards Africa

Seven budding artistes have been nominated under the music category for the 16th edition of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) set to hold tomorrow at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

They are Joseph ‘Joeboy’ Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus; Adedamola ‘Fireboy’ Ade Folahan; Oyinkansola ‘Ayra Starr’ Aderibigbe; Chukwuka ‘Ckay’ Ekweani; Stanley ‘Omah Lay’ Didia; Daniel ‘Buju’ Benson and Temilade ‘Tems’ Openiyi.

Themed Celebrating Challengers and Builders, this year’s awards are celebrating trailblasers that have chosen to defy the status quo and redefine the norm in their various fields within the past year.

Sixteen other categories for the awards include prize for content creation, advocacy and activism; community action; professional service; acting; journalism; lawyers; film; entrepreneurship; technology; art and literature, health and wellness.

Significantly making the list of award nominees are fabrication engineer and designer of Nigeria’s first carbon fiber car, Jerry Mallo; Founder Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya; Social media influencer and popular #EndSARS campaigner, Rinu Oduala, Kannywood actress Maryam Yahaya, Plateau-born fashion model, Davou Pwajok; sustainability expert and CEO Prunedge, Joel Ogunsola and Nigerian-Canadian fashion designer, Andrea Inyama;

Commenting on the nominations, Senior Advisor, The Future Project, Bukonla Adebakin, stated the importance of celebrating individuals who have made immense contributions towards developing the continent.

“With the collapse and restructuring of systems that have occurred in Nigeria in recent times, it is expedient that we celebrate young African leaders who have worked tirelessly to advance the continent through contributions made in their various fields.”

She added, “We owe most of Africa’s progress to these young people who are moving the needle and shaping narratives. We are delighted to honour not just them but the amazing work they have done. They have proved that they’re not just the leaders of tomorrow but the legends of today.”

AfroPop/RnB singer and songwriter, Joeboy one of the future awards nominees waltzed into fame in 2019 with his two hit singles – Baby, and Beginning. Signed to Empawa, Joeboy delightful mix of 2D animation and infectious lyrics started a lyric video art style, endeared him to millions of young Africans across the world. While Fireboy signed to YBNL Nation, released his first studio album, in 2019. Apollo, his second studio album, was released in 2021, and it garnered the same amount or even more attention than the first.

19-year-old Ayra Starr became a popular name in the Nigerian music industry after she was signed to join one of Nigeria’s biggest record labels, Mavins Record. Since then, she has released hit singles and EPs that have kept her name recurring in Nigeria’s pop culture scene.

While Love Nwantiti crooner, Ckay became a global sensation, firmly placing Afropop on the global music radar. Though formally signed to the sensational Chocolate City record label, Ckay is now signed to Warner Music South Africa and the first African artist to hit 20 million Spotify listeners.

Since the release of his debut EP, Get Layd, Omah Lay has consistently topped global charts and announced himself as the next big musical sensation out of Nigeria.

Singer and songwriter Buju, rose to stardom when he featured and sang the chorus of Ladipoe’s popular song Feeling in 2021. He released his EP project Sorry I’m Late in 2021 and also an NFT Music Project recently.

For Tems who started producing music at age 20, in 2018, she composed and recorded Mr. Rebel, which gained massive airplay, and also with Damages from her For Broken Ears EP, she gained more recognition.