The 2026 African Muzik Magazine Awards, AFRIMMA, held on September 12 at Annette Strauss Square, brought together artists, DJs, performers and creatives from across Africa and the diaspora. This year, the event returned after a two-year break as part of the expanded AFRIMMA Music Fest, combining music with food, fashion and African culture.

Nigeria had plenty to celebrate.

Davido Takes Album of the Year

At the centre of Nigeria’s night was Davido, whose fifth studio album, 5ive, won Album of the Year. Released in April 2025, 5ive features collaborations with artists including Chris Brown, Victoria Monét, Becky G, Omah Lay and Victony.

Davido entered the 2026 awards as the leading Nigerian nominee, with five nominations. The Album of the Year win gave 5ive another major recognition and placed Davido at the heart of the ceremony.

BNXN and Sarz Win Song of the Year

Another major Nigerian moment came from BNXN and producer Sarz.

Their song “Back Outside” won Song of the Year, adding another international award to the record. The win also highlighted the role producers play in shaping the sound behind some of Africa’s biggest records. Sarz has worked with several leading Nigerian artists throughout his career, while BNXN has built a reputation for blending Afrobeats with elements of R&B and dancehall.

Tems, Ruger and Phyno Add More Wins

The Nigerian victories stretched across different sides of the music industry. Tems won Best Female West Africa, while Ruger took Best Male West Africa. Phyno won Best Male Rap Act, giving Nigeria representation beyond mainstream Afrobeats and into indigenous rap.

Also Read: Wizkid turns 15 years of hits into a global Afrobeats homecoming

Other Nigerian winners included Fola, who won Best Newcomer, and Mercy Chinwo, who took home Best Gospel.

Patoranking won Best Male Reggae/Dancehall, while DJ Tunez was recognised as Best DJ Africa. Producer London also received the Music Producer of the Year award. Victony added another win for Nigeria through the AFRIMMA Fans Choice Award.

Nigeria’s Sound Is Bigger Than One Genre 

The country was represented across Afrobeats, rap, gospel, reggae and dancehall, DJ culture, music production and emerging talent.

Nigerian entertainment was also represented outside music. Comedian Real Warri Pikin won Best Comedian, showing that the country’s creative presence at AFRIMMA extended beyond music.

This variety reflects how much the Nigerian entertainment industry has grown. The international conversation around Nigerian music is no longer limited to a few major stars. Producers, DJs, songwriters, emerging artists and performers are increasingly part of the story.

From Nigeria to the World 

AFRIMMA 2026 was a celebration of African creativity, but Nigeria had a particularly visible presence throughout the night.

From Davido’s 5ive to BNXN and Sarz’s “Back Outside”, and from Tems and Ruger to Phyno, Fola and DJ Tunez, Nigerian names appeared across several categories.

The awards showed that Nigerian music is being recognised through different sounds, different generations and different creative roles. And in Dallas, Nigeria’s music industry had another opportunity to show the world just how far its sound can travel.

Meiza Nigeria