Nigerian artistes dominated the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2025, taking home the majority of the top honours, as Tanzania’s Juma Jux emerged as the standout winner from East Africa at the high-profile ceremony held in Lagos.
The annual awards, which recognise excellence in African music across the continent and the diaspora, brought together artists, producers and industry leaders from more than 40 African countries.
Rema was the biggest winner of the night, securing three major awards, including Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in R&B and Soul.
His victories reflected a strong year marked by commercial success, international chart presence and consistent global visibility.
Another major Nigerian win came from Burna Boy, who claimed Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness.
The project was praised for its production quality and global appeal, reinforcing Burna Boy’s position as one of Africa’s most influential contemporary artists.
His collaboration with Shallipopi on the track Laho also earned recognition, with the song winning Best African Collaboration, while Shallipopi took home Song of the Year.
Veteran rapper Phyno was named Best African Artiste in Hip-Hop, adding to his long list of accolades, while Yemi Alade won Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for her contribution to the animated series Iyanu.
Rising Nigerian acts were also recognised, with Qing Madi winning Most Promising Artiste of the Year and Chella taking the African Fans’ Favourite award.
While Nigeria dominated the headline categories, East Africa secured a major regional win through Tanzania’s Juma Jux, who was crowned Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa.
The award recognised his consistency, cross-border appeal and strong presence in the East African music market over the past year.
Other regional awards saw Denise of Madagascar named Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa, while Central Africa honours went to Singuila (Congo) and Cindy Le Coeur (DRC) for Best Male and Best Female Artiste respectively.
In Southern Africa, Yo Maps of Zambia won Best Male Artiste, while Nontokozo Mkhize of South Africa claimed the female category.
Wendy Shay of Ghana took Best Female Artiste in Western Africa, and Sherine of Egypt was recognised in the Northern Africa category.
Kenya did not record any wins at the 2025 AFRIMA ceremony, despite having nominees across several categories.
AFRIMA organisers said the 2025 edition reflected the diversity and evolution of African music, noting that public voting and jury selection were conducted across more than 40 categories.
According to the organisers, over 10,700 entries were submitted for consideration during the eligibility period.
The awards ceremony was part of a broader week-long programme that included music showcases, industry panels and cultural events aimed at strengthening collaboration within Africa’s creative industry.
The event was supported by the African Union and hosted in partnership with Nigerian cultural institutions.
As African music continues to gain global traction, AFRIMA remains one of the key platforms recognising both commercial success and artistic impact across the continent.