NIGERIAN singers, Damini Ogulu also known as Burna Boy, Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid and David Adeleke, aka Davido, all did the country proud as they each won an award at the prestigious All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), the eight edition, which held on Sunday night.
African giant crooner and Grammy award-winner, Burna Boy clinched the Best Act in Africa and the Best Album of the Year award, defeating the likes of South Africa’s Kabza De Small, Cote D’Ivoire’s Didi B, among others.
His fellow country men, Wizkid and Davido took home the Best Act in West Africa, and the Best Male Act in African Inspirational Music awards respectively.
Adekunle Gold also known as AG Baby clinched two awards – Best Act Group in African Contemporary Music and Best Act, Duo or Group in African Pop for his song “High” with Davido.
The voting public and jury did not make mistake as Asake, who dominated 2022 with an unprecedented run, took home the Artiste of the Year award, while the Ivorian singer, Didi B, won the Song of the Year award. Guinean singer, Manamba Kanye, won the Best Female Act in West Africa.
Internationally recognised music superstars including Senegalese maestro, Youssou N’dour, and Nigerian acts P-Square, Tiwa Savage as well as Ghana’s Black Sheriff are among those thrilled the crowd during the ceremony at the 15,000-seat Dakar Arena in Diamniadio.
It’s therefore, no gain saying that the mass appeal of contemporary music genres such as Afrobeats, where artistes sing and rap over electronic backing tracks, has translated into record sales and sold-out concerts for some African artists across the continent and also in the United States and parts of Europe in recent years.
AFRIMA President, Mike Dada said, “This is such an exciting moment in African music, and we are proud of the way these artists have been able to cross over to several markets both on the home front and even globally.”
Given this development, companies are cashing in on rising global interest in African music. Last June, Universal Music Group (UMG.AS) launched a label for independent African labels and artists, while music streaming platforms, including Spotify (SPOT.N), have sought to expand their offerings by African artistes.
The awards was part of the four-day activities that aims to celebrate and promote the continent’s best veteran and cutting-edge musicians.
