Rema emerges biggest winner at 9th AFRIMA Awards
By Oladele Eniola
Nigerian Afrobeats star, Rema was the biggest winner at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which held at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos on Sunday night.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Afrobeats star clinched the coveted Artiste of the Year award at the ceremony.
NAN also reports that Rema won the Best Male Artiste in Western Africa and Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African RnB & Soul, underscoring his dominant influence on the continent’s music scene over the past year.
His triple win capped a colourful night that celebrated African music across regional and continental categories and drew top artistes, industry executives and cultural stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
Meanwhile, Burna Boy, whose album titled “No Sign of Weakness”, won Album of the Year while Shallipopi’s “Laho” emerged Song of the Year and Phyno won Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop.
In the regional categories, Singuila of Congo won Best Male Artiste in Central Africa while Cindy Le Coeur of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) clinched Best Female Artiste in Central Africa.
Eastern Africa honours went to Jux of Tanzania as Best Male Artiste as Denise of Madagascar emerged Best Female Artiste while Team Paiya of Côte d’Ivoire emerged Best African Duo, Group or Band.
In Northern Africa, Adviser of Mauritania won Best Male Artiste, with Egypt’s Sherine taking home Best Female Artiste.
Southern Africa saw Yo Maps of Zambia emerge Best Male Artiste while South Africa’s Nontokozo Mkhize won Best Female Artiste.
In Western Africa, Rema claimed Best Male Artiste while Ghana’s Wendy Shay emerged Best Female Artiste.
In the continental categories, Milo of Côte d’Ivoire won Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational Music, while compatriot Morijah clinched the female category.
Guinea’s Manamba Kanté won Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop, while Benin Republic’s Axel Merryl took Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Contemporary.
Yemi Alade clinched Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for “You Are” , while Senegal’s Bakhaw Dioum won Songwriter of the Year for “Choix”.
South Africa’s Ciza clinched Breakout Artiste of the Year while Qing Madi of Nigeria won Most Promising Artiste of the Year.
The night further highlighted African collaboration and diversity, with Shallipopi and Burna Boy’s “Laho” winning Best African Collaboration.
The 9th AFRIMA Awards once again reinforced the platform’s role in celebrating African creativity, unity and global cultural impact, with Rema’s multiple wins standing out as a defining moment of the ceremony.
Edited by Deborah Coker
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