By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
IN a major celebration of the continent’s music and culture, 16 leading African artists have arrived for the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), hosted by the Lagos State Government.
AFRIMA, which commenced on Wednesday, 7th January, is a week-long event culminating on Sunday, 11th January, 2026.
The festivities will include a high-energy concert on Friday, 9th January, featuring performances from African superstars and show-stopping acts from some of the continent’s biggest names. The grand finale on Sunday, 11th January, will be a spectacular live broadcast of Africa’s premier music awards ceremony, promising dazzling performances and world-class production.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Eko Hotels on Victoria Island, while the concert will take place in Ikeja City.
Speaking at a briefing on Wednesday to herald the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, stated: “The All Africa Music Awards has over the years grown into one of the most influential platforms for recognising African musical excellence, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and promoting Africa’s vibrant creative economy on the global stage.”
She added: “Lagos State is proud to continue its support for initiatives that elevate African talent and position culture as a driver of development.”
The Commissioner acknowledged other partners, notably the British High Commission, for their sustained collaboration and commitment to cultural exchange and cultural diplomacy.
“This type of partnership reinforces our shared vision of using arts and culture as tools for international dialogue.
“This edition of AFRIMA will bring together artists, producers, industry leaders, policymakers and creative entrepreneurs from across Africa and beyond.
“It will also underscore the growing relevance of the creative sector as a contributor to employment, tourism, youth empowerment and global African visibility,” the Commissioner stated.
While congratulating the nominees and participants, she noted: “Your creativity and discipline continue to showcase Africa’s strength, its diversity, its global competitiveness and the creative space.
“AFRIMA remains a platform that not only celebrates excellence but also amplifies African voices and stories to the world.
“Lagos State remains Africa’s cultural and creative capital. Through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, we are forming and enabling environments that support creativity, encourage investment and position Lagos as a hub for arts, entertainment and cultural tourism,” she added.
The President of AFRIMA, Mike Dada, remarked: “The African Union, after deliberation, deemed it fit to grant the hosting rights for this edition to the beautiful city of Lagos. With the progressive understanding of true development held by His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, he generously agreed to host the ninth edition of AFRIMA on behalf of Lagos State.”
Dada explained that the aim is to showcase African musical talent and capacity to the rest of the world, demonstrating that “we are full of excellence.” He added, “We use that platform to integrate our people across the continent. You know the power of music to create peace and integration. We also use this platform to show that music can be used to engage young people positively.”
“And, of course, many of us know London, Paris, or New York better than we know Casablanca, Accra, or Nairobi. The idea is to use the platform of AFRIMA to promote African cities and destinations to the rest of the world, which is why we broadcast to 84 countries globally.”
He stressed that the event would not be for mere “jamboree and entertainment alone,” but must seek economic benefit and serve as “a platform for economic transformation.”
“Many artists you know live famous but die in poverty on the continent. So what we have tried to do over the last decade is to see how we can reverse that, so more of our people can benefit from their handiwork, and we can reduce poverty on the continent using culture.
“Culture encompasses music, food, fashion, film, and more… We see it from the point of view of the digital creative economy. How can we leverage the cultural and music space to ensure the development of our people?
“A key difference for young people in Africa compared to the Western world is access to opportunities and finance. So the AFRIMA Music Summit is engaging with global partners to see how our people can benefit more from the growing global appetite for African music.
“All over the world they are listening to our music, but is the money coming home? Are the governments of Nigeria or other African nations receiving the due taxes from those revenues? These are the issues we are discussing, as often those revenues are not flowing back to Africa,” Dada concluded.
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