Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Rema emerged as the biggest winner at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), held at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, on Sunday night. The young star clinched the prestigious Artiste of the Year award, further cementing his influence on Africa’s music scene.
In addition to the top prize, Rema took home Best Male Artiste in Western Africa and Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African RnB & Soul, underscoring his remarkable dominance over the continent’s music industry over the past year.
His triple win capped a colourful night celebrating African music, drawing top artistes, industry executives, and cultural stakeholders from across the continent and beyond.
Other major winners included Burna Boy, whose album No Sign of Weakness won Album of the Year, while Shallipopi’s Laho took Song of the Year.
Phyno won Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop, and in regional categories, honours were spread across the continent. Notable winners included Singuila (Congo) and Cindy Le Coeur (DRC) in Central Africa; Jux (Tanzania) and Denise (Madagascar) in Eastern Africa; Adviser (Mauritania) and Sherine (Egypt) in Northern Africa; and Yo Maps (Zambia) and Nontokozo Mkhize (South Africa) in Southern Africa.
The awards also highlighted Africa’s collaborative spirit and diversity. Milo and Morijah of Côte d’Ivoire dominated the African Inspirational Music categories, while Manamba Kanté (Guinea) and Axel Merryl (Benin) took home honours in African Pop and Contemporary.
Nigerian stars Qing Madi and Yemi Alade were recognised as Most Promising Artiste and Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary, respectively, and Shallipopi teamed up with Burna Boy to win Best African Collaboration for Laho.
The 9th AFRIMA Awards once again reinforced its position as a global platform celebrating African creativity, unity, and cultural impact, with Rema’s multiple wins standing out as the night’s defining moment.