Rema, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade shine at 9th AFRIMA Awards

Nigerian music stars dominated the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), held on Sunday night in Lagos, with Rema, Burna Boy and Yemi Alade emerging as some of the biggest winners.

Rema had a remarkable night, taking home three prestigious awards. He was crowned Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in RnB and Soul, further cementing his position as one of Africa’s leading global music exports.

Burna Boy also recorded a major victory, winning Album of the Year for his critically acclaimed project No Sign of Weakness. The Grammy-winning singer continues to enjoy continental recognition for his consistency and global impact.

Yemi Alade won Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for her song You Are, which featured in the animated series Iyanu, highlighting her versatility beyond mainstream pop music.

Rising star Shallipopi emerged as one of the night’s standout performers, winning Song of the Year with Laho. He also clinched Best African Collaboration alongside Burna Boy for the same track, marking a major milestone in his fast-rising career.

Veteran rapper Phyno was named Best African Artiste in African Hip-Hop, while Chella was voted African Fans’ Favourite, reflecting strong public support across the continent.

Fast-rising singer Qing Madi claimed the Most Promising Artiste of the Year award, beating strong competition from emerging talents across Africa.

The event, which brought together music stars, industry leaders and fans from across the continent, celebrated excellence, creativity and diversity in African music, reaffirming AFRIMA’s status as the biggest platform for African artistes.

With Nigerian musicians taking home many of the top honours, the 2026 AFRIMA ceremony once again highlighted Nigeria’s powerful influence on the African and global music scene.