Congolese singer Fally Ipupa won Artist of the Year at the 2026 African Muzik Magazine Awards, AFRIMMA, while Nigerian star Davido took Album of the Year for 5ive.
The awards returned on September 12 after a two-year hiatus and were held at Annette Strauss Square at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas.
The ceremony was staged as a full music festival for the first time, featuring African music, food, fashion and dance.
Davido entered the ceremony with five nominations covering Artist of the Year, Best Male West Africa, Crossing Boundaries with Music and Album of the Year for 5ive.
His collaboration with Omah Lay, With You, also received nominations for Best Collaboration and Song of the Year.
He eventually secured the Album of the Year award with 5ive, his 2025 album featuring collaborations with Omah Lay, Chris Brown, Tay Iwar and Shenseea.
The album defeated Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness, Asake’s M$NEY, Omah Lay’s Clarity of Mind, Black Sherif’s Top of The Morning Era and South African singer Tyla’s A-Pop.
Ipupa also won the Crossing Boundaries with Music Award, which recognises artistes who have helped take African music to audiences around the world.
He beat Nigerian nominees Burna Boy, Rema, Davido, Wizkid, Flavour and Toby Nwigwe to the award.
Nigerian artistes claimed several other awards at the ceremony.
Tems won Best Female West Africa, while Ruger took Best Male West Africa.
BNXN and producer Sarz won Song of the Year for Back Outside, beating Davido’s With You, Diamond Platnumz’s Joy featuring Juma Jux and Black Sherif’s So It Goes.
Diamond Platnumz and Juma Jux won Best Collaboration for Joy, defeating Davido and Omah Lay’s With You, Patoranking and Ruger’s Shake That, and Fally Ipupa’s Jam featuring Wizkid.
Nigeria’s Director Pink won Best Video Director ahead of fellow Nigerian TG Omori and international nominees Hanscana of Tanzania and Elias Belkader of Algeria.
DJ Tunez won Best DJ Africa, while Phyno took the Best Male Act award.
Veteran Nigerian singer Timaya was also honoured with the Timeless Impact Award.
The 2026 edition marked AFRIMMA’s return after its last ceremony in 2023. Founder Anderson Obiagwu had announced plans for a bigger event centred on the first AFRIMMA Music Festival.
The festival was themed around African music, food, fashion and dance, with Nigerian tourism destination Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort serving as the sponsor.
Davido’s 5ive had previously been nominated for Afrobeats Album of the Year at the 2026 Headies, adding to the recognition the project has received since its release.
See Winners List Below:
Song of the Year
Davido ft. Omah Lay — With You
BNXN & Sarz — Back Outside WINNER
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 Video Director
Hanscana (Tanzania)
Director Pink (Nigeria) WINNER
Elias Belkader (Algeria)
Mateo Da Silva (Cameroon)
TG Omori (Nigeria)
Babs Direction (Ghana)
Jake Zaral (Zimbabwe)
AFRIMMA Album of the Year
Black Sherif — Top of The Morning Era
Omah Lay — Clarity of Mind
Asake — M$NEY
Tyla — A-Pop
Burna Boy — No Sign of Weakness
Lloyiso — Never Thought I Could
Davido — 5ive WINNER
Leigh-Anne — My Ego Told Me To
Himra — SORRY I'M BAD
Best Collaboration
Bien & Alikiba — Finale
BNXN & Sarz — Back Outside
Davido & Omah Lay — With You
Diamond Platnumz ft. Juma Jux — Joy WINNER
Patoranking ft. Ruger — Shake That
Fally Ipupa ft. Wizkid — Jam
Jazzworx & Tukuthela — Bengicela
Flavour ft. Baaba Maal — Afroculture
Marvais Djo ft. Kano Choir — Pile
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) WINNER
Odeal (Nigeria)
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