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Sixteen of Africa’s most celebrated music stars have arrived in Nigeria ahead of the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), as Lagos gears up to once again take centre stage in celebrating the continent’s rich musical heritage and creative excellence.
The week-long celebration officially commenced on Wednesday, January 7, and will run until Sunday, January 11, 2026, with the Lagos State Government hosting the prestigious event. Over the next few days, Lagos is expected to welcome artistes, producers, creative entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
A series of activities have been lined up to mark the celebration. One of the highlights is a major continental concert scheduled for Friday, January 9, in Ikeja, where several African music superstars will thrill fans with live performances. The programme will culminate on Sunday with the grand awards ceremony at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, featuring a live broadcast, high-end stage production and electrifying performances from top nominees and guest artistes.
Speaking during a media briefing ahead of the event, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, described AFRIMA as one of Africa’s most powerful cultural platforms. She noted that the awards have evolved far beyond a simple recognition of musical talent.
According to her, AFRIMA now serves as a platform for cross-cultural exchange, economic growth and global promotion of African creativity. She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to initiatives that empower African creatives and position culture as a critical driver of development.
Benson-Awoyinka also acknowledged the contributions of key partners, including the British High Commission, for their continued collaboration in promoting cultural exchange and creative diplomacy. She explained that the 9th edition of AFRIMA would bring together stakeholders from different sectors of the creative economy, highlighting the industry’s increasing role in job creation, tourism development and youth empowerment.
She congratulated all the nominees and participants, describing their work as a reflection of Africa’s diversity, resilience and growing competitiveness on the global stage. She further reiterated Lagos’ reputation as Africa’s cultural and creative capital, noting that hosting AFRIMA aligns with the state’s vision of leveraging culture for sustainable growth.
AFRIMA President, Mike Dada, also addressed the media, revealing that Lagos emerged as the host city after receiving approval from the African Union. He explained that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu accepted the hosting rights on behalf of the state following extensive deliberations.
Dada said AFRIMA was established not only as an entertainment event but as a platform for continental integration, peace-building and economic transformation, particularly for Africa’s youth population. He stressed that the awards aim to ensure that Africans benefit more from the continent’s fast-growing music industry.
According to him, the AFRIMA Music Summit and other side events focus on critical issues such as access to funding, fair taxation, intellectual property protection and global revenue returns for African artistes and music entrepreneurs.
He added that AFRIMA remains committed to promoting African culture in its broadest sense, spanning music, fashion, food and digital creativity, as a means of driving development and reducing poverty across the continent.
As anticipation builds toward the grand finale, the arrival of top African artistes has further heightened excitement among fans and industry watchers. With Lagos set to host thousands of visitors and millions of viewers worldwide, the 9th AFRIMA Awards is expected to reinforce Africa’s creative strength while showcasing the continent’s cultural influence on a global scale.
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