All Africa Music Awards (also referred to as AFRIMA) is an annual awards event to reward and celebrate musical works, talents and creativity around the African continent while promoting the African cultural heritage. Its pioneer Awards show was held in 2014. The awards event was established by the International Committee AFRIMA, in collaboration with the African Union (AU).
History
Nigeria has hosted three of the award editions during 2014–2016. Nigeria once again won the fourth-year hosting rights tenure in 2017. However, the Republic of Ghana was given the right to host the All Africa Music Awards for four consecutive years from December 2018 to 2020. On Monday, July 15, 2019, The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA) withdrew the hosting rights from Republic of Ghana for the 2019 and 2020 editions of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, over lack of capacity by the Host Country to meet the financial and contractual obligations entered to on July 12, 2018, necessary to retain hosting the biggest music event in Africa. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, AFRIMA did not hold as scheduled but returned in 2021 and was hosted in Lagos, Nigeria.
Organisation The International Committee of AFRIMA consists of five regions: SADEC, Eastern Africa, Central Africa, Northern, Southern Africa and Western Africa, which are run by regional directors and 54 country directors. Public votes determine which artists get awarded, alongside a jury of experienced African culture, media and music industry experts/professionals.
Host cities YearDateCountryHost cityVenueHost(s)Ref201427 DecemberNigeriaLagosGrand Ballroom, Oriental Hotel2baba Idibia (Nigeria) and Maryse Acotie (Togo)201515 NovemberEko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and SuitesDNG (Kenya) and Aurelie Eliam (Côte d'Ivoire)20166 NovemberAhmed Soultan (Morocco); Bonang Matheba (South Africa) and Ika De Jong (DR Congo)201712 November Akon (Senegal) and Sophy Aiida (Cameroon)201824 NovemberGhanaAccraAccra International Conference CentreMichael Blackson (Ghana), Pearl Thusi (South Africa) and Anita Erskine (Ghana)201923 NovemberNigeriaLagosEko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and SuitesPearl Thusi (South Africa) and Eddie Kadi (Democratic Republic of the Congo)202121 November202212–15 January 2023SenegalDakarGrand Arena, Dakar SenegalAhmed Sylla; Cameroonian actress and broadcaster, Sophy Aiida and South African screen gem, model and presenter, Pearl Thusi
Award categories These awards consist of 37 prizes of two categories: region-based awards (covering the five African regions) overseeing the achievements of African artistes within their specific regions of origin and the genre-based continental awards.
Regional awards Best Female Artiste in Central Africa Best Male Artiste in Central Africa Best Female Artiste in Western Africa Best Male Artiste in Western Africa Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa Best Female Artiste in Northern Africa Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa.
Continental awards Artiste of the Year African Fans' Favorite Album of the Year Best African Collaboration Best African Contemporary Best African Electro Best African Group/Duo/Band Best African Hip Hop Best African Jazz Best African Pop Best African Reggae/Ragga/Dancehall Best African RnB/Soul Best African Rock Best African Traditional Best Female Inspirational Best Male Inspirational Best African DJ Best African Lyricist/Rapper Best African Act in Diaspora Best African Dance/Choreography AFRIMA Legend Award Most Promising Artiste of the Year Producer of the Year Revelation of the African Continent Song of the Year Songwriter of the Year Video of the Year.
Past award winners 2014 edition CategoryWinnerCountryTitleArtist of the YearAfrotronix ChadAzaba AFRIMA Legend AwardFela Anikulapo KutiNigeriaProducer of the Year Don Jazzy, Robbie Malinga and Mojalefa ThebeNigeria and South Africa"Eminado" and "Impilo"Song of the YearDavidoNigeria"Aye"Revelation of the African Continent Wiyaala feat. JupitarGhana"Rock my body"Best VideoBez (Kemi Adetiba)Nigeria"Say"Best Male Artist in Inspirational MusicBro. Philemon feat. MorrisGhana"It is Well"Best Female Artist in Inspirational MusicNikki LaoyeNigeria"Only You"Best African RockDear ZimZimbabwe"Indiana"Best African Traditional Music Adjiboye and Yinka AyandaBenin Republic and Nigeria"Inna" and "Ise"Best RnB and Soul2Baba IdibiaNigeria"Dance in the Rain"Best African Reggae, Ragga and DancehallRadio and WeaselUganda"Breath Away"Best African PopElaniKenya"Kookoo"Best African Hip HopDavidoNigeria"Aye (song)"Best African ElectroMi CasaSouth Africa"Jika"Best African ContemporaryAngelique KidjoBenin Republic"Shango Wa"Most Promising Artist in AfricaWiyaalaGhana"Rock My Body"Best African CollaborationD'banj and Friends19 countries in Africa"Cocoa Na Chocolate"Best African Group/Duo/BandPaul and Peter Okoye (P-Square)Nigeria"Personally"Song Writer of the YearBrymoNigeriaDownAlbum of the YearOlamideNigeriaBaddest Guy Ever LivethBest Male in Western AfricaDavidoNigeria"Skelewu"Best Female in Western AfricaAngelique KidjoBenin Republic"Shango Wa"Best Male in Southern AfricaHeavy K feat. ProfessorSouth Africa"Beautiful War"Best Female in Southern AfricaCindy MunyaviZimbabwe"Parere Moyo"Best Male in Northern AfricaAhmed SoultanMorocco"It’s Alright"Best Female in Northern AfricaNoura Mint SeymaliMauritania"Tzenni"Best Male in Eastern AfricaDiamond PlatnumzTanzania"Number One"Best Female in Eastern AfricaVanessa MdeeTanzania"Cover"Best Male in Central AfricaFally IpupaDR Congo"Original"Best Female in Central AfricaLaurette La PerleDR Congo"Lembo La Mboka Ame"
2015 edition CategoryWinnerCountryTitleAlbum of the YearCharlotte DipandaCameroonElle n'a pas vuSong Writer of the YearJose ChameleoneUgandaWale WaleBest African Group/Duo/BandSauti SolKenyaSura yakoBest African CollaborationAKA ft Burna Boy, Dales and JrSouth Africa and NigeriaAll eyes on meMost Promising Artiste in AfricaKiss DanielNigeriaWojuBest Artist in African ContemporaryCharlotte DipandaCameroonElle n'a pas vuBest Artist in African ElectroFlavourNigeriaPower to winBest Artist in African Hip HopCassper NyovestSouth AfricaGhettoBest Artist in African PopVanessa MdeeTanzaniaHawajuiBest Artist in Reggae, Ragga and DancehallStonebwoyGhanaPull Up (Remix)Best Artist in African RnB and SoulPraizNigeriaIf I fallBest Artist in African Traditional MusicGangbe Brass BandBeninYorubaAFRIMA Legend AwardLadysmith Black MambazoSouth AfricaBest Artist in African RockM'vulaAngolaVolume 10Best Female Artist in Inspirational MusicBetty AknaEquatorial GuineaAfrica unitedBest Male Artist in Inspirational MusicDareyNigeriaPray for meVideo of the Year in AfricaWiyaalaGhanaAfricaRevelation of the African ContinentAdekunle GoldNigeriaSadeSong of the YearDiamond PlatnumzTanzaniaNasema NaweBest Artist in African JazzKunle AyoNigeriaJoromiArtist of the YearDiamond PlatnumzTanzaniaProducer of the YearSauti SolKenyaSura yakoMusic/Entertainment Journalist of the year Oris AigbokhaevboloNigeriaGoing Country: Nashville-LivesBest Female in Central AfricaCharlotte DipandaCameroonElle n'a pas vuBest Male in Central AfricaStanley EnowCameroonKing KongBest Female Artist in Eastern AfricaTsedeniaEthiopiaYet BiyeBest Male in Eastern AfricaDiamond PlatnumzTanzaniaNasema NaweBest Female Artist in Northern AfricaManalMoroccoDeniaBest Male Artist in Northern AfricaAhmed SoultanMoroccoThis is who I amBest Female in Southern AfricaBusiswaSouth AfricaLahlaBest Male in Southern AfricaCassper NyovestSouth AfricaGhettoBest Female Artist in Western AfricaYemi AladeNigeriaKissingBest Male Artist in Western AfricaOlamideNigeriaBobo
2016 edition CategoryWinnerCountryTitleAlbum of the YearAhmed SoultanMoroccoMusic Has No BoundariesSong Writer of the YearUniqueUgandaNjogerezaBest African Group/Duo/BandVVIPGhanaDogo YaroBest African CollaborationEddy Kenzo and NiniolaUganda and NigeriaMbilo MbiloMost Promising Artiste in AfricaAmine AubMoroccoFeel the SameBest Artiste in African ContemporaryFlavourNigeriaMmege MmegeBest Artiste in African ElectroSuchZimbabweYouBest Artiste in African Hip HopStanley EnowCameroonWork HardBest Artiste in African PopDiamond PlatnumzTanzania UtanipendaBest Artiste in Reggae, Ragga and DancehallPatorankingNigeriaNo kissingBest Artiste in African RnB and SoulHenok and Mehari Brothers EthiopiaEwedi ShalehuBest Artiste in African Traditional MusicZainabBeninBolojoAFRIMA Legend AwardManu DibangoCameroonBest Artiste in African RockM'vulaAngolaTristezase AlegriasBest Female Artiste in Inspirational MusicNaomi AchuCameroonBusy BodyBest Male Artiste in Inspirational MusicIcha KavonsDR CongoTestimonyVideo of the Year in AfricaVVIPGhanaDogoyaroRevelation of the African ContinentFalzNigeriaBad Baddo BadestSong of the YearDiamond PlatnumzTanzaniaUtanipendaProducer of the YearKuseimUgandaMbilo MbiloArtiste of the YearWizkidNigeria Final (Baba Nla)Best Artiste in African JazzJimmy DludluSouth AfricaHa DevaBest Female in Central AfricaBruna TatianaAngolaPrometo MudarBest Male in Central AfricaWax DeyCameroonSaka MakossaBest Female Artist in Eastern AfricaCindy SanyuUgandaStill StandingBest Male in Eastern AfricaDiamond PlatnumzTanzaniaUtanipendaBest Female Artist in Northern AfricaZina DaoudiaMoroccoLa Waheed Wala MillionBest Female in Southern AfricaSally Boss MadamNamibiaNaturalBest Male in Southern AfricaBlack CoffeeSouth AfricaCome with meBest Male Artiste in Western AfricaFlavourNigeriaDanceBest Female Artiste in West AfricaAramide NigeriaI Don't Care
2017 edition CategoryWinnerCountryTitleAFRIMA Legend AwardsOliver MutikudziZimbabweSalif KeitaMaliArtist of the Year in AfricaWizkidNigeriaCome CloserSong of the Year in AfricaWizkidNigeriaCome CloserProducer of the YearDJ Coublon (Sheyi Shay)NigeriaYolo YoloAlbum of the Year in AfricaEddy KenzoUgandaShuari YakoRevelation of the YearShynMadagascarResim PitiaSongwriter of the YearSimiNigeriaSmile for MeVideo of the YearOrezi(Adasa Cookey)NigeriaCooking PotAfrican Fans’ FavouriteThe DoggNamibiaShuukifa KwiBest Artist or Group in African TraditionalHalmelmal AbateEthiopiaHararBest Artist in African Pop TogoTere TereBest Artist or Group in African RnB and Soul Ali KibaTanzaniaAje ft MIBest Artist or Group in African Hip-HopYCEENigeriaJuiceBest Artist or Group in African Reggae, Ragga and Dancehall2Baba IdibiaNigeriaHoly HolyBest Artist or Group in African Electro NsokiAngolaAfrica Unite ft DJ Maphorisa and Paulo AlvesBest Artist in African JazzNduduzo MhakatiniSouth AfricaIgaguBest Artist in African Rock GiladKenyaAngel UrielBest African CollaborationAli Kiba ft MITanzaniaAjeBest African GroupToofanTogoTere TereMost Promising Artist in AfricaNezaRwandaUranyicaBest Artist or Group in African ContemporaryWande CoalNigeriaIskabaBest Female Artist in Inspirational MusicAsikeyNigeriaEarth AttackBest Male Artist in InspirationalGiladKenyaAngel Uriel ft Omer MilloBest Female Artist in Western AfricaTiwa SavageNigeriaAll OverBest Male Artist in Western AfricaWizkidNigeriaCome Closer ft DrakeBest Male Artist in Southern AfricaEmteeSouth AfricaWe UpBest Female in Southern AfricaThandiswaSouth AfricaNonsokoloBest Male Artist in Northern AfricaShayfeenMoroccoWach Kayn MaydarBest Female Artist in Northern AfricaIbitssam TiskatMoroccoMenak Wla MeniBest Male Artist in Eastern AfricaEddy KenzoUgandaFikir YishalaBest Female Artist in East AfricaNandyTanzaniaOne DayBest Male Artist in Central AfricaLockoCameroonSupporte Ft Mr LeoBest Female Artist in Central AfricaMontessCameroonIn Love With a Gun Man 2017 full list of winners.
2018 edition