Founded in 2015, the initiative has celebrated African entertainment and achievement around the world, with the aim of uniting Africans, including those in the Caribbean, while promoting an empowered Africa that drives social change.
More than 50 categories, including music, film, sport and fashion, will be honoured at this year’s ceremony. Nominations began to be cast on 30 September and will close on 2 November on the official awards website(link is external).
The most nominated artists this year include Afrobeats stars Davido and Burna Boy, with six nominations each, followed by Tems, Ayra Starr, Yemi Alade, Harmonize and Diamond Platnumz, who are tied with three nominations each.
The biggest winners last year were Diamond Platnumz, who won the coveted Artist of the Year award, Davido, who won Album of the Year for Timeless, and Rema, who was voted Song of the Year for his track ‘Calm Down’, accompanied by Selena Gomez.
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The complete list of music nominees can be found below:
Best Male Artist
• Davido
• Diamond Platnumz
• Harmonize
• Burna Boy
• Wizkid
• Olamide
• Rema
• Kizz Daniel
• Black Sherif
• Fally Ipupa
Best Female Artist
• Yemi Alade
• Tiwa Savage
• Simi
• Ayra Starr
• Tems
• Makhadzi
• Tyla
• Nandy
• Aya Nakamura
• Niniola
Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist
• Holy Ten
• Nasty C
• Iba One
• Vector
• MI Abaga
• Blaqbonez
• Magnito
• Odumodublvck
• Stanley Enow
• Kao Denero
Best Duo/Group
• Toofan
• Sauti Sol
• Freetown Collective
• Calema
• Disco Misr
• Mafikizolo
• R2Bees
• DopeNation
• TXC
• Kiff No Beat
Best Collaboration
• ‘Tshwala Bam Remix’ – TitoM, Yuppe and Burna Boy ft. S.N.E
• ‘SENSEMA’ – Rayvanny X Harmonize
• ‘Drift’ – Teejay & Davido
• ‘Hmmm’ – Chris Brown ft. Davido
• ‘Nu Ka Sta Para’ – Neyna x Mc Acondize
• ‘Jump’ – Tyla, Gunna, Skillibeng
• ‘Hit & Run’ – Shenseea ft. Masicka, Di Genius
• ‘I Love You’ – Dadju & Tayc
• ‘Petit Génie’ – Jungeli ft. Imen Es, Alonzo, Abou Debeing & Lossa
• ‘Rollercoaster’ – Burna Boy ft. J Balvin
Best Music Video
• ‘Hypé’ – Aya Nakamura ft. Ayra Starr
• ‘Coup du Marteau’ – Tam Sir ft. Team Paiya, Ste Milano, Renard Barakissa, Tazeboy, PSK
• ‘Tshwala Bam Remix’ – TitoM, Yuppe and Burna Boy ft. S.N.E
• ‘NA MONEY’ – Davido ft. The Cavemen, Angélique Kidjo
• ‘Preto Show’ – Djeguedje ft. Anderson Mário
• ‘Senbide’ – Selamawit Yohannes
• ‘Egwu’ – Chiké & Mohbad
• ‘BENIN BOYS’ – Rema, Shallipopi
• ‘CABARET’ – Manal
• ‘XAARIT’ – Viviane Chidid
Artist of the Year
• Burna Boy
• Davido
• Diamond Platnumz
• Yemi Alade
• Ayra Starr
• Asake
• Rema
• Wizkid
• Adekunle Gold
• Tyla
Best Dancer/Group
• Ghetto Kids
• Fire K Stars
• Badgyal Cassie
• Limpopo Boy
• Sayrahchips
• Petit Afro
• Dance It Out
• Fighter Dance Crew
• Endurance Grand
• Ikorodu Bois
Best DJ
• DJ Siya
• Dope Caesar
• DJ Zinhle
• DJ Neptune
• DJ Kassava
• DJ YKmule
• DJ Shinski
• DJ Demakufu
• Selecta Kerry
• DJ Obi
Best Francophone Male Artist
• Soul Bangs
• Iba One
• Fally Ipupa
• Wally Seck
• Stanley Enow
• ElGrandeToto
• Innoss’B
• Santrinos Raphael
• Didi B
• Dadju
Best Francophone Female Artist/Group
• Manamba Kanté
• Aya Nakamura
• Blanche Bailly
• Lous and the Yakuza
• Maud Elka
• Marwa Loud
• Mariam BA LAGARÉ
• Sona Jobarteh
• Josey
• Safi Diabaté
Best Palop Male Artist
• Mr. Bow
• Lisandro Cuxi
• Landrick
• Calema
• Tony Fika
• Loony Johnson
• CEF Tanzy
• Karem Killer
• Gerilson Insrael
• Classic Nova
Best Palop Female Artist
• Mayra Andrade
• Liloca
• Eneida Marta
• Elida Almeida
• Pérola
• Fattu Djakité
• Soraia Ramos
• Yasmine
• Neyna
• Irina Barros
Best New Artist/Group
• Onesimus
• Okkama
• Pabi Cooper
• Mudra D Viral
• Eli Njuchi
• Jahshii
• Kashif Sankar
• Ntate Stunner
• Pressure Busspipe
• Prince Diallo
Song of the Year
• ‘Komasava Remix’ – Diamond Platnumz x Jason Derulo ft. Khalil Harisson & Chley
• ‘Banga’ – Kes
• ‘Tshwala Bam Remix’ – TitoM, Yuppe and Burna Boy ft. S.N.E
• ‘Holy Ghost’ – Omah Lay
• ‘Hit & Run’ – Shenseea ft. Masicka, Di Genius
• ‘Dalie’ – Kamo Mphela, Khalil Harrison & Tyler ICU ft. Baby S.O.N
• ‘Water’ – Tyla
• ‘Egwu’ – Chiké & Mohbad
• ‘Ogechi Remix’ – BoyPee, Hyce & Brown Joel ft. Davido
• ‘Enaney’ – Veronica Adane
Album of the Year
• Ikigai Vol. 1 – Olamide
• The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
• Born in the Wild – Tems
• Stubborn – Victony
• Makhelwane – Nkosazana Daughter and Wanitwa Mos
• To Whom It May Concern – Nyashinski
• Kurhula – Kelvin Momo
• Blessings – Eddy Kenzo
• Chiremerera – Jah Prayzah
• Heroes – Kao Denero
Rising Star of the Year
• Eli Njuchi
• Treyzah
• Limbofest
• King Madi
• Blood Civilian
• Kid Volt
• Guchi
• Nana Fofiee
• Yseult onguenet
• Gilyto Semedo
Best Male Artist – Central/West Africa
• Soul Bang’s
• Black Sherif
• Innoss’B
• Skales
• King Promise
• Tonton Pale
• Adekunle Gold
• Santrinos Raphael
• Asake
• Buju Bxn
Best Female Artist – Central/West Africa
• Libianca
• Yemi Alade
• Tems
• Tiwa Savage
• Manamba Kanté
• Ayra Starr
• Mia Guisse
• Sona Jobarteh
• Niniola
• Gyakie
Best Male Artist – East/South/North Africa
• Eddy Kenzo
• Rayvanny
• Marioo
• The Ben
• Harmonize
• Yared Negu
• Tamer Hosny
• Young Stunna
• Jah Prayzah
• Focalistic
Best Female Artist – East/South/North Africa
• Spice Dianna
• Haidy Mousa
• Kiin Jamac
• Hewan Gebrewold
• DJ Uncle Waffles
• Nandy
• Nadia Mukami
• Kenza Mosli
• Mampi
• Feli Nandi
Best Gospel Artist
• Mercy Chinwo
• Tim Godfrey
• Frank Edwards
• Ntokozo Mbambo
• Prosper Ochimana
• Israel Mbonyi
• Minister Mahendere
• Nathaniel Bassey
• Piesie Esther
• Janet Manyowa
Best Reggae / Dancehall Artist
• Shatta Wale
• Ruger
• Patoranking
• Stonebwoy
• Spice
• Shenseea
• Buju Banton
• Popcaan
• Masicka
• Skillbeng
Latino Artist of the Year
• Maluma
• Feid
• Bad Bunny
• Rosalia
• El Alfa
• Jay Wheeler
• Ozuna
• Sabastian Yatra
• Karol G
• Yailin la más viral
