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The African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) returns this year after a two-year break with a new music festival in Dallas.
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Davido leads the AFRIMMA 2026 nominations with five nods across major categories.
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Moliy, Burna Boy, Diamond Platnumz, Black Sherif, Tyla and Tems are among the top nominees.
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The 2026 AFRIMMA Awards and Music Festival will take place on September 12 in Dallas, Texas, with global voting now open.
July 15, (THEWILL) — The African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) has unveiled the nominees for its 2026 edition, with Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido emerging as the most nominated artist.
The nominees were announced on July 13 as AFRIMMA returns after a two-year hiatus.
Organizers also confirmed that global voting is now open ahead of the awards ceremony and music festival, scheduled for September 12, 2026, at Annette Strauss Square in Dallas, Texas.
Davido leads this year’s nominations with five nods, including Artist of the Year, Best Male West Africa, Crossing Boundaries With Music Award, and AFRIMMA Album of the Year for 5ive.
His collaboration with Omah Lay, With You, also earned nominations for Best Collaboration and Song of the Year.
Other artists with five nominations include South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa, Ghana’s Moliy, Morocco’s ElGrandeToto and Senegal’s Mia Guissé.
Burna Boy, Shallipopi, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Ghana’s Black Sherif each earned four nominations.
South African star Tyla leads the female nominees with three nominations, while Nigerian singer Tems received two.
This year’s edition will also introduce the first-ever AFRIMMA Music Festival, featuring live performances, African food vendors, fashion exhibitions and cultural showcases alongside the awards ceremony.
The 2026 nominations span music, film, sports, comedy, dance, influencing and community impact, celebrating outstanding talent from across Africa and the diaspora.
Below is the full list of nominees for the 2026 AFRIMMA Awards.
1. Best Male Artist 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)
2. Best Female Artist 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)
3. Best Male Artist 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)
4. Best Female Artist 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)
5. Best Male Artist 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)
6. Best Female Artist 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)
7. Best Male Artist 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)
8. Best Female Artist 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)
9. Best Male Artist North Africa
- Wegz (Egypt)
- Stormy (Morocco)
- Adviser (Mauritania)
- Amr Diab (Egypt)
- Marwan Moussa (Egypt)
- ElGrandeToto (Morocco)
- DJ Snake (Algeria)
- Cheb Momo (Algeria)
10. Best Female Artist North Africa
- Marwa Loud (Morocco)
- Chirine Lajmi (Tunisia)
- Manal (Morocco)
- Souhila Ben Lachhab (Algeria)
- Sherine (Egypt)
- Latifa (Tunisia)
- Kenza Morsli (Algeria)
- Zina Daoudia (Morocco)
11. Crossing Boundaries with Music Award
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Aya Nakamura (Mali)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Davido (Nigeria)
- Toby Nwigwe (Nigeria)
- Flavour (Nigeria)
- Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
- Odeal (Nigeria)
12. Best Newcomer
- Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
- Mavo (Nigeria)
- Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
- 6uff (Nigeria)
- Lava Lava (Tanzania)
- Florito (Angola)
- Toxic Lyrikali (Kenya)
- Fola (Nigeria)
13. 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)
14. Best Gospel
- 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)
15. 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)
16. 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)
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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)
20. 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)
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
