FULL LIST: DAVIDO, TEMS, BURNA BOY,PELLER, OTHERS NOMINATED AS AFRIMMA RETURNS AFTER TWO-YEAR BREAK

By; Sunmola Ganiyat 

The African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) has unveiled nominees for its 2026 edition, with Nigerian Afrobeats star 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 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 features 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/Actress category.

The AFRIMMA 2026 Awards and Music Festival are scheduled to hold on September 12, 2026, at Annette Strauss Square in Dallas, Texas.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

BEST MALE NORTH AFRICA

• Wegz (Egypt)
• Stormy (Morocco)
• Adviser (Mauritania)
• Amr Diab (Egypt)
• Marwan Moussa (Egypt)
• ElGrandeToto (Morocco)
• DJ Snake (Algeria)
• Cheb Momo (Algeria)

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)

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)

BEST NEWCOMER

• Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
• Mavo (Nigeria)
• Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
• 6uff (Nigeria)
• Lava Lava (Tanzania)
• Florito (Angola)
• Toxic Lyrikali (Kenya)
• Fola (Nigeria)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

The awards ceremony and music festival will take place on September 12, 2026, in Dallas, Texas, USA.