The winners of the 2023 edition of the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMAs) were announced at a Texas, US ceremony on 17 September.
Now in its 10th year, the awards platform recognizes and celebrates notable African musical works and artists.
This year’s biggest winners include Congolese singer Fally Ipupa, who took home the Best Francophone trophy and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Nigerian singer Timaya was also presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Rema took home the Artist of the Year gong, while fellow Afrobeats singer Davido’s Timeless won Album of the Year.
Below is the full list of winners:
Artist of the Year
- Asake – Nigeria
- Fally Ipupa – DR Congo
- Diamond Platnumz – Tanzania
- Burna Boy– Nigeria
- Rema – Nigeria
- SoolKing – Algeria
- Aya Nakamura – Mali
- Davido – Nigeria
Best Male West Africa
- Adekunle Gold – Nigeria
- Black Sherif – Ghana
- Bnxn – Nigeria
- Santrinos Raphael – Togo
- Asake – Nigeria
- Didi B – Côte d’Ivoire
- King Promise – Ghana
- Tonton Pal – Mali
- Omah Lay – Nigeria
Best Female West Africa
- Ammarae – Ghana
- Tems – Nigeria
- Josey – Côte d’Ivoire
- Manamba Kante – Guinea
- Ayra Starr – Nigeria
- Gyakie – Ghana
- Tiwa Savage – Nigeria
- Fatoumata Diawara – Mali
Best Male East Africa
- Lij Michael – Ethiopia
- Nyashinski – Kenya
- Eddy Kenzo – Uganda
- Diamond Platnumz – Tanzania
- Mbosso – Tanzania
- Bien – Kenya
- Harmonize – Tanzania
- Meddy – Rwanda
- Single Dee – South Sudan
Best Female East Africa
- Maua Sama – Tanzania
- Nadia Mukami – Kenya
- Zuchu – Tanzania
- Azawi– Uganda
- Nikita Kering – Kenya
- Spice Diana – Uganda
- Fena Gitu – Kenya
- Nandy – Tanzania
- Hewan Gebrewold – Ethiopia
Best Male Central Africa
- T-Rex – Angola
- Fabregas – DR Congo
- TayC – Cameroon
- Fally Ipupa – DR Congo
- Calema – São Tomé
- Mic Monsta – Cameroon
- Gerilson Israel – Angola
- Djodje – Cape Verde
Best Male Southern Africa
- Costa Titch – South Africa
- DJ Tarico – Mozambique
- Macky2 – Zambia
- Musa Keys – South Africa
- DJ Maphorisa – South Africa
- Winky D – Zimbabwe
- AKA – South Africa
- Han C – Botswana
- Sjava – South Africa
Best Female Southern Africa
- Ami Faku – South Africa
- Tamy Moyo – Zimbabwe
- Mpho Sebina – Botswana
- DJ Zinhle – South Africa
- Sha Sha – Zimbabwe
- Nadia Nakai – South Africa
- Towela – Zambia
- Makhadzi – South Africa
- Tyla – South Africa
Best Newcomer
- Hewan Gebrewold – Ethiopia
- Guchi – Nigeria
- Jyzno – Liberia
- Young Jonn – Nigeria
- Lavalava – Tanzania
- Odumodu Blvck – Nigeria
- Lisandro Cuxi – Cape Verde
- Lasmid – Ghana
- Shalipopi – Nigeria
Best Gospel
- Mercy Chinwo – Nigeria
- Piesie Esther – Ghana
- Christina Shusho – Tanzania
- Miguel Buila – Angola
- Bidemi Olaoba – Nigeria
- KS Bloom – Côte d’Ivoire
- Mike Kalambay – DRC
- Joel Lwaga – Tanzania
- Pulani Maphari – South Africa
- Sumisola Agbebi Okeleye – Nigeria
Best Live Act
- Sauti Sol – Kenya
- Burna Boy – Nigeria
- Diamond Platnumz – Tanzania
- Flavour – Nigeria
- Barnaba – Tanzania
- Fally Ipupa – DR Congo
- Calema – Sao Tomé
- C4 Pedro – Angola
Best Male Rap Act
- Odumodu Black – Nigeria
- Yung Lunya – Tanzania
- Ninho – DR Congo
- Black Sherif – Ghana
- A-Reece – South Africa
- Blaqbonez – Nigeria
- Blxckie – South Africa
- Marwan Moussa – Egypt
Best Collaboration
- Mbosso ft. Costa Titch & Alfa Kat – ‘Shetani’
- Spyro x Tiwa Savage – ‘Who’s Your Guy?’
- Davido x Musa Keys – ‘Unavailable Musa Keys’
- Rema ft. Selena Gomez – ‘Calm Down Remix’
- Wegz x AshMusic – ‘Amira’
- Fally Ipupa ft. Charlotte Dipanda – ‘Garde du Coeur’
- Joshua Baraka ft. Joeboy, King Promise & Bien – ‘Nana Remix’
- Boutross ft. Juiceer Mann – ‘Angela’
Best DJ Africa
- DJ Spinall – Nigeria
- DJ Dollar – Sénégal
- Waffles – South Africa
- Ms DSF – Nigeria
- DJ Danni Gato – Cape Verde
- DJ Faculty – Ghana
- DJ Nelasta– Angola
- Major League DJz – South Africa
- DJ Consequence – Nigeria
Best African DJ USA
- DJ Nani – Nigeria
- DJ Akua – Ghana
- DJ Prince – Nigeria
- DJ Shinski – Kenya
- DJ Birame BB l’amour – Côte d’Ivoire
- DJ Yas Meen Selectress – Egypt
- Lex and Answer – Zimbabwe
- DJ Freshy K– Nigeria
Music Producer of the Year
- C4 Pedro – Angola
- Andre Vibez – Nigeria
- 207 – Uganda
- Ayo Lizzer – Tanzania
- Magicstickz – Nigeria
- MOGBeatz – Ghana
- Kabza De Small – South Africa
- Maajabu Gospel
- London – Nigeria
Best Francophone
- Fally Ipupa – DR Congo
- Serge Beynaud – Côte d’Ivoire
- Josey – Côte d’Ivoire
- Wally B. Seck – Sénégal
- TayC – Cameroon
- Innos B – DR Congo
- Tenor – Cameroon
- Dadju – DR Congo
Best African Group
- Disco Misr – Egypt
- Sauti Sol – Kenya
- Calema – São Tomé
- The Cavemen – Nigeria
- Show Dem Camp – Nigeria
- Toofan – Togo
- Jano Band – Ethiopia
- Mafikizolo – South Africa
AFRIMMA Album of the Year
- Davido – Timeless
- AKA – Mass Country
- Ammarae – Fountain Baby
- Fatoumata Diawara – London Ko
- Stonebwoy – 5th Dimension
- Asake – Work of Art
- Nomfundo Moh – Ugcobo
- Omah Lay – Boy Alone Deluxe
Lifetime Achievement Award
Fally Ipupa (DR Congo) and Timaya (Nigeria)
AFRIMMA Legendary Award
Kcee – Nigeria
The complete list of winners will be available soon.
In other news – Aaron Motsoaledi goes after SA court over Zimbabwe Exemption Permits
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is seeking leave to appeal a Gauteng High Court ruling that found his decision to terminate Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) was “unlawful, unconstitutional, and invalid.” Motsoaledi has argued that the High Court had no right to “interfere” with the government’s decision regarding the permits, which provided legal status to around 178,000 Zimbabweans living in South Africa.
The High Court had extended the permits for 12 months, citing the need for a proper public participation process that had not been conducted before the termination of the ZEPs. The Helen Suzman Foundation had applied to set aside Motsoaledi’s decision to discontinue the special permits. Read More
