Burna Boy sets record for biggest streaming year by African artist on Spotify

Nigerian artists dominated the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in Lagos on Sunday night, claiming top prizes across several categories.

Leading the accolades was Rema, who bagged three major awards: Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in RnB and Soul.

Burna Boy also made a strong impression, winning Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness. He additionally shared Best African Collaboration with Shallipopi, who independently won Song of the Year for Laho.

Yemi Alade received Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for her song You Are, featured in the animated series Iyanu.

In the hip-hop category, Phyno was awarded Best African Artiste in African Hip-Hop, while Tanzania’s Juma Jux earned Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa.

Among emerging artists, Qing Madi was crowned Most Promising Artiste of the Year, and Chella was named African Fans’ Favourite.

Below is the full list of winners:

Best Male Artiste – Central Africa

C4 Pedro (Angola)
Eboloko (Gabon)
Gims (DRC)
Gerilson Insrael (Angola)
Kocee (Cameroon)
L’Oiseau Rare (Gabon)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Magasco (Cameroon)
Singuila (The Congo) – Winner
Werrason (DRC)

Best Female Artiste – Central Africa

Anna Joyce (Angola)
Blanche Bailly (Cameroon)
Charlotte Dipanda (Cameroon)
Cindy Le Coeur (DRC) – Winner
Deborah Lukalu (DRC)
Emma’a (Gabon)
Jessy B (The Congo)
Krys M (Cameroon)
Liriany (Angola)
Rebo (DRC)

Best Male Artiste – Eastern Africa

Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Element Eleéh (Rwanda)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Jux (Tanzania) – Winner
Marioo (Tanzania)
Mbosso (Tanzania)
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Sat-B (Burundi)
Yared Negu (Ethiopia)

Best Female Artiste – Eastern Africa

Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Bridget Blue (Kenya)
Denise (Madagascar) – Winner
Haleluya Tekletsadik (Ethiopia)
Lady Jaydee (Tanzania)
Mahlet Wendimu (Ethiopia)
Salemia (Ethiopia)
Weeha (Ethiopia)
Winnie Nwagi (Uganda)
Zuchu (Tanzania)

Best Male Artiste – Northern Africa

A.L.A. (Tunisia)
Adviser (Mauritania) – Winner
Amr Diab (Egypt)
Cheb Momo (Algeria)
El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Hamza Namira (Egypt)
Lbenj (Morocco)
Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
Stormy (Morocco)
Wegz (Egypt)

Best Female Artiste – Northern Africa

Chirine Lajmi (Tunisia)
Inez (Morocco)
Jannat (Egypt)
Jaylann (Morocco)
Manal (Morocco)
Meryem Aboulouafa (Morocco)
Sherine (Egypt) – Winner
Zina Daoudia (Morocco)

Best Male Artiste – Southern Africa

Anderson Mário (Mozambique)
Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe)
Manana (Eswatini)
Nasty C (South Africa)
Teddy Makadi (Malawi)
Tyler ICU (South Africa)
Wanitwamos (South Africa)
Yo Maps (Zambia) – Winner
Zeze Kingston (Malawi)
Kazba De Small (South Africa)

Best Female Artiste – Southern Africa

Babalwa M (South Africa)
Hanna (Zimbabwe)
Makhadzi (South Africa)
Nkosazana Daughter (South Africa)
Nontokozo Mkhize (South Africa) – Winner
Sha Sha (Zimbabwe)
Temwah (Malawi)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)
Zee Nxumalo (South Africa)

Best Male Artiste – Western Africa

Asake (Nigeria)
Axel Merryl (Benin)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Davido (Nigeria)
Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire)
Djodje (Cape Verde)
Rema (Nigeria) – Winner
VJ (Senegal)
Wizkid (Nigeria)

Best Female Artiste – Western Africa

Amaarae (Ghana)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Djelykaba Bintou (Guinea)
Josey (Côte d’Ivoire)
Mariam Ba Lagaré (Mali)
Mia Guissé (Senegal)
Moliy (Ghana)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
Wendy Shay (Ghana) – Winner

Continental Categories

Best Male Artiste – African Inspirational Music

Christian Mukuna (DRC)
Djunny Beatz (Mozambique)
Gaise Baba (Nigeria)
Israel Mbonyi (Rwanda)
Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe)
Joel Lwaga (Tanzania)
Kocee (Cameroon)
Lawrence Oyor (Nigeria)
Milo (Côte d’Ivoire) – Winner
Sjava (South Africa)

Best Female Artiste – African Inspirational Music

Ada Ehi (Nigeria)
Choisie Basolua (DRC)
Krys M (Cameroon)
Martha Mwaipaja (Tanzania)
Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)
Morijah (Côte d’Ivoire) – Winner
Nontokozo Mkhize (South Africa)
Roseline Layo (Côte d’Ivoire)
Vestine & Dorcas (Rwanda)

Best African Artiste, Duo or Group – African Jazz

Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Ghana)
Haddinqo (Ethiopia) – Winner
Mádé Kuti (Nigeria)
Rorisang Sechele (South Africa)
Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane (South Africa)
The Cavemen (Nigeria)
Alune Wade (Senegal)
Nomfundo Xaluva (South Africa)
Kyle Shepherd Trio (South Africa)

Best Artiste, Duo or Group – African Contemporary

Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
Axel Merryl (Benin) – Winner
Espe Bass (Congo B)
Bien (Kenya)
Jaylann (Morocco)
Kizz Daniel, Angélique Kidjo & Johnny Drille (Nigeria)
Mbosso (Tanzania)
Ferre Gola & Rayvanny (DRC)
Didine Canon 16 (Algeria)
Wendy Shay (Ghana)

Best Soundtrack – Movie, Series or Documentary

Igho’le Trap Mix Version (To Kill a Monkey: Series) – Oscar Heman-Ackah (Ghana)
El Ma2as (The Start: Film) – Tamer Hosny, Reda Elbahrawy (Egypt)
You Are (Iyanu: Animated Series) – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) – Winner
Timpi Tampa (Timpi Tampa: Film) – Ismaël Lo (Senegal)
Tori Ife (Seven Doors: Series) – Tolu Obanro (Nigeria)
Saatte Ragouj (The Last of the Mohicans: Film) – Kafon (Tunisia)

Songwriter of the Year

Bakhaw Dioum – Choix (Mia Guissé ft. Wally B. Seck) (Senegal) – Winner
Emel, Jehanny Beth & Camille Berthomier – Fall in the Light (Tunisia)
Emma’a – Trop d’amour (Gabon)
Emmanuel Ayobami Alli-Hakeem – Za (Anendlessocean) (Nigeria)
Ferre Gola – Amour Illusoire (DRC)
Mohammed Ismail Sharrif – Rebel Music (Black Sherif) (Ghana)
Mugisha Fred Robinson – Tombé (Element Eleéh) (Rwanda)
Olamide Adedeji – Hassibunallah (Olamide) (Nigeria)
Prince Omoferi & Nwamu Francis Chukwudubem – It Hurts (Johnny Drille & Don Jazzy) (Nigeria)
Victor Ngatuvese Kaune – Oputuri ‘Queens’ (One Blood Namibia) (Namibia)

African Fans’ Favourite

Ali Jita (Nigeria)
Barnaba (Tanzania)
BNXN & Rema (Nigeria)
Chella (Nigeria) – Winner
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Innoss’b (DRC)
Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
Parazar (Algeria)
Faceless (Nigeria)
Tul8te (Egypt)

Best African DJ

DJ Malvado (Angola)
DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
DJ Moh Green (Algeria) – Winner
DJ Mombochi (The Congo)
DJ Tunez (Nigeria)
DJ YK Mule (Nigeria)
Kelvin Momo (South Africa)
Oscar Mbo (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)
Woodblock Djs (South Africa)

Producer of the Year

Beneth Seraphin Akatché Koffi (Senegal)
Butternut, Xolani Majoz (South Africa)
Dina One (Mali)
Element Eleéh & Mugisha Fred Robinson (Rwanda) – Winners
Jazzworx (South Africa)
Progrex (Nigeria)
DaVinci (Angola)
Tempoe (Nigeria)
Themba Sekowe, Gomolemo Joy Gumede, Kabelo Motha (South Africa)

Album of the Year

Ebtadena – Amr Diab (Egypt)
No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy (Nigeria) – Winner
5ive – Davido (Nigeria)
Diyilem & Bazarhoff: Genius – Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire)
Ngomoya – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy (South Africa)
Salgoat – El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Big Aka 4 Aka Kai – Himra (Côte d’Ivoire)
Thato Ya Modimo – Kelvin Momo (South Africa)
Idrache (Traces of the Past) – Tinariwen (Mali)

Best African Video of the Year

“Rebel” – Black Sherif (Ghana)
“Meta” – Nomcebo Zikode & Sofiya Nzau (South Africa)
“Ki Lo Wa Wa” – Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
“Timpi Tampa” – Ismaël Lo (Senegal)
“Tori Ife” – Tolu Obanro (Nigeria)
“Ova” – Mbosso (Tanzania) – Winner
“Ololufe” – Juma Jux & Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
“Shaolin” – Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
“Stk Stk” – Dizzy Dros, Kekra & Norfafrica (Morocco)

Song of the Year

“Isaka (6AM)” – Ciza, Jazzworx & Thukuthela (South Africa)
“Bengicela” – Mawhoo Gl Ceejay & Thukuthela (South Africa)
“Choix” – Mia Guissé (Senegal)
“Diplomatico” – El Grande Toto (Morocco)
“Kaay Waay” – VJ (Senegal)
“Laho” – Shallipopi (Nigeria) – Winner
“Ololufe Mi” – Jux & Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
“Push 2 Start” – Tyla (South Africa)
“Shake it to the Max” – Moliy, Shenseea, Skillibeng & Silent Addy (Ghana)
“With You” – Davido (Nigeria)

Best African Dance/Choreography

Jaylann – “Ha Wlidi” (Morocco)
Lady Ponce – “Je veux danser” (Cameroon)
Rebo – “Mobambo” (DRC)
Serge Beynaud – “Taper Dedans” (Côte d’Ivoire)
Toofan – “Deodorant” (Togo)
Tyla – “Push 2 Start” (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles & Royal Musiq – “Zenzele” (Eswatini)
Weeha – “Dimama” (Ethiopia) – Winner
Werrason – “Tout se paie ici bas” (DRC)
Wizkid – “Kese” (Nigeria)

Best African Act – Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall

Magasco – “Dirty Whine” (Cameroon)
Moliy, Shenseea, Skillibeng & Silent Addy – “Shake it to the Max” (Ghana)
Ruger & Kranium – “Dudu” (Nigeria)
Sean Morgan – “Vuu” (Malawi)
Black Sherif – “Rebel Music” (Ghana)
Takana Zion – “On My Eyes” (Guinea) – Winner
Tiwa Savage – “Forgiveness” (Nigeria)
Wakadinli – “Kum Baba” (Kenya)
Yemi Alade – “Baddie” (Nigeria)
Iyani, Mwanaa & Cedo – “Kifo cha Mende” (Kenya)

Best African Collaboration

Blanche Bailly & Lady Ponce – “Lève toi” (Cameroon)
Goon Flavour, Master Kg & Eemoh – “Ngishutheni” (South Africa)
Mia Guissé ft. Wally Seck – “Choix” (Senegal)
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – “Shake It to the Max” (Ghana)
Paki Chenzu ft. Himra – “Assaut” (Togo/Côte d’Ivoire)
Shallipopi ft. Burna Boy – “Laho” (Nigeria) – Winner
Uncle Waffles ft. Cowboii, Royal Musiq, Uncool MC & Xduppy – “Zenzele” (Eswatini)
Davido ft. Omah Lay – “With You” (Nigeria)
Mawhoo, GL Ceejay & Thukuthela ft. Jazzworx – “Bengicela” (South Africa)
Benny Adam & Khadija El Warzazia – “Mok Ya Mok” (Morocco)

Most Promising Artiste of the Year

Cysoul (Cameroon)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
King Luca (Cameroon)
L’Oiseau Rare (Gabon)
Lwah Ndlunkulu (South Africa)
Massamba Amadeus (Senegal)
Qing Madi, Valorant (Nigeria) – Winner
Rym (Morocco)
Kunmie (Nigeria)
Fola (Nigeria)

Artiste of the Year

Amr Diab (Egypt)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Davido (Nigeria)
DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Jux (Tanzania)
Rema (Nigeria) – Winner
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
Tyla (South Africa)

Breakout Artiste of the Year

Blaq Major (South Africa)
Ciza (South Africa) – Winner
Eboloko (Gabon)
Himra (Côte d’Ivoire)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Mawhoo (South Africa)
Moliy (Ghana)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
Trap King (Algeria)
VJ (Senegal)

Best African Lyricist Rapper

ALA (Tunisia)
Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire) – Winner
Jessy B (Congo B)
Klassafan le Melangeur (Guinea)
Nasty C & Usimamane (South Africa)
Nyashinski (Kenya)
Reminisce (Nigeria)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Switch (Libya)
Yacou B OG (Mali)

Best African Artiste, Duo or Group – African Hip-Hop

ALA ft. Mootjeyek (Tunisia)
Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
Eboloko (Gabon)
El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Himra (Côte d’Ivoire)
Phyno (Nigeria) – Winner
Nasty C & Usimamane (South Africa)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Suspect 95 (Côte d’Ivoire)

Best African Artiste, Duo or Group – RnB & Soul

Bensoul & V- Be (Kenya)
Big Zulu ft. Malungelo (South Africa)
Braye (Nigeria)
Calema (Sao Tome)
Emma’a (Gabon)
Kunmie (Nigeria)
Manal (Morocco)
Naledi Aphiwe & Mawelele (South Africa)
Rema (Nigeria) – Winner
Wegz ft. Tayc (Egypt)

Best African Duo, Group or Band

Babylone (Algeria)
Blaq Diamond (South Africa)
Celema (Sao Tome & Principe)
Team Paiya (Côte d’Ivoire) – Winner
The Cavemen (Nigeria)
Tinariwen (Mali)
Toofan (Togo)
Vestine & Dorcas (Rwanda)
Wapendwa Muziki (Kenya)
We Are Nubia (Kenya)

FULL LIST: Rema bags three awards as Burna Boy, Juma Jux shine at 9th AFRIMA

Popular Nollywood star, Sarah Martins, has reportedly collapsed and taken to the hospital following a sudden health emergency.

DAILY POST reports that the actress shared details of the frightening incident on her Instagram page, explaining that she woke up unable to feel parts of her body and momentarily feared she was lifeless.

Despite the alarming symptoms, Sarian said she still pushed herself to go to her shop to carry out inventory and conduct interviews for new staff. It was during this process that she reportedly slumped and was immediately taken to the hospital.

Doctors subjected her to more than 30 medical examinations including checks for cancer, fibroid, kidney and liver function, malaria, and typhoid but all tests returned negative.

Narrating her ordeal, she wrote: “Woke up today and couldn’t feel any part of my body. For a second, I felt lifeless. I still struggled and went to my stores to do inventory and a few interviews for incoming employees, and that was when I slumped.

“All through December, I worked every single day, and even when my staff travelled for the season celebration, I still kept working. No days off, no stretches, no nothing… just a walking corps working tirelessly to cater for others, forgetting myself.

“I did over 32 tests today, and all came out negative, including cancer, fibroid, liver, kidney, malaria, typhoid, etc. I guess God took proper care of my organs while I neglected my body.

“I am typing this from a sick bed, but I will be fine because the God that protects the vulnerable kids I struggle for will never fail me.

They said I’m extremely exhausted and need proper bed rest. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your constant protection over my life.”

Medical personnel have reportedly advised her to embark on complete rest due to extreme exhaustion. Her fans and colleagues have since flooded her page with prayers and well-wishes.

Nollywood actress Sarah Martins slumps, rushed to hospital