All Africa Music Awards 2021 Explained

2021 All Africa Music Awards
Venue:	Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, Nigeria
Country:	Nigeria
Host:	Pearl Thusi and Eddie Kadi
Most Awards:	Iba One (Mali)
Most Nominations:	Blaq Diamond (South Africa)
Previous:	2019

The 2021 All Africa Music Awards (also known as AFRIMA), were held on November 21, at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.^[1] This marked the fifth time in eight years that the venue is hosting the show. The show was hosted by South African actress Pearl Thusi, and British-Congolese comedian Eddie Kadi.^[2]

The ceremony, under the theme ‘Still We Sing’, was broadcast on DSTV channel 198, GOTV 98, HIPTV, TVC, PlusTV Africa, AIT and AfroMusicPop among others. AFRIMA has taken place each year since 2014, except in 2020,^[3] owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Iba One from Mali, and Wizkid were the most awarded artists of the night with five and three awards respectively, followed by Kenya's Nikita Kering. Beyoncé bagged the ‘Best Global Act’ award, as the D.R. Congo's Koffi Olomide was gifted the "Legend Award".^[4]

Winners and nominees

Nominations were announced on September 22, 2021, by the International Committee of All Africa Music Awards. Leading the list of nominees was South African duo, Blaq Diamond with eight nominations, followed by Focalistic with seven. Wizkid, Omah Lay and Gyakie followed, with six, four and three nominations respectively.^{[5] [6]} Voting for the 28 continental and 10 regional award categories took place from September 27, 2021.

Winners are listed first and in bold.^[7]

List of winners and nominees for the 2021 All Africa Music Awards

REGIONAL AWARDS
Best Female in Central Africa	Best Male in Central Africa
Shan'L - Gabon Anna Joyce - Angola Blanche Bailly - Cameroon Charlotte Dipanda - Cameroon Edmazia Mayembe - Angola Eyango - Cameroon Mimi - Cameroon Rebo Tchulo - DR Congo Perola - Angola T'neeya - Cameroon	Fally Ipupa - DR Congo C4 Pedro - Angola Calema - São Tomé and Príncipe Ferre Gola - DR Congo GIMS - DR Congo Inoss'B - DR Congo Koffi Olomide - Congo Republic Locko - Cameroon Rui Orlando - Angola Salatiel & Rutshelle Guillaume - Cameroon
Best Female in Eastern Africa	Best Male in Eastern Africa
Nikita Kering - Kenya Afrie - Uganda Karun - Kenya Merry Zerabruk - Eritrea Nandy (singer) - Tanzania Rema Namakula - Uganda Rosa Ree - Tanzania Spice Diana - Tanzania Xenia Mannasseh - Kenya Zuchu - Tanzania	Eddy Kenzo - Uganda Bensoul - Kenya Darassa - Tanzania Diamond Platnumz - Tanzania Harmonize - Tanzania Lij mic - Ethiopia Meddy - Rwanda Nviiri The Storyteller - Kenya Rayvanny - Tanzania Sauti Sol - Kenya
Best Female in Northern Africa	Best Male in Northern Africa
Manal - Morocco Abir Yacht - Morocco Emel Mathlouthi - Tunisia Haidy Moussa - Egypt Jaylan - Morocco Latifa - Tunisia Nada - Morocco Salma Rachid - Morocco Ruby - Egypt Samira Said - Egypt	Dizzy - Morocco Amr Diab - Egypt DJ Moh Green - Algeria Hamza El Fadly - Morocco Klay BBJ - Tunisia L7OR - Morocco Mohamed Ramadan (feat. Maitre Gims) - Egypt & DR Congo Muslim - Morocco Soolking - Algeria Zouhair Bahaoui - Morocco
Best Female Southern Africa	Best Male Southern Africa
Cleo Ice Queen - Zambia Busiswa - South Africa DJ Zinhle - South Africa Kamo Mphela - South Africa Kelly Khumalo - South Africa Makhadzi - South Africa Nomcebo Zikode - South Africa Sha Sha (singer) - Zimbabwe Shekinah - South Africa Tamy Moyo - Zimbabwe Zanda Zakuza - South Africa	Blaq Diamond - South Africa Casper Nyovest - South Africa Dj Tarico - Mozambique Focalistic - South Africa Jah Prayzah - Zimbabwe Major League DJz - South Africa Mapara A Jazz - South Africa Mi Casa - South Africa Mr JazziQ - South Africa Nasty C - South Africa Sun-El Musician - South Africa
Best Female Western Africa	Best Male Western Africa
Djelykaba Bintou - Guinea Aya Nakamura - Mali Gyakie - Ghana Josey - Ivory Coast Manamba Kanté - Guinea Niniola - Nigeria Soraia Ramos - Cape Verde Tems - Nigeria TENI - Nigeria Tiwa Savage - Nigeria Yemi Alade - Nigeria	Iba One - Mali Burna Boy - Nigeria Davido - Nigeria Djodje - Cape Verde KiDi - Ghana MHD (rapper) - Guinea Nelson Freitas - Cape Verde Olamide - Nigeria Omah Lay - Nigeria Stonebwoy - Ghana WizKid - Nigeria
CONTINENTAL AWARDS
African Fan's Favourite	Album of the Year
Fireboy DML - Nigeria Dadju - DRC Buju - Nigeria Dj Cleo - South Africa Guchi - Nigeria Kikimoteleba - Ivory Coast Master KG - South Africa Rexxie - Nigeria Ali Kiba - Tanzania Zinoleesky - Nigeria	Iba One - 'Mon Empire' - Mali Aya Nakamura - 'Aya (album)' - Mali Burna Boy - 'Twice as Tall' - Nigeria Davido - 'A Better Time' - Nigeria Fally Ipupa - 'Tokooos II' - DRC Maitre Gims - 'Le Fleau' - DRC MHD (rapper) - 'Mansa' - Guinea Olamide - 'Carpe Diem (Olamide album)' - Nigeria Tayc - 'Fleur Froide' - Cameroon Tiwa Savage - 'Celia (album)' - Nigeria Wizkid - 'Made In Lagos' - Nigeria
Best African Act in the Diaspora (Female)	Best African Act in the Diaspora (Male)
NAOMI ACHU - Cameroon / United States ABIR - Morocco / United States Aya Nakamura (feat. Stormzy) - Mali / France Ms Banks - Nigeria / United Kingdom Nata - Sierra Leone / United States Rimon (feat. EarthGang) - Eritrea/Netherlands Shaybo (feat. haile) - Nigeria / United Kingdom	Rotimi - Nigeria & United States Nelson Freitas - Cape Verde & Portugal Dave (feat. Stormzy) Clash Nigeria & United Kingdom Double S - Uganda & United Kingdom Headie One (ft. Burna Boy) - Ghana & United Kingdom JAE5 (feat. Skepta, Rema (musician)) - Ghana & United Kingdom MHD (rapper) (feat. Tiakola) - Guinea & France Tayc - Cameroon & France Tion Wayne & Russ Millions - Nigeria & UK
Artiste of the Year	Best African Collaboration
WizKid - Nigeria Aya Nakamura - Mali Blaq Diamond - South Africa Burna Boy - Nigeria Davido - Nigeria Diamond Platnumz - Tanzania Fally Ipupa - DR Congo Focalistic - South Africa Makhadzi - South Africa MHD (rapper) - Guinea Omah Lay - Nigeria	Wizkid (feat. Tems) - 'Essence (song)' - Nigeria Bella Shmurda, Zlatan & Lincoln - 'Cash App' - Nigeria Calema (feat. Pérola, Soraia Ramos & Manecas Costa) Kua Buaru São Tomé and Príncipe,Angola, Cape Verde & Giunea Bissau Diamond Platnumz (feat. Koffi Olomide) - 'Waah' - Tanzania & DR Congo Dj Tarico (feat. Burnaboy, Preck & Nelson Tivane) - 'Yaba buluku (remix)' - Mozambique & Nigeria Focalistic & Davido [Feat. Vigro Deep] - 'Ke Star (Remix)' - South Africa & Nigeria Gyakie (feat. Omah Lay) - 'Forever (remix)' - Ghana & Nigeria Ladipoe (feat. Buju) - 'Feeling' - Nigeria Mohamed Ramadan (feat. Maitre Gim) - 'Ya habibi' - Egypt & DR Congo Nandy (feat. Joeboy) - 'Number One' - Tanzania & Nigeria Shan'L (feat. Fally Ipupa) - 'Où est le mariage' - Gabon & DR Congo
Best African DJ	Best African Group, Duo or Band
Dj Sinyorita - Tanzania DJ Moh Green - Algeria Black Coffee - South Africa DJ Cuppy - Nigeria Dj Impossible - Angola DJ KayWise Ft Phyno - Nigeria Dj Mix premier - Côte d'Ivoire Dj Sly - Ghana DJ SPINALL - Nigeria Major League DJz & Abidoza - South Africa	Sauti Sol - Kenya Ajebo Hustlers (feat. Omah Lay) - Nigeria B2C Entertainment (Kampala Boys) - Uganda Blaq Diamond - South Africa Calema (feat. Pérola, Soraia Ramos & Manecas Costa) Kua Buaru São Tomé and Príncipe Cavemen Selense Nigeria Chelsy & Nsoki Vou Arriscar Angola Mi Casa - South Africa The Isomers - Nigeria Toofan - Togo
Best African Rapper of Lyricist	Best African Video
Elow'n - Côte d'Ivoire A-Q - Nigeria Dip Doundou Guiss - Senegal Khaligraph Jones - Kenya Ko-C - Cameroon Ladipoe - Nigeria Nasty C - South Africa Nata - Sierra Leone Sarkodie - Ghana Vector - Nigeria	Steven Awuku - Kobolé - King Alasko - Guinea Dammy Twitch - Berna Reloaded -Flavour (musician) feat. Fally Ipupa & Diamond Platnumz) - Nigeria Director Kenny - Waah - Diamond Platnumz feat. Koffi Olomide - Tanzania Kwanda Lima - Djodje - Bella - Cape Verde Hosssam L Hossainy - Ya Habibi (Maitre Gims & Mohammed ramadan) - Egypt Rex - Show body (Kuami Eugene feat. Falz) - Ghana Prior Gold - Abule - Patoranking - Nigeria Roadman - Nairobi - Bensoul (feat. Sauti Sol, Nviiri the Storyteller, Mejja - Kenya Unlimited - LA Paloma (Mr. P (singer) feat. Singah) - Nigeria
Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African R&B Soul	Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Reggae, Ragga or Dancehall
Nikita Kering - Ex - Kenya Adekunle Gold (feat. Lucky Daye) - Sinner - Nigeria Aya Nakamura(feat. Stormzy) - Plus Jamais - Mali Djodje Tempo Sabi - Cape Verde Elaine (singer) - Right now - South Africa Gyakie (feat. Omah Lay) Forever (remix) - Ghana Oxlade (singer) - Ojuju - Nigeria Tems - Damages (song) - Nigeria T'neeya - Dark Twisted Fantasy - Cameroon Wizkid (feat. Tems) - 'Essence (song)' - Nigeria	Stonebwoy (feat. Davido) - Activate - Ghana A2 Di Fulani - ta tewto - The Gambia Bebe Cool - make a wish - Uganda EXQ Ft Tock Vibes - Wakatemba - Zimbabwe Mykey Shewa - Fendata - Ethiopia Natty O - Safe - Zimbabwe Patoranking - Abule - Nigeria Rosa Ree (rapper) - That Gal - Tanzania Ruger - Bounce - Nigeria Shatta Wale 1 Don Ghana
Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Dance or Choreography	Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop
Flavour (musician) feat. Fally Ipupa & Diamond Platnumz) - Berna Reloaded - Nigeria Diamond Platnumz feat. Koffi Olomide - Waah - Tanzania Dwp Academy, Dancegod lloyd & AfroBeast - Corner der - Ghana Focalistic & Davido (Feat. Vigro Deep) - 'Ke Star (Remix)' - South Africa Innoss'B - Meme - DR Congo Rayvanny - Kelebe - Tanzania Rebo Tchulo - Mbote - DR Congo Yemi Alade - Dancina - Nigeria Safarel Obiang - Chara dance - Ivory Coast	Cheque (feat. Fireboy DML) History Nigeria A-Q (feat. Chike) - Breath - Nigeria Black Sherif - Second Sermon - Ghana Blaqbonez (feat. Amaarae & Buju) - Bling - Nigeria Blxckie (feat. Nasty C) - Ye x4 - South Africa Cassper Nyovest (feat. Busiswa & Legendary P) - Nokuthula - South Africa Ko-C - President Du Rap publique - Cameroon Rosa Ree (rapper) - Satan - Tanzania Vector(feat. GoodGirl LA) - Early Momo - Nigeria Yaw Tog (feat. Stormzy & Kwesi Arthur) - Sore (Remix) - Ghana
Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Jazz	Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Rock
Hornsphere - Dance - Kenya Bokani Dyer - Kalakuta - South Africa Franck Biyong - Eulogy for biafra - Cameroon Jimmy Dludlu - tara tara - Mozambique Made Kuti - Free your Mind - Nigeria Olu - god save the queen - Nigeria Thandi Ntuli - Dikeledi - South Africa Tomi Owo - Beautiful - Nigeria Zoe Modiga - Umdali - South Africa	RASH - Structures - Kenya Dark Suburb - Kelewele - Ghana Franck Biyong - Peace in Limbe - Cameroon Tetu Shani - Furukazi - Kenya The Isomers - Beat Time - Nigeria
Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Traditional	Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Contemporary
Yonas Maynas - Hamida - Eritrea Ayeah Leonnette - Nini - Cameroon Cavemen - Osondu - Nigeria Kcee & Okwesili Eze Group - Cultural Praise Vol.1 - Nigeria kid tini ft sbahle - Amen - South Africa K1 De Ultimate - Ade Ori Okin - Nigeria Larry Gaaga (feat. Umu Obiligbo & Davido) - Doubting Thomas - Nigeria Malome Vector - Nobody - South Africa Meselu Fantahuh - Yawokebetina - Ethiopia Paulo Flores - Semba Original - Angola SHANAH - God Will Make A Way - Kenya SHIVANAH - Africa - Uganda	Majoos (feat. Koffi Olomide) - Ndoto - DR Congo Soolking - Fada - Algeria Borgia (feat. Jack Inga) - Ngayi - DR Congo Chike(feat. Simi) - Running to you - Nigeria Ferre Gola - Regarde Moi - DR Congo Kizz Daniel - LIE - Nigeria Locko - Au Mariage de ma Go - Cameroon Lojay & SARZ - Monalisa - Nigeria Platini P - Atansiyo - Rwanda Salatiel (feat. Rutshelle Guillaume) - Good Girl - Cameroon
Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Electro	Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop
Makhadzi - South Africa Wally Seck - Senegal Casper Nyovest - South Africa Nomcebo Zikode - South Africa Dj Tarico - Mozambique Kamo Mphela - South Africa Naira Marley - Nigeria Focalistic - South Africa Niniola - Nigeria Mapara A Jazz - South Africa	Iba One (feat. Oumou Sangare) Education Mali Abir Yacht - Morocco Bella Shmurda - Nigeria Blaq Diamond - South Africa Djelykaba Bintou - Guinea Joeboy - Nigeria KiDi - Ghana Locko - Cameroon Olakira - Nigeria Omah Lay - Nigeria Rema (musician) - Nigeria
Best Female Artiste in African Inspirational Music	Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational Music
Shanah Manjeru Ada Ehi ft Buchi - Congratulations - Nigeria Afrie - I Am An African Girl - Uganda Eden - Ayo - Côte d'Ivoire Kamo Mphela - Nkulunkulu - South Africa Montess - Small Girl Big God - Cameroon Nata - Art Thou - Sierra Leone Ruth Asong - Jireh - Cameroon Diana Hamilton - Adom Wisdom - Ghana Kelly Khumalo - Empini - South Africa	Iba One (feat. Oumou Sangare) - Education - Mali Ali Mukhwana - Maombi Yangu - Kenya Ashs The Best - Xel Akk Xol - Senegal Azaya - Allah LÉ Kabon - Guinea Blaq Diamond (feat. Dumi Mkokstad) - Messiah - South Africa Ferre Gola - Regarde Moi - DR Congo Icha Kavons - Faithfull till the end - DR Congo Mister Elad (feat. Cleo Grae) - Salute - Cameroon Patoranking - Celebrate me - Nigeria Sjava - Umcebo - South Africa TZY Panchak (feat. Kameni & Stanley Enow) - Amin - Cameroon
Best Global Act	Breakout Artiste of the Year
Beyonce Faouzia Drake Doja Cat H.E.R. Bruno Mars Ed Sheeran Olivia Rodrigo The Weekend	Djelykaba Bintou - Guinea Aveiro Djess - Cameroon Bella Shmurda - Nigeria Blaq Diamond - South Africa Focalistic - South Africa Omah Lay - Nigeria Remy Adan - Côte d'Ivoire Tems - Nigeria Yaw tog - Ghana Zuchu - Tanzania
Most Promising African Artiste	Producer of the Year
El Grande Toto - Morocco Ayra Starr - Nigeria Blxckie - South Africa Buju - Nigeria CKay - Nigeria Iss 814 - Senegal Lojay - Nigeria Rebo Tchulo - DR Congo Ruger - Nigeria Xenia Manasseh - Kenya	Legendury Beatz - 'Essence (feat. Tems)' - Nigeria Blaq Diamond - 'SummerYomuthi' - South Africa Dj Tarico - 'Yaba Buluku (remix)' - Mozambique Kolber Prod 'Le gout de' - Ivory Coast Lizer Classic - 'Waah' - Tanzania Napji - 'FEM' - Nigeria Olakira - 'In My Maserati' - Nigeria P Prime - 'Infinity' - Nigeria Telz - 'Abule' - Nigeria Vigro Deep - 'Ke Star(remix)' - South Africa
Song of the Year	Songwriter of the Year
WizKid (ft. Tems) - Essence - Nigeria Blaq Diamond - SummerYoMuthi - South Africa Davido - FEM - Nigeria Diamond Platnumz (feat. Koffi Olomide) - Waah - Tanzania Dj Tarico(feat. Burna Boy, Preck & Nelson) - Yaba buluku (remix) - Mozambique Focalistic (Feat. Davido & Virgo Deep) - Ke Star (Remix) - South Africa Olakira (feat. Davido) - In my Maserati (remix) - Nigeria Olamide (feat. Omah Lay) - Infinity - Nigeria Patoranking - Abule - Nigeria Rayvanny (feat. Zuchu) - Number One - Tanzania Remy Adan - Le Gout De - Ivory Coast	Iba One - Education (feat. Oumou Sangare) - Mali Nikita Kering - Ex - Kenya Nasty C - Black & White (feat. Ari lennox) - South Africa Adekunle Gold, Lucky Daye & Marcel Akunwata - Sinner (feat. Lucky Daye) - Nigeria Bensoul (feat, Sauti Sol, Nviiri The Storyteller & Mejja) - Nairobi - Kenya Kelly Khumalo - Empini - South Africa Tiwa Savage, Mystro & Vitoralli - Koroba - Nigeria Fally Ipupa, Julio Masidi, The Guest & Dadju Nsungula - Un Coup(feat. Dadju) - DR Congo Vector, BY LINX & GoodGirl LA - Early Momo(feat. Goodgirl LA) - Nigeria Manal - 3iytou LBOULISS - Morocco
AFRIMA Legend Award
Koffi Olomide - D.R. Congo
AFRIMA Lifetime Achievement Award
Opal Lee - United States

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wizkid won AFRIMA Artist of the Year Award. See the 2021 Winners List. Bella Naija.
2. Web site: Pearl Thusi Twitter. twitter.com.
3. Web site: Past Winners. afrima.org.
4. Web site: Afrima Awards 2021 winners list: Wizkid, Iba One, Fireboy DML, win for dis year All Africa Music Awards. bbc.com.
5. Web site: AFRIMA Awards releases nominees list for 2021 edition. afrima.org.
6. Web site: List of nominees for the 2021 AFRIMMA awards full list. pulselive.co.ke.
7. Web site: AFRIMA 2021 Winners List. afrima.org.