Fally Ipupa, Davido, Jux, and BNXN Lead AFRIMMA 2026 Winners as Awards Return to Dallas
After a two-year hiatus, the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) returned to Dallas, Texas, on September 12, 2026, with a renewed focus on celebrating the breadth of African music and culture. The ceremony, held alongside the inaugural AFRIMMA Music Fest at Annette Strauss Square, brought together artists, producers, entertainers and members of the African diaspora for a weekend that extended beyond the presentation of awards.
Leading the night’s honours was Congolese superstar Fally Ipupa, who won Artist of the Year and the Crossing Boundaries with Music Award. His double victory reflected the growing reach of African music across linguistic and regional borders, particularly the influence of Francophone African music on the continent’s global cultural presence.
Davido also emerged as one of the ceremony’s biggest winners, taking home Album of the Year for 5ive. The victory adds another major recognition to the Nigerian superstar’s latest body of work, which was among the leading contenders in this year’s nominations. Meanwhile, BNXN and Sarz claimed Song of the Year, underscoring the strength of the artist-producer partnership in contemporary Nigerian music.
The awards also recognized a new generation of artists and celebrated the continued influence of established voices. Fola won Best Newcomer, while Tems and Ruger took home the Best Female West Africa and Best Male West Africa awards, respectively. Tyla won Best Female Southern Africa, and DJ Maphorisa claimed the corresponding male category. Across the regional honours, artists from East, Central, North, and Southern Africa were represented, giving the ceremony a broader continental character.
Beyond music, AFRIMMA’s 2026 results extended into comedy, sport, digital influence and community impact. Nigerian footballer Victor Osimhen was named Athlete of the Year, Nasty Blaq won Best Influencer, Real Warri Pikin received the Best Comedian award, and Ugandan dance group Ghetto Kids won Best African Dancer. The awards also recognised Esther Mathew Tonlagha with the Community Impact Award.
The full list of AFRIMMA 2026 winners is as follows:
AFRIMMA 2026 FULL WINNERS’ LIST
- Artist of the Year — Fally Ipupa
- Album of the Year — Davido, 5ive
- Song of the Year — BNXN & Sarz
- Timeless Impact Award — Timaya
- Best Male West Africa — Ruger
- Best Female West Africa — Tems
- Best Male East Africa — Marioo
- Best Female East Africa — Nikita Kering
- Best Male Central Africa — Gerilson Israel
- Best Female Central Africa — Emma’a
- Best Male Southern Africa — DJ Maphorisa
- Best Female Southern Africa — Tyla
- Best Male North Africa — DJ Snake
- Best Female North Africa — Latifa
- Crossing Boundaries with Music Award — Fally Ipupa
- Best Newcomer — Fola
- Best Gospel — Mercy Chinwo
- Best Female Rap Act — Eno Barony
- Best Male Rap Act — Phyno
- Best Collaboration — Diamond Platnumz & Juma Jux
- Best Video Director — Pink
- Best DJ Africa — DJ Tunez
- Best African DJ USA — DJ Prince
- Music Producer of the Year — London
- Best African Dancer — Ghetto Kids
- Best Male Reggae / Dancehall — Patoranking
- Best Female Reggae / Dancehall — Shenseea
- Best African Group — Dope Nation
- AFRIMMA Music Without Borders Award — Juma Jux
- Best African USA-Based Artist — Kwate
- Athlete of the Year — Victor Osimhen
- Best Influencer — Nasty Blaq
- Best Actor / Actress — Uche Montana
- Best Comedian — Real Warri Pikin
- Best Hypeman — Big Smart
- Community Impact Award — Esther Mathew Tonlagha
- Best Francophone — Innoss’ B
- Best Lusophone — Gerilson Israel
- AFRIMMA Fans Choice Award — Victony
- AFRIMMA Rising Star — Florito
- Francophone Viewers Choice Award — Didi B
The 2026 edition also marked a significant expansion of AFRIMMA’s event format. The inaugural AFRIMMA Music Fest ran from noon to 9 p.m. at Annette Strauss Square, bringing live music, food, fashion, dance, art and a marketplace into the awards weekend. The festival’s programming embraced Afrobeats, Amapiano, Afro-fusion and hip-hop, creating a broader cultural experience for attendees.
The announced lineup included Didi B, BNXN, Ruger, Victony, Kcee, Timaya and Juma Jux, among other performers. The event was positioned as a family-friendly celebration of African culture, with activities designed to bring together music fans, creatives, businesses and members of the diaspora.
The weekend began with Obi’s House, which hosted the official AFRIMMA Music Fest Kickoff Party on September 11. The pre-party provided an early nightlife gathering built around African music and set the tone for the main festival the following day.
As with many major entertainment events, the conversation around AFRIMMA extended beyond the official results. One of the moments that drew attention after the ceremony involved comedian Real Warri Pikin and singer Timaya. During Timaya’s performance, the comedian approached him and was briefly lifted off the ground, with footage of the interaction circulating on social media. The moment generated discussion online, and Real Warri Pikin later apologized amid the ensuing conversation.
Ultimately, AFRIMMA 2026 was more than a return to the awards calendar. Its winners reflected the diversity of African music, from Congolese and Francophone sounds to Nigerian Afrobeats, East African pop and Southern African dance music. Its expanded festival format also acknowledged that African music culture extends beyond recorded songs into fashion, food, comedy, dance, sport, and the communities that sustain them.
With Fally Ipupa, Davido, BNXN and Sarz among the night’s biggest winners, the ceremony offered a snapshot of an industry whose influence continues to travel across borders. The real measure of AFRIMMA’s renewed ambition, however, will be how effectively it sustains that continental and diaspora-wide vision in the years ahead.
