Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tems Clinch Nominations at 2021 AFRIMA

By Vanessa Obioha

Nigerian music superstars are in the battle for both continental and regional awards in the newly released All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) nomination list.

The most nominated Nigerian act is Wizkid who leads with six nominations. He follows South African artist Focalistic who has seven nominations while the duo Blaq Diamond, also South African, has the highest number of nominations. The duo scored eight nominations for their song ‘SummerYoMuthi’.

Wizkid’s nominations include ‘Artiste of the Year in Africa’, ‘Best Male Artist in Western Africa’ and ‘Album of the Year’.

Omah Lay, Patoranking, and Davido clinched four nominations each while Burna Boy, Tems, Olakira, Vector, Tiwa Savage, Bella Shmurda have three nominations each.

Yemi Alade, Ladipoe, The Isomers and Cavemen have two nominations each.

The list, released on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, was from the over 8,880 songs submitted for adjudication. It features over 400 songs from artists in the 30 continental and 10 regional categories cutting across African talents and creatives living on the continent and in the Diaspora.

“We believe we gave Africans and the world the very best nominations and songs in line with the 8,880 songs received under the year in review,” said Hadja Kobele, a member of the 13-man AFRIMA International Jury, representing Diaspora (USA) & West Africa (Guinea).

“The nominees list comprising 28 continental award categories and 10 regional award categories released for public voting on www.afrima.org is coming few days after a rigorous long-week adjudication process. The remaining two categories – Legend award category will be announced at the awards, while Best Soundtrack in a movie/series/documentary film category was suspended due to low-quality entries for this year’s edition,” Head of Culture, African Union Commission on the Jury, Angela Martins, said.

AFRIMA in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) will be broadcast live on 84 television stations in 109 countries from Lagos, Nigeria from November 19-21, 2021.