The official list of nominees for the 2022 edition was announced on Wednesday, September 12, by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Executive Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).
The AFRIMA committee chose 382 nominations across 39 categories from a total of 9,067 entries—the most entries the awards have ever received since they were founded—to represent all five regions of Africa as well as the diaspora. Recall that in July, the jury, which was made up of a 12-member panel of music professionals and the AUC, convened a 10-day adjudication to select the top entries from the competition to create the list.
Importantly, nominations for this year’s awards were limited to submissions that were valid from August 20, 2021, to August 5, 2022.
This year, the Western African region leads the regional nominations with 134 nominations, or 35% of the total; the Eastern African region comes in second with 69 nominations, or 18%; the Southern African region comes in third with 68 nominations, or 17.8%; Central Africa pulls its weight with 52 nominations, or 13.6 percent; and the Northern African region comes in fourth with 49 nominations.
Additionally, with 10 nominations, or 2.6 percent of the total, the Global music region—which includes music from non-Africans in the diaspora who continue to advance the African region—takes second place on the list.
With six nominations for his 2021 smash hit, Big Flexa, in the categories of “Song of the Year,” “Breakout Artiste of the Year,” “Best African Collaboration,” “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Electro,” and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in Use of African Dance/Choreography,” South African maverick Costa Titch leads the list this year with the most nominations.
It’s interesting to note that Dadju, a master of Congolese music, shares sixth place with six nominations in the categories of “Best Male in Central Africa,” “Song of the Year,” “Album of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” “Best African Act in the Diaspora,” and “Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series, or Documentary.”
Didi B of Ivory Coast, who received five nominations for “Best Male Artiste in Western Africa,” “Song of the Year,” “Album of the Year,” “Best African Rapper/Lyricist,” and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop,” is closely tied for third place in nominations.
The Algerian Disc Jockey and Record Producer is once more tied for fifth place with five nominations in the categories of “Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa,” “Song of the Year,” “Best African DJ,” “Best African Act in the Diaspora,” and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Electro.”
Another Algerian artist, Soolking, who received five nominations for “Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa,” “Song of the Year,” “Album of the Year,” “Best Video,” and “Best African Act in the Diaspora,” is tied for third place in terms of nominations.
The Egyptian rapper and record producer Wegz rounds out the top three nominees for artists with five nominations in the categories of “Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa,” “Song of the Year,” “Producer of the Year,” “Artiste of the Year,” and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Contemporary.”
Other artists with four nominations include Burna Boy from Nigeria in the categories of “Best Male Artiste in Western Africa,” “Song of the Year,” “Album of the Year,” and “Artiste of the Year,” Fireboy from Ghana in the categories of “Best Male Artiste in Western Africa,” “Song of the Year,” “Artiste of the Year,” and “Best African Collaboration,” and Kizz Daniel from Nigeria in the categories of “Best Male Artiste in Western Africa,” “Song of the Year,””Best African Collaboration,” “Artiste of the Year,” and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop.” Tiwa Savage won “Best Female Artiste in Western Africa,”Artiste of the Year,” “Best African Collaboration,” and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African RnB/Soul.” Kizz Daniel won “Best Male Artiste in Western Africa,” “Song of the Year,” “Artiste of the Year,” “Best African Collaboration,” and “Best Artiste”.
Other notable African artists who have received four nominations include Marwan Moussa (Egypt) in the categories of “Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa,” “Best African Rapper/Lyricist,” “Breakout Artiste of the Year,” and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop,” Nomfundo Moh (South Africa), and Zakes Bantwini (South Africa) in the categories of “Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa,” “Best African DJ”.
It’s interesting to note that artists who were recognized in the “Most Promising” category last year and whose current nominations show significant growth in their respective artistic fields include Ckay (Nigeria) in the categories of “Producer of the Year,” “Artiste of the Year,” and “Best Artiste, Duo, or Group in African Pop”; Ruger (Nigeria) in the category of “Best Artiste in African Reggae, Ragga, and Dancehall”.
The vast breadth of music from across the continent that we reviewed at the AFRIMA adjudication, for this year’s awards, is mind-blowing, said Adam Tiran, a member of the AFRIMA jury from the Southern African Region. Seeing so many African superstars on the list, along with other rising talents who have had an incredible year, and, ultimately, a ton of brand-new musical discoveries, is incredibly energizing. The continent’s future is promising!.
On Sunday, September 25, 2022, at 12:00 CAT, the public voting platform for the 2022 AFRIMA edition will go online. Voting is available on the official website for fans of African music on the continent and beyond the world.
Prior to the AFRIMA main awards ceremony on December 10, 2022, voting ends at 12 a.m. (CAT).
Best Male Artist in Central Africa | ||
Artist | Song | Country |
C4 Pedro | Posa | Angola |
Dadju | Ambassadeur | DRC |
Fally Ipupa | Bloqué | DRC |
Innoss’B | Mortel-06 | DRC |
Gaz Mawete | 500 | DRC |
Matias Damasio | Como Antes | Angola |
Ninho | Jefe | DRC |
Roga Roga & Extra Musica | Bokoko | DRC |
Tayc | Dodo | Cameroon |
Tenor Ft. Innoss’B | Mami Wata | Cameroon |
Best Female Artist in Central Africa | ||
Asaba | Mon Bebe | Cameroon |
Blanche Bailly Ft. Joeboy | Mine | Cameroon |
Emma’a | Encré | Gabon |
Espoir La Tigresse | Abiane | Gabon |
Pérola | Sincera | Angola |
Shay | DA | DRC |
Vernyuy Tina | Ndani Ya | Cameroon |
Zara Williams Ft. C4 Pedro | Posa | DRC |
Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa | ||
Addis Legesse | Enja | Ethiopia |
Bien (& Aaron Rimbui) | Bald Men Anthem | Kenya |
Diamond Platnumz Ft. Zuchu | Mtasubiri | Tanzania |
Eddy Kenzo | Songa | Uganda |
Kassmasse | Sewasew | Ethiopia |
King Saha | Zakayo | Uganda |
Marioo Ft. Jovial | Mi Amor | Tanzania |
Mbosso Ft. Costa Titch & Phantom Steeze | Moyo | Tanzania |
Nyashinski Ft. Femi One | Properly | Kenya |
Rayvanny Ft. Vjollca | Pele Pele | Tanzania |
Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa | ||
Betty G | Addis Semay | Ethiopia |
Tanasha Donna | Maradonna | Kenya |
Frida Amani | Fala Mimi | Tanzania |
Hewan Gebrewold | Shemuna | Ethiopia |
C4 Pedro | Posa | Angola |
Dadju | Ambassadeur | DRC |
Fally Ipupa | Bloqué | DRC |
Innoss’B | Mortel-06 | DRC |
Gaz Mawete | 500 | DRC |
Matias Damasio | Como Antes | Angola |
Ninho | Jefe | DRC |
Roga Roga & Extra Musica | Bokoko | DRC |
Tayc | Dodo | Cameroon |
Tenor Ft. Innoss’B | Mami Wata | Cameroon |
Best Female Artist in Central Africa | ||
Asaba | Mon Bebe | Cameroon |
Blanche Bailly Ft. Joeboy | Mine | Cameroon |
Emma’a | Encré | Gabon |
Espoir La Tigresse | Abiane | Gabon |
Pérola | Sincera | Angola |
Shay | DA | DRC |
Vernyuy Tina | Ndani Ya | Cameroon |
Zara Williams Ft. C4 Pedro | Posa | DRC |
Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa | ||
Addis Legesse | Enja | Ethiopia |
Bien (& Aaron Rimbui) | Bald Men Anthem | Kenya |
Diamond Platnumz Ft. Zuchu | Mtasubiri | Tanzania |
Eddy Kenzo | Songa | Uganda |
Kassmasse | Sewasew | Ethiopia |
King Saha | Zakayo | Uganda |
Marioo Ft. Jovial | Mi Amor | Tanzania |
Mbosso Ft. Costa Titch & Phantom Steeze | Moyo | Tanzania |
Nyashinski Ft. Femi One | Properly | Kenya |
Rayvanny Ft. Vjollca | Pele Pele | Tanzania |
Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa | ||
Betty G | Addis Semay | Ethiopia |
Tanasha Donna | Maradonna | Kenya |
Frida Amani | Fala Mimi | Tanzania |
Hewan Gebrewold | Shemuna | Ethiopia |
Muthaka | Sorry | Kenya |
Nandy | Siwezi | Tanzania |
Nikita Kering | Last Name | Kenya |
Rosa Ree | Watatubu | Tanzania |
Spice Diana Ft. DJ Seven | Tujuoge | Uganda |
Zuchu Ft. Bontle Smith & Tyler | Kitu | Tanzania |
Best Male Artist in Northern Africa | ||
Ali Loka | Matkhafesh Yamma | Egypt |
Ahmed Saad Ft. 3enba & Double Zuksh | AlMoulouk | Egypt |
A.L.A | 30 | Tunisia |
DJ Snake | Disco Maghreb | Algeria |
Draganov | Chichi | Morocco |
El Grande Toto | Salade Coco | Morocco |
Marwan Moussa | Batal 3alam | Egypt |
Snor | Kasseta | Morocco |
Soolking | Suavemente | Algeria |
Wegz | Albakht | Egypt |
Best Female Artist in Northern Africa | ||
Faouzia | RIP Love | Morocco |
Jaylann | Oui Oui | Morocco |
Kenza Morsli Ft. DJ Adel | Moustahil | Algeria |
Lyna Mahyem | Mal De Toi | Algeria |
Manal | Makhelaw Magalou | Morocco |
Marwa Loud & Moha K | Ghir Ntiya | Morocco |
Ruby | Namet Nenna | Egypt |
Rym | Stylo Warqa | Morocco |
Best Male Artist in Southern Africa | ||
A-Reece | Couldn’t Have Said It Better, Pt.3 | South Africa |
Blxckie feat A-Reece | Sneaky | South Africa |
DJ Tarico | Number One X DJ Consequence Ft. Nelson Tivane & Preck) | Mozambique |
Gemini Major | Ooh Lala feat. Ayra Starr | Malawi |
Focalistic | 16 Days No Sleep X Madumane and Mellow & Sleazy feat. DJ Maphorisa | South Africa |