Olayiwola Matthew
The African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Executive Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) have postponed the 9th edition of the awards to January 2026.
The organisers confirmed the new date in a statement on Thursday, announcing that the event will now take place from Wednesday, 7 January to Sunday, 11 January 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Originally scheduled for 25–30 November 2025, the event was rescheduled after extensive consultations with partners, artistes, and stakeholders across Africa and the diaspora.
Angela Martins, Acting Director of Social Development, Culture and Sports at the AUC, said the commission remains proud to partner with AFRIMA in promoting Africa’s creative excellence and global influence.
“This collaboration aligns with the AU’s Cultural Policy for Africa and Agenda 2063, both of which prioritise the creative economy as a key driver of sustainable development, youth empowerment, and continental integration,” Martins stated.
“The new dates for the 9th AFRIMA in January 2026 present an exciting opportunity to further showcase Africa’s diversity, innovation, and unity to the world.”
In April 2025, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed the state’s readiness to host the awards, saying it supports his administration’s vision to make the creative and tourism sectors central to economic growth.
A month later, the AU and AFRIMA officially announced Lagos as the host city during a ceremony at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
By September 2025, organisers released the nominees’ list, featuring leading African artistes including Burna Boy, Davido, DJ Maphorisa, El Grande Toto, Rema, Shallipopi, and Ayra Starr, with public voting opening globally on 10 September 2025.
Explaining the rationale behind the postponement, AFRIMA’s Regional Director for Central Africa, Nde Ndifonka, popularly known as Wax Dey, said the decision aims to ensure a world-class event.
“AFRIMA is not just an award show; it is Africa’s global music platform.
“Rescheduling the 9th edition to January allows us to deliver a truly world-class celebration that reflects the continent’s creative strength. It also ensures greater participation from artistes, fans, partners, and media,” Ndifonka said.
The 9th AFRIMA will be jointly hosted by the African Union Commission, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the Lagos State Government.
The week-long festival will combine music, culture, and entertainment, beginning on 7 January 2026 with a Welcome Soirée for nominees and delegates, alongside the AFRIMA Diamond Showcase spotlighting 15 emerging African talents.
On 8 January, the Africa Music Business Summit (AMBS) will be held, followed by the Music Icons’ Night, celebrating legends who have shaped the continent’s music heritage.
Activities on 9 January will include school outreach programmes, a host city cultural tour, and a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Government, concluding with the AFRIMA Music Village—an open-air concert featuring live performances by top stars.
The Nominees and Industry Party will take place on 10 January, celebrating previous winners, current nominees, and sponsors.
The festivities will culminate on Sunday, 11 January 2026, with the live AFRIMA Awards Ceremony at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, broadcast to more than 84 countries worldwide.