The African Union (AU) and the International Executive Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) have praised the Lagos State Government, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, sponsors, partners and media organisations for their roles in the successful hosting of the 9th edition of the awards.
The five-day celebration of African music, held in Lagos from January 7 to 11, 2026, brought together artistes, delegates and stakeholders from more than 48 African countries, furthering AFRIMA’s status as the continent’s leading music awards platform.
Speaking after the event, Head of Culture at the African Union Commission, Angela Martins, said the success of the awards reflected the growing global influence of African music and the strength of collaboration between public and private institutions.
“AFRIMA has continued to project Africa’s musical and cultural strength to the world,” Martins said. “The support and commitment from the Lagos State Government, sponsors, partners and the media ensured a smooth and memorable celebration of African music.
“AFRIMA has grown beyond an awards ceremony to become a powerful platform for African unity and cultural expression. Through music, we are telling Africa’s stories in our own voice and showing the world the depth of our creativity. Each edition strengthens the bond among African countries and reminds us that culture remains one of our strongest tools for integration and development.”
She commended Lagos for once again demonstrating its capacity to host major international events, describing the state as a key hub in Africa’s creative economy.
AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, Mike Dada, also expressed appreciation to all partners and sponsors, with special praise for the Lagos State Government and Governor Sanwo-Olu.
“We are sincerely grateful to all our partners and sponsors who believed in the AFRIMA vision and stood by us throughout the planning and execution of the 9th edition,” Dada said. “Their support shows a shared belief in the power of African music as a tool for unity, cultural pride and economic growth across the continent.
“We give special thanks to the Lagos State Government and His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for the strong support, cooperation and enabling environment that made the 9th AFRIMA a huge success. From logistics to security and overall hospitality, Lagos once again proved to be a welcoming home for Africa’s creative industry.”
Key sponsors and partners for the 9th edition included First Bank of Nigeria, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), The Address Homes, Guinness Nigeria, Utilita and Gobet247.
International cultural support came from the British High Commission in Nigeria and the Embassy of Sweden, which participated as Cultural Exchange Partners. Other partners included Glenfiddich, Jägermeister, Super Travels Limited, Pan-Atlantic Travels, Wakanow, Dorf Travels & Tours Ltd, Vaniti Lagos, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) and Mainland Block Party Lagos.
AFRIMA also acknowledged its official media partners, including DSTV/Multichoice, Television Continental (TVC), African Union of Broadcasters (AUB), Silverbird Group, Kennis FM, Afro Music Pop, Hip TV, Base FM, Beat FM, Classic FM, Hot FM, Lagos Talks Inspiration FM and Lasgidi FM.
Other media partners were Legit.ng, Max FM, Nigeria Info, Nigezie, The Culture Newspapers (TCN), QED and Yanga FM. Out-of-home visibility for the event was supported by Motomedia, Yartview Ltd, Optimus Exposure, Plural Media, Folham Nigeria Limited and Nimbus Media.
According to Dada, the strong list of sponsors and media partners reflects growing confidence in AFRIMA and the African music industry.
AFRIMA’s week-long festivities opened with a Welcome Soirée on Wednesday, January 7, hosted at the residence of the Deputy British High Commissioner, where guests and nominees were received. This was followed by the Africa Music Business Summit at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, which brought together music professionals to discuss the future of the industry.
The celebration continued on Friday, January 9, at the AFRIMA Music Village at Ikeja City Mall, where more than 25 top artistes performed before over 30,000 fans.
The grand finale took place at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, where the hall was filled as thousands watched the awards night, broadcast to 84 countries worldwide. Winners, including artistes, producers and directors, were honoured with the 23.9-carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy.
