Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, dominated the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), taking home three major honors during the ceremony on Sunday, January 11, 2026. The event took place at the Eko Hotels Convention Centre in Lagos and celebrated the continent’s finest musical talent.
The 25-year-old Mavin Records artist was named Artiste of the Year, the event’s most prestigious award, surpassing nominees including Burna Boy, Davido, and other African music heavyweights. Rema also won Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, beating top contenders such as Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Asake, and Black Sherif. In addition, he received Best African Artiste in RnB/Soul for his hit track “Baby, (Is It A Crime).”
During his acceptance speech, Rema reflected on his career growth since his 2019 debut. He humorously acknowledged his journey, saying, “Since I was 19, since I got to Mavin. I’m 25 now, I don dey old oo. But yeah, it’s beautiful to be here again and still getting an award, seven years in the game.” He also emphasized the importance of unity and supporting African music platforms, echoing his message from the 2023 Headies Awards: “Tonight, I am here most especially because as I said at the Headies Award, I always think it’s important to always support our utilities of Afrobeats. Our platforms. Especially platforms that would not divide or put down or split this unity that we have in the room.”
Other notable winners included Burna Boy, who won Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness, and Shallipopi, who claimed Song of the Year for Laho. Across 40 award categories, Nigerian artists dominated, reflecting the country’s continued influence on the African music scene.
The 9th AFRIMA highlighted the ongoing global growth of Afrobeats, blending African rhythms with international sounds and attracting artists, industry professionals, and fans from across Africa and the diaspora. The event reinforced Nigeria’s status as a powerhouse in contemporary African music, celebrating both artistic excellence and the genre’s expanding global reach.
For more stories like this visit naijabeats.com
