Nigerian Talents Shine at the 9th All Africa Music Awards

The 9th All Africa Music Awards (Afrima), held in Lagos, concluded with a remarkable display of Nigerian musical talent. Burna Boy, a global superstar, secured the prestigious Album of the Year for his latest work, 'No Sign of Weakness', which was released in July 2025.

In addition to this accolade, he shared the award for Best African Collaboration with fellow Nigerian artist Shallipopi, who also received the Song of the Year award for his viral hit 'Laho'. The week-long event saw contributions from music experts across Africa and captured the essence of Nigeria's contemporary music scene.

Leading the awards tally was Rema, who clinched three titles: Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in RnB and Soul. Other notable winners included Yemi Alade, who won Best Soundtrack in a Movie, and veteran rapper Phyno, recognized as Best African Artiste in African Hip-Hop.

The awards also put a spotlight on emerging artists, with Qing Madi named Most Promising Artiste of the Year and Chella being honored as African Fans' Favourite.

While Nigerian artists took center stage, the ceremony acknowledged diverse talent from across the continent, with Senegal's Bakhaw Dioum winning Song Writer of the Year and Algeria's DJ Moh Green earning the DJ of the Year title. Ghana's Wendy Shay was lauded as Best Female Artiste in West Africa, while South Africa's Nontokozo Mkhize won Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa and Tanzania's Juma Jux was crowned Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa.

The significant victories for Nigerian artists not only reflect their local dominance but also the genre's expanding global reach, particularly in Afrobeats—a genre that fuses African and Western musical influences and has gained explosive popularity worldwide. Burna Boy's continued success marks him as a leading ambassador of this movement, further solidifying his influential status in the music industry.