Culled from a total of 9,067 entries submitted- the highest number ever recorded by the awards, since its inception – the AFRIMA jury selected a total of 382 nominations across 39 categories, to represent all five regions in Africa, as well as in the diaspora. Recall that the jury, composed of a 12-member panel of music experts, as well as the AUC, held a 10-day adjudication, in July, to sieve out the best of entries from the fray to make up the list.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Best Male Artist in Central Africa

• C4 Pedro
• Dadju
• Fally Ipupa
• Innoss’B
• Gaz Mawete
• Matias Damasio
• Ninho
• Roga Roga & Extra Musica
• Tayc
• Tenor ft. Innoss’B

Best Female Artist in Central Africa

• Asaba
• Blanche Bailly ft. Joeboy
• Emma’a
• Espoir La Tigresse
• Pérola
• Shay
• Vernyuy Tina
• Zara Williams ft. C4 Pedro

Best Male Artist in Eastern Africa

• Addis Legesse
• Bien (& Aaron Rimbui)
• Diamond Platnumz ft. Zuchu
• Eddy Kenzo
• Kassmasse
• King Saha
• Marioo ft. Jovial
• Mbosso ft. Costa Titch & Phantom Steeze
• Nyashinski ft. Femi One
• Rayvanny ft. Vjollca

Best Female Artist in Eastern Africa

• Betty G
• Tanasha Donna
• Frida Amani
• Hewan Gebrewold
• C4 Pedro
• Dadju
• Fally Ipupa
• Innoss’B
• Gaz Mawete
• Matias Damasio
• Ninho
• Roga Roga & Extra Musica
• Tayc
• Tenor ft. Innoss’B

Best Female Artist in Central Africa

• Asaba
• Blanche Bailly ft. Joeboy
• Emma’a
• Espoir La Tigresse
• Pérola
• Shay

• Vernyuy Tina
• Zara Williams ft. C4 Pedro

Best Male Artist in Eastern Africa

• Addis Legesse
• Bien (& Aaron Rimbui)
• Diamond Platnumz ft. Zuchu
• Eddy Kenzo
• Kassmasse
• King Saha
• Marioo ft. Jovial
• Mbosso ft. Costa Titch & Phantom Steeze
• Nyashinski ft. Femi One
• Rayvanny ft. Vjollca

Best Female Artist in Eastern Africa

• Betty G
• Tanasha Donna
• Frida Amani
• Hewan Gebrewold
• Muthaka
• Nandy
• Nikita Kering
• Rosa Ree
• Spice Diana ft. DJ Seven
• Zuchu ft. Bontle Smith & Tyler

Best Male Artist in Northern Africa

• Ali Loka
• Ahmed Saad ft. 3enba & Double Zuksh
• A.L.A
• DJ Snake
• Draganov
• El Grande Toto
• Marwan Moussa
• Snor
• Soolking
• Wegz

Best Female Artist in Northern Africa

• Faouzia
• Jaylann
• Kenza Morsli ft. DJ Adel
• Lyna Mahyem
• Manal
• Marwa Loud & Moha K
• Ruby
• Rym

Best Male Artist in Southern Africa

• A-Reece
• Blxckie feat A-Reece
• DJ Tarico
• Gemini Major
• Focalistic

African Fans Favourite

•  ‘Dibango Dibanga’ – Bello Falcao

• ‘Tempela’ – Ch’cco, Mellow, Sleazy Nkao
•  ‘Ameno Amapiano’ – Goya Menor & Nektunez
•  ‘Sip (Alcohol)’ – Joeboy
•  ‘Monalisa (Remix)’ – Lojay X Sarz ft. Chris Brown
•  ‘Overloading (Overdose)’ – Mavins; Ayra Starr, Boy Spyce, Crayon, Ladipoe, Magixx
• ‘Ku Lo Sa’ – Oxlade

• Nack’ – The Therapist
• ‘Dada’ – Young Jonn
• ‘Adiwele’ – Young Stunna ft. Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa

Album of the Year

• 9: Esan – Brymo
• Love, Damini – Burna Boy
• Cullilan – Dadju
• First of All – Diamond Platnumz
• History – Dadi B
• KOA II – Kabza De Small
• Amagama – Nomfundo Moh
• Timbuktu – Oumou Sangare
• Sans Visa – Soolking
• Rave & Roses – Rema

Artist of the Year

• Burna Boy
• CKay
• Dadju
• Diamond Platnumz
• Fireboy DML
• Kabza De Small
• Manal
• Tiwa Savage
• Wegz
• Zakes Batwini

Best African Collaboration

• ‘Al Moulouk’ – Ahmed Saad ft. 3enba & Double Zuksh
• ‘Onde Anda’ – Onde Anda
• ‘Big Flexa’ – Costa Titch ft. C’buda M, Alfa Kat, Banaba Des, Sdida & Man T
• ‘Champion Sound’ – Davido ft. Focalistic
• ‘Peru Remix’ – Fireboy ft. Ed Sheeran
• ‘Tigini (Remix)’ – Kikimoteleba ft. Franglish
• ‘Buga’ – Kizz Daniel ft. Tekno
• ‘Mi Amour’ – Marioo ft. Jovial
• ‘Moyo’ – Mbosso, Costa Titch, Phantom Steeze
• ‘Somebody’s Son’ – Tiwa Savage ft. Brandy

Best African Act in Diaspora (Female)

• Aya Nakamura
• Bey T
• Darkoo
• Faouzia
• Moha K, Marwa Loud
• Nata
• Rimon
• Ronisia
• Shay
• Soraia Ramos

Best African Act in Diaspora (Male)

• Calema
• Dadju
• Dafencii
• DJ Snake
• Gil Semedo
• Jae5
• Ninho
• Soolking
• Tion Wayne
• Ya Levia

Best African Band, Duo or Group

• Calema & Zé Felipe
• Disco Misr, Aziz Maraka
• Jano Band

• Mafikizolo
• Major League DJz
• Ridimz
• The Cavemen
• Toofan
• Umoja Sounds
• Wanavakali

Best African DJ

• DJ Lito
• DJ P2N
• DJ Snake
• DJ Tarica
• DJ Yessonia
• Major League DJz
• DJ Zinhle
• DJ Spinall
• Uncle Waffles
• Zakes Batwini

Best African Rapper/Lyricist

• A-Reece
• Dafencii
• Didi B
• Dip Doundou Guiss
• Marwan Moussa
• Ladipoe
• LAMB (Loose Kaynon, A-Q, MI, Blaqbonez)
• Nata
• Nay Wa Mitego
• Youssoupha

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Dance or Choreography

• Ans-T Crazy
• Costa Titch
• Eltee Skhillz
• Kamo Mphela
• Portable X Poco Lee
• Roga Roga & Extra Musica
• Serge Beynaud
• Simi
• Spice Diana
• Toofan

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Electro

• Asake
• Costa Titch
• Davido
• DJ Maphorisa
• DJ Snake
• DJ Yessonia
• Felo Le Tee
• Mbosso
• Tresor
• Zakes Bantwini

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop

• Black Sherif
• Blxckie
• Cdrik Kodjo
• Darkoo
• Didi B
• KikiMoteleba ft. Franglish
• Marwan Moussa
• Nay Wa Mitego
• Ninho

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Pop

• Adekunle Gold, Davido
• CKay
• Kizz Daniel & Tekno
• Kouz1
• Matias Damasio
• Pheelz, BNXN
• Ronisia
• Roseline Layo
• Soraia Ramos
• Tenor ft. Innoss’B

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Reggae, Ragga, Dancehall

• DJ Lito, Bebe Cool, Sheilah Gashumba, SlickStuartRoja
• Fave

• Femi One, King Kaka & Mbithi
• KiDi
• Navy Kenzo
• Nutty O
• Rosa Ree
• Ruger
• Teddy Afro
• Winky D

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African RnB & Soul

• Ahmed Basyoni & Hussein Gamal
• Bridget Blue
• C4 Pedro
• Frida Amani x Mayunga
• Lil Jay
• Tayc
• Tiwa Savage, Amaarae
• Nomfundo Moh, ShaSha & Ami Faku
• Omah Lay
• Ya Levis

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Rock

• Amir Eid
• Clay
• Daniel Baron
• Franck Biyong
• RASH
• Reën & Refentse Morake

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Traditional

• Azaya, Djelykaba Bintou
• Betty G
• Josey ft. Bonigo
• Lencho Gemechu
• Manamba Kante
• Flavour
• Oumr Sangare
• Rokia Kone & Jacknife Lee
• Royalty
• Stewart Sukuma

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Contemporary

• Adekunle Gold ft. Fatoumata Dawara
• Alikiba
• Brymo
• Fadilee Itulya, Fidq & Goemi
• Fally Ipuppa
• Fior 2 Bior
• Roga Roga & Extra Musica
• Sidiki Diabate
• Wallly B. Seck, Viviane

Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Jazz

• Addis Legesse
• Elida Almeida, Jimmy P
• Franck Biyong
• Guta Abera
• Jano Band
• Jimmy Dludlu, Rhodalia Silvestre, Dx Nuvunga, Mano Tsotsi
• Kelvin Momo, TBO, JaySax
• Somi
• Thapelo Lekoane
• The Cavemen, Made Kuti

Best Soundtrack Movies, Series or Documentary

• ‘AlMoulouk’ (Moon Knight) – Ahmed Saad ft. 3enba & Double Zuksh
• ‘A Body, A Coffin’ (Black Panther Wanda Forever Prologue EP) – Amaarae & Marvel
• ‘Ima’ – Dadju
• ‘ODG’ (The Blood Covenant Movie) – Eltee Skhillz
• ‘EL Ghazala Raye2a’ ( Zeko) – Mohamed Osama & Karim Mahmoud (Ahmed Tarik Yahia)
• ‘Speed Life (Sonic 2 Film)
• ‘No Woman, No Cry’ (Black Panther Wanda Forever Prologue EP) – Tems & Marvel
• ‘B3oda Ya Belady’ (Captains of Zaatari) – Wegz

Best African Music Video

• ‘Moustahil’ – Amine Boumediene
• ‘Big Flexa’ – Casta Titch
• ‘Woman’ – Simi
• ‘Nwoke Oma’ – Chike
• ‘Disco Maghreb’ – DJ Snake
• ‘Sewasew’ – Maranta Da Silva
• ‘ Suavamente’ – Soolking
• ‘Buga’ – Kizz Daniel ft. Tekno

Breakout Artist of the Year

• Asake
• Camidoh
• Costa Titch
• Daliwonga
• El Grande Toto
• Fior 2 Bior
• Hewan Gebrewold
• Marwan Moussa
• Nomfundo Moh
• Pheelz

Most Promising Artist

• Ans-T Crazy
• Dafencii
• Fave
• Frida Amani
• Jeeba
• Khanyisa
• Kikimoteleba
• Lloyiso
• Magixx
• Zara Williams

Producer of the Year

• C4 Pedro
• CKay & BMH
• Kimambo Beats
• Nyadjiko & Dadju
• Rahal
• Reward Beatz
• Sdida & Man T
• Serge Beynaud
• Stan-E Kibulu & William Grigahcine

Song of the Year

• ‘Kwaku The Traveller’ – Black Sherif
• ‘Last Last’ – Burna Boy
• ‘Big Flexa’ – Costa Titch ft. C’buda M, Alfa Kat, Banaba Des, Sdida & Man T
• ‘Ambassadeur’ – Dadju

• Tala’ – Didi B
• ‘Disco Maghreb’ – DJ Snake
• ‘Peru’ (Remix) – Fireboy DML ft. Ed Sheeran
• ‘Buga’ – Kizz Daniel ft. Tekno
• ‘Mi Amor’ – Marioo ft. Jovial
• ‘Calm Down’ – Rema
• ‘Suavemente’ – Soolking
• ‘El Bakht’ – Wegz

Songwriter of the Year

• Bridget Blue and Jibril Blessing
• Daniel Baron
• Lloyiso Mandlovandile Gigana, Luke Goliath
• Martin Obudho, Muthaka
• Matias Damasio
• Mordecai ‘Dex’ Mwini
• Olawale Olofo’ro
• Rokia Kone, Garret Lee
• Iba One
• Sidy Diop

Best Global Act

• Anitta
• Brandy
• Chris Brown
• Drake
• Ed Sheeran
• Justin Bieber
• Maluma
• Popcaan
• Tyga
• Vitaa

Best Female Artist in Africa Inspirational Music 

• Bridget Blue
• Chaama & Eljoee
• Diana Hamilton
• DJ Zinle
• Irene Robert
• Janet Otieno
• Makhadzi
• Manal
• TY Bello

Best Male Artist in Africa Inspirational Music 

• Davido
• Grace Lokwa
• Kassmasse
• KS Bloom, Chike
• Nathaniel Bassey
• Noel Nderitu
• Samthing Soweto
• Wave Rhyder