The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, in partnership with the African Union Commission, is set to host the Diamond Party and Prize Presentation on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, at Voyage Lagos in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen talent development and support the long-term growth of Africa’s creative industry.
The event will honour seven emerging African artistes, Ellacentric, Black Astro, Yamayeh Vibez, Mayowa Afolabi, DELLFIRE, El Nayaan and Blinkz Baba, collectively known as the AFRIMA Diamonds. The artistes were discovered through the AFRIMA Talent Discovery and Promotion Initiative, a programme aimed at identifying, nurturing and elevating the next generation of African music talents.
The Diamond Party marks the conclusion of a year-long talent discovery and development process that attracted entries from across the continent. Following a selection exercise conducted by AFRIMA’s International Jury, the seven artistes were chosen and later performed at the AFRIMA Music Village during the ninth AFRIMA Awards held in Lagos.
Their performances introduced them to more than 10,000 music fans at the venue, while also reaching millions of viewers through global broadcast networks and digital streaming platforms across Africa and the diaspora.
Speaking ahead of the event, Member of the International Jury of AFRIMA representing Northern Africa, Marwane Fachane, said the organisation’s vision extends beyond celebrating established stars to building sustainable opportunities for young African creatives.
“AFRIMA is not only focused on rewarding excellence in African music; we are equally committed to creating structures and opportunities that support the future of the industry. Through the Talent Discovery and Promotion Initiative, we are intentionally investing in young African talents by providing visibility, mentorship, industry access and platforms that can accelerate their growth and global competitiveness,” Fachane said.
He added that the initiative forms part of AFRIMA’s wider strategy to contribute to the sustainable growth of Africa’s creative economy by connecting emerging artistes with key stakeholders in the music industry.
“These young talents are being exposed to record label executives, producers, promoters, broadcasters and other key industry players who can guide their careers and open doors to greater opportunities. The objective is to ensure that African creatives are not only discovered, but also properly supported to thrive within the global music ecosystem,” he added.
Fachane described the Diamond Party as both a celebration of emerging talent and a launchpad for future opportunities within the global entertainment industry.
“The seven Diamonds have already demonstrated immense potential on the AFRIMA stage before thousands of fans and millions of viewers globally. This event formally introduces them to wider opportunities within the African and international music industry while reinforcing AFRIMA’s commitment to talent development and cultural advancement,” he stated.
As part of their continued professional development, the finalists have also been selected to participate in the Showbiz 101 Workshop and Music Creation Camp organised by bridgeAFRIC, scheduled to take place in Lagos from 23 to 30 June 2026.
President of bridgeAFRIC, Victoria Nkong, described the initiative as a critical investment in the future of Africa’s creative sector.
“At bridgeAFRIC, we strongly believe that Africa’s creative future depends on how intentionally we invest in emerging talents today. The AFRIMA Diamonds have already shown remarkable promise, and through the Showbiz 101 Workshop & Music Creation Camp, we want to help sharpen their artistry, deepen their understanding of the music business, and expose them to collaboration opportunities by putting them in the studio with some of the biggest music producers and artistes in Africa like Mastercraft, Qing Madi, Makhadzi, Tamsir, Phina e.t.c and link them to mentorship that can accelerate their careers,” Nkong said.
She also praised AFRIMA for creating platforms that extend beyond awards recognition to support long-term talent development across Africa.
“AFRIMA continues to demonstrate leadership in building a stronger African creative ecosystem. We are excited to collaborate in empowering these young artistes with the knowledge, networks and opportunities they need to compete globally while proudly representing African creativity and culture,” she added.
The event is being organised in partnership with SE Electronics and Voyage Lagos, both supporting emerging African creatives through strategic collaborations.
Voyage Lagos will provide hospitality support, while SE Electronics will present professional audio equipment and music production tools to selected talents to aid their artistic development.
According to Bolaji Onisiwo, Management for New Media Technologies Nigeria, the national distributor for SE Electronics, the partnership reflects a commitment to strengthening Africa’s creative economy.
“SE Electronics is demonstrating a strong commitment to the future of African music. Through this collaboration, these young artistes are receiving not just recognition, but practical support, industry exposure and access to tools that can help shape their careers. This is how sustainable creative industries are built,” he said.
The Diamond Party and Prize Presentation is expected to attract prominent figures from Africa’s entertainment industry, including rapper Ladipoe, Afrobeats star Qing Madi, media personality Olisa Adibua, radio host Dotun ‘Energy Gahd’, creative director Alex Okeke and influencer Enioluwa, alongside music executives, entrepreneurs and cultural stakeholders.
AFRIMA remains Africa’s biggest and longest-running music awards platform, with its week-long programme broadcast to more than 85 countries worldwide. The Talent Discovery and Promotion Initiative continues to play a central role in AFRIMA’s vision of developing globally competitive African talents while promoting youth empowerment, innovation and African culture.
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