The African Muzik Magazine Awards has unveiled nominees for its 2026 edition, with Nigerian Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly, Davido emerging as the leading contender after securing five nominations.
The announcement marks the return of the awards ceremony after a two-year hiatus, with organisers promising a bigger and more innovative experience for fans of African music worldwide.
AFRIMMA founder, Anderson Obiagwu, announced the nominees on Instagram on Wednesday, explaining that the break was necessary to improve the event and deliver a more exciting edition.
“For the last two years, AFRIMMA took a break to make it even bigger and create something sensational. AFRIMMA is coming back bigger and better this year. It’s going to be epic, one of a kind,” Obiagwu said.
He disclosed that the 2026 edition will introduce the first-ever AFRIMMA music festival in Dallas, Texas, featuring performances, food vendors, fashion showcases and entertainment from across Africa.
“This year, we’re adding a music festival, the biggest ever in Dallas. There will be several food vendors, fashion vendors, as well as some of the biggest dancers and musicians from different parts of Africa,” he added.
Davido leads the nominations with five entries, including categories such as Artist of the Year, Best Male West Africa, Crossing Boundaries With Music Award and AFRIMMA Album of the Year.
His hit collaboration with Omah Lay, With You, also earned nominations for Best Collaboration and Song of the Year.
Other top nominees include Burna Boy, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Ghana’s Black Sherif, who each received four nominations.
South African singer Tyla leads among female nominees with three nominations, while Nigerian singer Tems earned two.
The Best Influencer category will feature personalities including Peller, Carter Efe, Nasty Black and Sabinus, while actors such as Timini Egbuson, Uzor Arukwe, Bimbo Ademoye and Uche Montana are nominated in the Best Actor category.
The AFRIMMA 2026 awards and music festival are scheduled to hold on September 12, 2026, at Annette Strauss Square in Dallas, Texas.
See full list below:
1. Best Male 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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)
DJ Nelasta (Angola)
Major League DJs (South Africa)
DJ Kaywise (Nigeria)
DJ Dope Caesar (Nigeria)
DJ Moh (Kenya)
21. Best African DJ USA
DJ Kuncept (Nigeria)
DJ Akua (Ghana)
DJ Prince (Nigeria)
DJ Bode (Nigeria)
DJ Chelsea (Canada)
DJ Shinski (Kenya)
DJ Birame BB L’amour (Ivory Coast)
DJ Oreo (Nigeria)
Lex and Answer (Zimbabwe)
DJ Nani (Nigeria)
22. Music Producer of the Year
Masterkraft (Nigeria)
Andre Vibez (Nigeria)
207 (Uganda)
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Magicsticks (Nigeria)
MOG Beatz (Ghana)
Xduppy (South Africa)
London (Nigeria)
23. Best African Dancer
Masaka Dance Kids (Uganda)
Incredible Zigi (Ghana)
Poco Lee (Nigeria)
Ghetto Kids (Uganda)
Angel Nyigu (Tanzania)
Hope Ramafalo (South Africa)
Wet Bad Gang (Angola)
Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)
Hooliboy (Ghana)
24. Best Male Reggae/Dancehall
Valiant (Jamaica)
Mr. Killa (Grenada)
Patoranking (Nigeria)
Shatta Wale (Ghana)
Skillibeng (Jamaica)
Vybz Kartel (Jamaica)
Popcaan (Jamaica)
Kranium (Jamaica)
25. Best Female Reggae/Dancehall
Shenseea (Jamaica)
Jada Kingdom (Jamaica)
Moliy (Ghana)
Spice (Jamaica)
Koffee (Jamaica)
Lila Iké (Jamaica)
Shaneil Muir (Jamaica)
Vanessa Bling (Jamaica)
26. Best African Group
Disco Misr (Egypt)
Calema (São Tomé & Príncipe)
Show Dem Camp (Nigeria)
Toofan (Togo)
DopeNation (Ghana)
Team Paiya (Ivory Coast)
Mi Casa (South Africa)
Bracket (Nigeria)
27. AFRIMMA Album of the Year
Black Sherif — Top of The Morning Era
Omah Lay — Clarity of Mind
Asake — M$NEY
Tyla — A-Pop
Burna Boy — No Sign of Weakness
Lloyiso — Never Thought I Could
Davido — 5ive
Leigh-Anne — My Ego Told Me To
Himra — SORRY I’M BAD
28. Best African USA Based Artist
Kwate (Nigeria)
Bills (Nigeria)
Mannywellz (Nigeria)
Moses Sumney (Ghana)
Libianca (Cameroon)
Palmwine Tappers Band (Nigeria)
Detty K (Ivory Coast)
J Pako (DR Congo)
Emma Nyra (Nigeria)
29. AFRIMMA Timeless Impact Award
Timaya (Nigeria)
Amr Diab (Egypt)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Nameless (Kenya)
Oskido (South Africa)
Kcee (Nigeria)
Slap Dee (Zambia)
Bebe Cool (Uganda)
Flavour (Nigeria)
Mafikizolo (South Africa)
30. African Athlete of the Year
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Pascal Siakam (Cameroon)
Faith Kipyegon (Kenya)
Nnamdi Madubuike (Nigeria)
31. Best Influencer
Peller (Nigeria)
Carter Efe (Nigeria)
Khaby Lame (Senegal)
Nasty Black (Nigeria)
Lasizwe Dambuza (South Africa)
Ilyas El Maliki (Morocco)
Crazy Kennar (Kenya)
Sabinus (Nigeria)
32. Best Actor/Actress
Timini Egbuson (Nigeria)
Uzor Arukwe (Nigeria)
Bimbo Ademoye (Nigeria)
Uche Montana (Nigeria)
Elizabeth Michael “Lulu” (Tanzania)
Zander Adika (Kenya)
Pallance Dladla (South Africa)
Masali Baduza (South Africa)
33. Best Comedian
Basketmouth (Nigeria)
Bovi (Nigeria)
Warri Pikin (Nigeria)
Eric Omondi (Kenya)
Trevor Noah (South Africa)
Godfrey (Nigeria)
Patrick “Salvado” Idringi (Uganda)
Ty Ngachira (Kenya)
34. Best Hypeman/MC
Big Smart (Nigeria)
Shody (Nigeria)
Ogee The MC (Ghana)
MC Wild (Kenya)
Robot Boii (South Africa)
Balaa MC (Tanzania)
MC Mignon (DR Congo)
Do2dtun (Nigeria)
35. Community Impact Award
Ester Mathew Tonlagha Foundation (Nigeria)
Noella Foundation (Nigeria)
FAWE – Forum for African Women Educationalists (Kenya)
Educate! (Uganda)
IkamvaYouth (South Africa)
Street Child (Sierra Leone)
Tony Elumelu Foundation (Nigeria)
