Nigerian musicians dominated the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which concluded on Sunday night in Lagos, reaffirming the country’s stronghold on the continent’s music scene.
Global Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy was among the night’s biggest winners, taking home the coveted Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness.
The Grammy-winning artist also claimed Best African Collaboration, sharing the honour with fast-rising Nigerian talent Shallipopi.
Shallipopi capped off a breakthrough year by winning Song of the Year for his viral hit Laho, which has taken social media by storm.
Rema led the evening’s awards tally with three major honours: Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in RnB and Soul, underscoring his growing influence across Africa and beyond.
Other Nigerian acts also shone.
Yemi Alade was recognised for Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for You Are, featured in the animated series Iyanu, while veteran rapper Phyno won Best African Artiste in African Hip-Hop, highlighting his lasting impact on the genre.
Rising talents were celebrated too, with Qing Madi named Most Promising Artiste of the Year and Chella taking home the African Fans’ Favourite award.
AFRIMA maintained its pan-African focus by recognising artists from across the continent. Senegal’s Bakhaw Dioum won Song Writer of the Year, and Algeria’s DJ Moh Green was named DJ of the Year, beating several high-profile South African contenders.
Ghana’s Wendy Shay took Best Female Artiste in Western Africa, South Africa’s Nontokozo Mkhize won Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa, and Tanzania’s Juma Jux earned Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa.
The night once again showcased Nigeria’s dominance in Afrobeats, a genre that fuses African rhythms with Western sounds. Burna Boy, a global ambassador for the genre, further cemented his place as a defining figure in African music with his latest AFRIMA triumph.