Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid and Asake Win Big at the 2023 Afrima Awards

Africa’s star musicians took to the red carpet at the annual All Africa Music Awards last weekend to celebrate the continent’s best talent.

The four-day event culminated in an awards ceremony held on the outskirts of the Senegalese capital of Dakar on Sunday evening, with performances from Africa including Nigeria’s P-Square and Tiwa Savage, Mali’s Rokia Kone and Senegalese singer Youssou N. It included performances from the most popular musicians. ‘dour and Baaba Maal.

Ivory Coast singer Didi B won Song of the Year for her performance of “Tala”. Taking the stage in front of a raucous audience, he thanked his colleagues and said it was his first award of the year.

“Dedicated to my mother and fans,” said the Ivory Coast rapper, singer and songwriter.

Nigerian megastar Burna Boy wins Best Album and Best African Act.

Afrobeat global icons Davido and Wizkid also won. Davido won Best Inspirational Song for “Stand Strong” and Best African Pop for “High” for his collaboration with Adekunle Gold. Wizkid won him the Best West African Act award.

After sweeping 2022 with an unprecedented run, Asake was named Breakout Artist of the Year.

This is the eighth edition of AFRIMA and the first held in a French-speaking country. Nigeria has hosted most of the event, including the final one in Lagos City in 2021. At the event, Malian singer Ibrahim Mahamadou Fily Sissoko, better known as Iba One, won Best of His Album. This year, One won Best Songwriter.

AFRIMA aims to connect African musicians to the global market while embracing the continent’s cultural diversity and heritage, organizers said.

Mike Dada, executive director of the event, said, “This is a very exciting moment for African music and we are proud to say that these artists have been able to reach several markets, not only domestically but also globally. Proud.

Over 9,000 entries were submitted for this year’s competition. This was the highest since its inception in 2014. The winner beat out over 380 entries in 39 categories representing her five regions and diasporas in Africa.