Rema Emerges Biggest Winner At AFRIMA 2026 As Burna Boy

Rema Emerges Biggest Winner at AFRIMA 2026 as Burna Boy, Qing Madi, Chella Shine

Nigerian Artistes Dominate 9th All Africa Music Awards in Lagos, With Rema Bagging Three Major Honors

LAGOS, NIGERIA — Nigerian musicians delivered a standout performance at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2026, held on Sunday at the Eko Hotels & Suites Convention Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, with Rema emerging as the biggest winner of the night and several other Nigerian stars taking home top awards.

The awards ceremony brought together music professionals, cultural leaders and industry stakeholders from across the African continent to celebrate the best in music across genres and categories.

Rema Dominates with Three Awards

At just 24 years old, Afrobeats sensation Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, led the evening’s winners by clinching three major awards, underscoring his massive influence in African music. Rema won:

Artiste of the Year

Best Male Artiste in Western Africa

Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African R&B & Soul

These victories saw him beat other heavyweights including Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, and Asake in key categories — signalling his continued rise on the continent’s musical stage.

Burna Boy and Other Nigerian Winners Shine

Although Rema was the standout winner, several other Nigerian artists also achieved significant recognition:

Burna Boy won Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness — a project that has garnered both critical and commercial acclaim.

Shallipopi scored Song of the Year for his hit Laho and also shared Best African Collaboration with Burna Boy for the same track.

Yemi Alade earned Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for her song You Are featured in the animated series Iyanu.

Phyno was named Best African Artiste in African Hip-Hop, recognising his enduring impact on the genre.

Qing Madi was crowned Most Promising Artiste of the Year, highlighting the rising talent emerging from Nigeria’s music scene.

Chella took home African Fans’ Favourite, reflecting strong audience support from across the continent.

Celebrating African Music Across the Continent

While Nigerian musicians dominated several major awards, the ceremony also recognised musical excellence across Africa:

Tanzania’s Juma Jux won Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa.

Ghana’s Wendy Shay was honoured as Best Female Artiste in Western Africa.

South Africa’s Nontokozo Mkhize took Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa.

The event underscored the diversity of African music — from hip-hop and Afrobeats to R&B, soul and regional soundtracks — while showcasing the continent’s growing influence on the global music industry.

A Night of Performances and Cultural Celebration

Hosted in Nigeria’s commercial capital, the 2026 AFRIMA awards featured dynamic live performances, red-carpet celebrations and cultural showcases that highlighted Africa’s rich musical heritage. The event also served as a platform for networking and collaboration among artists, producers and industry leaders.