AFRIMA 2016: Wizkid wins but Diamond Platnumz dominates

The ceremony also saw Nigerian King Sunny Ade honoured with a Special Recognition Award and tributes from artists such as Diamond Platnumz, Brymo and Aramide. The juju music legend was one of two artists so recognised, the other being Papa Wemba, the late Congolese musician who died in April this year during a concert.

The night of the award ceremony featured a variety of performances—in style and substance—from some of the continents finest acts, including the Soweto Gospel Choir, Seyi Shay, Dare Art-Alade, and Phyno.

Big winners of the night include last year's big winner Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) who won three awards including Song of the Year for 'Utanipenda' and Best Artiste in African Pop. Wizkid was named Artist of the Year, while Aramide’s win for the best female act in West Africa was perhaps the night’s biggest upset.

Other winners include collaborators Eddy Kenzo and Niniola, as well as BET winner Black Coffee who was named Best Male in Southern Africa. The performance given by Black Coffee's four-year old compatriot and colleague, DJ Arch Jnr, provided one of the night's highlight. 

The awards, backed by the African Union, had in attendance dignitaries such as the Nigerian Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and the Governor of Lagos state, Akinwumi Ambode, among its distinguished guests. As with its other editions, the pan-African nature of the award involved attempts at showcasing a wide range of artists from the continent causing both a long list of winners and a five-hour ceremony. 

The award ceremony was preceded by well-attended industry talks and an all-night concert on Friday 5 November tagged AFRIMA Music Village at the Bar Beach Water front. In spite of organisational failings, the ceremony demonstrated its organisers' vision of becoming the foremost music award on the continent.

Full list of winners below.

GENERAL CATEGORIES   Album of the Year Ahmed Soultan (Morocco) - Music Has no Boundaries   Song Writer of the Year Unique (Uganda) - Njogereza   Best African Group/Duo/Band VVIP (Ghana) Dogo Yaro   Best African Collaboration Eddy Kenzo and Niniola (Uganda & Nigeria) - Mbilo Mbilo   Most Promising Artist in Africa Amine Aub (Morocco) - Feel the same   Best Artiste in African Contemporary Flavour (Nigeria) - Mmege Mmege   Best Artiste in African Electro Such (Zimbabwe) - You   Best Artiste in African Hip Hop Stanley Enow (Cameroon) - Work Hard   Best Artiste in African Pop  Diamond (Tanzania) - Utanipenda   Best Artiste in Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall Patoranking (Nigeria) - No Kissing Baby   Best Artiste in African RnB &Soul Henok and Mehari Brothers (Ethiopia) - Ewedi Shalehu   Best Artiste in African Traditional Music Zainab (Benin) - Bolojo   AFRIMA Legendary Award Manu Dibango (Cameroon)   Best Artiste in African Rock M'vula (Angola) - Tristezase Alegrias   Best Female Artiste in Inspirational Music Naomi Achu (Cameroon) - Busy Body   Best Male Artiste in Inspirational Music Icha Kavons (DRC Congo) - Testimony   Video of the year in Africa VVIP (Ghana) - Dogoyaro   Revelation of the African Continent Falz (Nigeria) - Bad Baddo Baddest   Song of the Year Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) - Utanipenda   Producer of the Year Kuseim (Uganda) - Mbilo Mbilo   Artiste of the Year Wizkid (Nigeria) - Final (Baba Nla)   Best Artiste in African Jazz Jimmy Dludlu (South Africa) - Ha Deva  

REGIONAL CATEGORIES

Best Female in Central Africa Bruna Tatiana (Angola) - Prometo Mudar   Best Male in Central Africa Wax Dey (Cameroon) - Saka Makossa   Best Female artist in East Africa Cindy Sanyu (Uganda) - Still Standing   Best Male in East Africa Diamond Platinumz (Tanzania) - Utanipenda   Best Female Artist in Northern Africa Zina Daoudia (Morocco) - La Waheed Wala Million   Best Male Artist in North Africa DJ Van (Morocco) - #Woman   Best Female in Southern Africa Sally Boss Madam (Namibia) - Natural   Best Male in Southern Africa Black Coffee (South Africa) - Come with Me   Best Male artiste in West Africa Flavour (Nigeria) - Dance   Best Female Artiste in West Africa Aramide (Nigeria) - I don't Care