On Sunday, the Gala for the 2021 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) went down at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. The event saw big names in the entertainment industry battle out for the prestigious Award.
The biggest winner of the night was Malian Ibaone, who won four awards – Album of the Year, African Male Artiste in Inspirational Music, Best Song Writer and Best Male Artiste from Western Africa. Wizkid won three awards out of the four nominations he got in this year’s AFRIMA; Best Song of the Year and Best African Collaborations and Best Artiste of the Year award. The show was hosted by Eddie Kadi and Pearl Thusi, and witnessed singing performances from Zuchu, Patoranking, Chike, Olakira, D’banj among others.
Ugandan and Big Talent Entertainment boss Edrisa Musuuza a.k.a Eddy Kenzo was last night named as the Best Male Artiste in East Africa in the 2021 AFRIMA awards edition after beating Diamond Platnumz, Sauti Sol, Ali Kiba, Harmonize, among others to scoop the award following his hit song titled ‘Weekend” to emerge the victor.
The other Ugandan artistes who were nominated in this year’s AFRIMA edition were Rema, Spice, Afrie, Shivanah, B2C, BebeCool but didn’t manage to win any accolade. Kenyan singers yet again raised their country’s flag in these Awards as we saw Kenya’s 19-year-old Nikita Kering beat Africa’s heavyweights in the various nominated categories.
Nikita first took home the title for Best Female Artiste in East Africa. She was competing against Xenia Manasseh (Kenya), Karun (Kenya), Afrie (Uganda), Rema Namakula, DJ Harold & Chike (Uganda), Merry Zerabruk (Eritrea), Nandy (Tanzania), Rosa Ree (Tanzania), Spiece Diana (Uganda), and Zuchu(Tanzania).
The Ex singer also bagged the Best Artiste, Duo, or Group in African R&B Soul title, beating other nominees such as Adekunle Gold, Tems, Wizkid, Omah Lay, T’neeya, Oxlade, Gyakie, Aya Nakamura, and Elaine. Nikita was also nominated in the Song Writer of The Year category alongside Kenya’s Bensoul, but the award went to IbaOne of Mali.
Kenyan boy band Sauti Sol took home the title for Best African Group category. They had previously bagged the same title in AFRIMA’s 2015. AFRIMA is a combined effort by music professionals across the continent aimed at celebrating the rich musical heritage of African continent and is spearheaded by a group of professionals and music stakeholders known as the International Committee whose theme is “For Hope, For Celebration”. It revolves round the universal power of music as a tool of unity in the African continent despite the challenges it faces.
See full list of winners for 2021 AFRIMA Awards
Album Of The Year – Iba One
Artiste Of The Year – Wizkid
African Fan’s Favorite – Fireboy DML
Best African Collaboration – Wizkid, Tems
Song Writer of the Year – Iba One
Best Artiste, Duo Or Group In African Pop -Iba One
Best Artiste, Duo Or Group In African r ‘n’ b & Soul – Nikita Kering
Best Female Artiste In African Inspirational Music – Shanah Manjeru
Song Of The Year – Wizkid, Tems
Best Producer of The Year – Legendary Beatz
Best Artist or Duo in African Dance or Choreography – Flavour, Diamond Platnumz, FallyIpupa
Best Female Artiste in Northern Africa – Manal Benchlikha
Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa – Dizzy Dros
Best Male Artiste in Western Africa – Iba One
Best Female Artiste East Africa category – Nikita Kering
Best Female Artist in the Diaspora – Naomi Achu
Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa – Eddy Kenzo
Best Female Artist Central Africa – Shan L
Best Group – Sauti Sol
Afrima Legend Award – Kofi Olomide
Best African Rapper Lyricist – Elow’n
Male Artist Central Africa – Fally Ipupa
Best Male Southern Africa – Blaq Diamond
Best Duo African HipHop – Fireboy, Cheque
Best African Dj – Sinyorita
Best in African Rock – Rash Band
