The 2018 AFRIMMA is here again. The organizers of the annual African Muzik Magazine Awards have released the Nominee list for the Awards and this time it is packed with the biggest stars from all over the continent.
The AFRIMMA ceremony is set to take place at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas on 7 October 2018.
The 5th Edition of the Diaspora awards sees African musical stars like Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Tekno, Fally Ipupa, Diamond Platnumz, Ali Kiba, Khaligraph Jones, Mr Eazi, J Hus, Hiro all earn nomination gongs for a brilliant and consistent year.
The list, which is heavily male-dominated, also sees Kiss Daniel, Cassper Nyovest, Sarkodie and South African group Mafikizolo receive nods for work released over the past year.
AFRIMMA has added a new category this year. The AFRIMMA Achievers Award will reward achieving persons in the wider field of entertainment and sports. Comedian Trevor Noah and actor Djimon Honsou are some of the nominees in the new category.
See the full list below:
Artist of the Year
- Davido – Nigeria
- Diamond Platnumz – Tanzania
- Fally Ipupa – Congo
- Wizkid – Nigeria
- Cassper Nyovest – South Africa
- Nasty C – South Africa
- Flavour – Nigeria
- Sarkodie – Ghana
- MHD – Senegal/Gambia
- Mafikizolo – South Africa
Best Male West Africa
- Wizkid – Nigeria
- Tekno – Nigeria
- Sarkodie – Ghana
- Davido – Nigeria
- Toofan – Togo
- J Hus – Gambia
- Sidibe Diabate – Mali
- Stonebwoy – Ghana
- Kiss Daniel – Nigeria
- Mr Eazi – Nigeria
Best Female West Africa
- Tiwa Savage – Nigeria
- Simi – Nigeria
- Efya – Ghana
- Adiouza – Senegal
- Ebony – Ghana
- Josey – Ivory Coast
- Vivien Chidid – Senegal
- Chidinma – Nigeria
- Becca – Ghana
- Yemi Alade – Nigeria
Best Male East Africa
- Eddy Kenzo – Uganda
- Diamond Platnumz – Tanzania
- Harmonize – Tanzania
- Ommy Dimpoz – Tanzania
- Sauti Sol – Kenya
- Khaligraph Jones – Kenya
- Ali Kiba – Tanzania
- Bebe Cool – Uganda
- Nyashinski – Kenya
- Juma Jux – Tanzania
Best Female East Africa
- Victoria Kimani – Kenya
- Vanessa Mdee – Tanzania
- Leyla Kayondo – Uganda
- Knowles Butera – Rwanda
- Rema – Uganda
- Akothee – Kenya
- Nandy – Tanzania
- Sheebah Karungi – Uganda
- Juliana Kanyomozi – Uganda
- Charly & Nina – Rwanda
Best Male Southern Africa
- Tha Dogg – Namibia
- Nasty C – South Africa
- Emtee – South Africa
- Roberto – Zambia
- Cassper Nyovest – South Africa
- Tresor – South Africa
- EXQ – Zimbabwe
- Jah Prayza – Zimbabwe
- Shyn – Madagascar
- Prince Kaybee – South Africa
Best Female Southern Africa
- Ammara Brown – Zimbabwe
- Busiswa – South Africa
- Shekinah – South Africa
- Mampi – Zambia
- Lady Zamar – South Africa
- Babes Wodumo – South Africa
- Sally Boss Madam – Namibia
- Shashl – Zimbabwe
- Ice Queen Cleo – Zambia
- Bucie – South Africa
Best African Group
- Sauti Sol – Kenya
- Mafikizolo – South Africa
- Toofan – Togo
- B26 – Angola
- Mi Casa – South Africa
- R2bees – Ghana
- X-Maleya – Cameroon
- Bracket – Nigeria
- Navy Kenzo – Tanzania
- Fancy Gadam – Ghana
Crossing Boundaries With Music Award
- J Hus – Gambia /UK
- Skepta – Nigeria / UK
- Stormzy – Ghana/UK
- MHD – Senegal/ France
- Tobe Nwigwe – Nigeria
- Brian Soko – Zimbabwe
- French Montana – Morocco/USA
- Wale – Nigeria /USA
- Young Paris – Congo
- Stefflon Don – Caribbean /UK
Best Gospel
- Frank Edwards – Nigeria
- Gloria Muliro – Kenya
- Beejay Sax – Nigeria
- Papa Dennis – Kenya
- Miguel Buila – Angola
- Joe Mettle – Ghana
- Icha Chavons – Congo
- Willy Paul – Kenya
- Nikkie Laoye – Nigeria
- Winnie Mashaba – South Africa
Best Newcomer
- Mayorkun – Nigeria
- Kuami Eugene – Ghana
- Distruction Boyz – South Africa
- King Promise – Ghana
- Tenor – Cameroon
- Dice Ailes – Nigeria
- Ykee Benda – Uganda
- Arrow Boy – Kenya
- Neru Americano – Angola
- Afro B – Ivory Coast
Best Live Act
- Flavour – Nigeria
- Ali Kiba – Tanzania
- Sauti Sol – Kenya
- Stonebwoy – Ghana
- Sidiki Diabate – Mali
- Yemi Alade – Nigeria
- Becca – Ghana
- Burnaboy – Nigeria
- Fally Ipupa – Congo
- Jah Prayzah – Zimbabwe
Best Video Director
- Justin Campos – South Africa
- Patrick Elis – Nigeria
- Dr Nkeng – Cameroon
- Enos Olik – Kenya
- Avalon Okpe – Nigeria
- Godfather – South Africa
- Clarence Peters – Nigeria
- Prince Dovlo – Ghana
- Sasha Vybz – Uganda
- Unlimited LA – Nigeria
Best DJ Africa
- DJ Spinall – Nigeria
- DJ Joe MFalme – Kenya
- DJ Black Coffee – South Africa
- DJ Cuppy – Nigeria
- DJ Dollar – Senegal
- DJ D-Ommy – Tanzania
- DJ Helio Baiano – Angola
- DJ Crème Delacreme – Kenya
- DJ Slim – Ghana
- DJ Neptune – Nigeria
Best African DJ USA
- DJ Tunez – Nigeria
- DJ Wagura – Ethiopia
- DJ Fully Focus – Kenya
- DJ Deemoney – Nigeria
- DJ Silent Killa – Carribeans
- DJ Poison Ivy – Kenya
- DJ Ecool – Nigeria
- DJ Rell – Sierra Leone
- DJ Buka – Nigeria
- DJ Shinski – Kenya
AFRIMMA Video of The Year
- Shatta Wale – El Gringo
- Fally Ipupa – Mannequin feat Keblack & Naza
- Falz – This is Nigeria
- Wizkid – Soco
- Diamond Platnumz ft Omarion – African Beauty
- Toofan – Money
- Runtown – Energy
- Mayorkun – Cheche
- Ali Kiba – Mvumo Wa Radi
- Cassper Nyovest – Ksazobalit
Music Producer of The Year
- Killbeatz – Ghana
- Masterkraft – Nigeria
- Dr Fizzo – Uganda
- Eno Beats – Uganda
- The Composers – Nigeria
- Tweezy – South Africa
- Tud Thomas – Tanzania
- Sidiki Diabate – Mali
- Kidomminant – Nigeria
- Bebe Philip – Ivory Coast
Best African Dancer
- Kaffy Dancequeen – Nigeria
- The Grove – Angola
- Sherri Silver – Rwanda
- La Petite Zota – Ivory Coast
- Manuel Canza Laurenzo – Angola
- Moses Iyobo – Tanzania
- Ghetto Triplet Kids – Uganda
- Dream Chaser Kids – Nigeria
- Dem3 – Ghana
- Didi Emah – Nigeria
Best Rap Act
- Shane Eagle – South Africa
- Olamide – Nigeria
- Zoro – Nigeria
- Sarkodie – Ghana
- Tha Dogg – Namibia
- Casper Nyovest – South Africa
- MHD – Senegal
- Phyno – Nigeria
- Nasty C – South Africa
- Khaligraph Jones – Kenya
Best Collaboration
- Tiwa Savage ft Wizkid – ‘Ma Lo’
- Diamond Platnumz ft Neyo – ‘African Beauty’
- Duncan Mighty x Wizkid – ‘Fake Love’
- Heavy K ft Bucie, Wokwazi – ‘Inde’
- Nasty C ft Runtown – ‘Said’
- Kwesta ft Wale – ‘Spirit’
- Fally Ipupa ft Kebzla & Naza – ‘Mannequin’
- Major Lazer ft Dj Maphorisa, Ice Prince, Patoranking & Jidenna – ‘Particular’
- Nsoki ft Rayvanny – ‘African Sunrise’
- Dj Spinall ft Wizkid – ‘Nowo’
Song of The Year
- Wizkid – ‘Soco’
- Big Shaq – ‘Man’s Not Hot’
- Davido – ‘FIA’
- Distruction Boyz – ‘Omunye’
- Diamond Platnumz ft Omarion – ‘African Beauty’
- Afro B – ‘Joanna (Drogba)’
- Nasty C & Runtown – ‘Said’
- Duncan Mighty ft Wizkid – ‘Fake Love’
- Major Lazer & Dj Maphoriza ft Ice Prince, Nasty C, Patoranking & Jidenna – ‘Particular’
- Harmonize ft Diamond Platnumz – ‘Kwangaru’
Best African Dancehall/Reggae Act
- Stonewbwoy – Ghana
- Burnaboy – Nigeria
- Shatta Wale – Ghana
- Timaya – Nigeria
- Samini – Ghana
- Patoranking – Nigeria
- Winky D – Zimbabwe
- Yxng Bane – Congo/Angola
- Wyre – Kenya
- Takana Zion – Guinea
AFRIMMA Achievers Award
- Luol Deng – South Sudan
- Trevor Noah – South Africa
- Lupita Nyongo – Kenya
- Fatma Samoura – Senegal
- Kamaru Usman – Nigeria
- Serge Ibaka – Congo
- Bismack Biyombo – DRC
- D. J Mbenga – Congo DRC
- Nigerian Bobsled Team
- Djimon Honsou – Benin