Nigerian pop star Davido continued his impressive global showing on Saturday as he was named artiste of the year at the 5th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) held in Accra, Ghana.
The 26-year-old won the award for his song ‘Fia’.
He beat off competition from Tiwa Savage (Nigeria), ‘Ma Lo’, Betty G (Ethiopia), ‘Wegegta’; Daphne (Cameroon), ‘My Lover’, and Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), ‘Sikomi’.Other nominees in the category were Maitre Grims (DRC) featuring Vianney, ‘La Meme’; Nasty C (South Africa), ‘Jungle’; Starboy (Nigeria), ‘Soco’, and Kwesta (South Africa) featuring Wale, ‘Sprit’.
Special recognition awards fully decided by the International Committee of AFRIMA were given to South Africa’s Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Ghana’s Teddy Osei of the famous Osibisa group.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was awarded a special recognition for his contributions towards the growth and development of the arts and tourism sector of Lagos State and the role the state played as official host of AFRIMA from 2014 – 2017.
There were performances from 2face Idibia, Fally Ipupa, 10-year old Ghanaian DJ Switch and several others.
Below is the full list of winners:
Regional categories
Best female artiste in Central Africa
Daphne (Cameroon) ‘Jusqu’à La Gare’
Best male artiste in Central Africa
Fally Ipupa (DRC) featuring Keback and Naz ‘Mannequin’
Best female artiste in Eastern Africa
Betty G (Ethiopia) ‘Mengedegna’.
Best male artiste in Eastern Africa
Bebe Cool (Uganda) ‘Freedom’
Best female artiste in Northern Africa
Lyna Mahyem featuring Medi Meyz (Algeria) ‘Bye Bye’
Best male artiste in Northern Africa
Hamza El Fadly (Morocco) ‘Ya Mraya’
Best female artiste in Southern Africa
Shekhinah (South Africa) ‘Please Mr’
Best male artiste in Southern Africa
Nasty C (South Africa) ‘Jungle’
Best Female Artiste in Western Africa
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) featuring Wizkid and Spellz ‘Ma Lo’
Best male artiste in Western Africa
Davido (Nigeria) ‘Fia’
Continental categories
Album of the year
Betty G (Ethiopia) ‘Wegegta’
Artiste of the year
Davido (Nigeria) ‘Fia’
Best African video
Sesan (Nigeria) Shatta Wale ‘Gringo’ (Shatta Wale)
Best African act in diaspora
Hazel Mak (Malawi) featuring Roberto and Tay Grin ‘Jaiva’
Best African collaboration
GuiltyBeatz, Mr. Eazi, Patapaa and Pappy Kojo (Ghana-Nigeria) ‘Akwaaba’
Best artiste, duo or group in African contemporary
Kidi (Ghana) featuring Mayorkun and Davido ‘Odo’ Remix
Best artiste, duo or group in African dance or choreography
Mr P (Nigeria) ‘Ebeano’
Best African DJ
Afrotronix (Chad) ‘Oyo’
Best artiste, duo or group in African electro
Master KG (South Africa) featuring Zanda Zakuza ‘Skeleton Move’
Best African duo, group or band
Toofan (Togo) ‘Money’
Best artiste, duo or group in African hip hop
M.anifest (Ghana) featuring King Promise ‘Me Ne Woa’
Best artiste, duo or group in African jazz
Sibusiso Mashiloane (South Africa) ‘Niza’
Best African rapper or lyricist
Falz (Nigeria) ‘La Fête’
Best artiste, duo or group in African pop
2Baba (Nigeria) featuring Peruzzi ‘Amaka’
Best artiste, duo or group in African ragga, reggae & dancehall
Stonebwoy (Ghana) ‘Hero’
Best artiste, duo or group in African R&B and soul
Praiz (Nigeria) ‘Champagne and Flowers’
Best artiste, duo or group in African rock
Maryam Saleh, Maurice Louca, Tamer Abu Ghazaleh (Egypt) ‘Ekaa Maksour’
Best artiste, duo or group in African traditional
Irene Namatovu (Uganda) ‘Nsambila Nyuma Nga Janzi’
Best female artiste in African inspirational music
Sandra Nankoma (Uganda) ‘Kaddugala’
Best male artiste in African inspirational music
Sarkodie (Ghana) featuring Yung ‘Glory’
Most promising artiste in Africa
Kuami Eugene (Ghana) ‘Confusion’
Producer of the year
Fresh VDM (Togo) ‘Fia’
Revelation of the African continent
Betty G (Ethiopia) ‘Ere Manew’
Song of the year
GuiltyBeatz, Mr. Eazi, Patapaa and Pappy Kojo (Ghana) ‘Akwaaba’
Songwriter of the year
Shekhinah Donell, Amon Taulo Chibiya II, Mariechan (South Africa) ‘Different’
African fans’ favourite
Nedy Music (Tanzania) featuring Ruby ‘One and Only’