Lagos has come alive with music, culture and global attention as the Lagos State Government officially welcomed Africa and the international music community to the ninth edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which has begun in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Africa’s biggest music celebration runs from January 7 to 11, 2026, bringing together leading artistes, industry executives, policymakers, and creatives from across the continent and beyond. The five-day cultural showcase opened on Wednesday with a Welcome Soiree for nominees and guests, hosted by the British High Commission in Nigeria.
The programme features a series of high-profile events, including the Africa Music Business Summit on Thursday, January 8; the AFRIMA Music Village on Friday, January 9 at Ikeja City Mall, with performances by over 25 A-list artistes and DJs from across Africa; and the Main Awards Ceremony on Sunday, January 11, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live to audiences in more than 84 countries worldwide.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, described AFRIMA as a major celebration of African creativity and global unity. Representing the state government as the official host city, she said AFRIMA is “a truly remarkable celebration of creativity, excellence, and the unifying power of music across Africa and the world.”
Mrs Benson-Awoyinka noted that music and culture have emerged as strong drivers of economic growth and international connection, stressing that Lagos is proud to host an event that continues to shape global narratives while connecting continents through African sound and storytelling.
Earlier, AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, Mike Dada, explained that the awards, organised in partnership with the African Union Commission, remain Africa’s leading music platform. He described AFRIMA as “the longest and biggest-running African music platform that promotes and showcases African talent to the rest of the world.”
Dada recalled that the previous edition was held in Dakar, Senegal, and said Lagos emerged as host of the ninth edition after extensive deliberations by the African Union. According to him, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu accepted the hosting rights on behalf of the people of Lagos State.
“The goal of AFRIMA goes beyond entertainment. The idea is to showcase African music talent, demonstrate the capacity of the continent and tell the world that Africa is full of excellence. We also use this platform to promote peace and integration, and to show that music can take young people away from the streets,” he said.
He added that AFRIMA also plays a key role in promoting African cities and boosting tourism across the continent. “Many of us know London and Paris more than we know African cities. Through AFRIMA, we promote African destinations to the world, which is why the event is broadcast to over 30 countries,” Dada said.
The AFRIMA President further disclosed that about 6,000 tickets have been made available to the Lagos State Government through the Ministry for distribution across all local governments and LCDAs. The initiative, he said, is aimed at giving young people who may not otherwise afford it free access to the AFRIMA Music Village.
Also speaking at the event, AFRIMA Associate Producer, Olisa Adibua, emphasised the importance of awards platforms to the development of the African music industry. “In other parts of the world, industries thrive because they have infrastructure and systems that reward excellence. For music to grow in Africa, awards like AFRIMA are necessary. We are the backbone and part of the future of the industry,” he stated.
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