AFRIMA 10th Edition: Lagos To Host African Music Awards In May 2027

By Samuel Egbewole

Lagos will host the 10th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), with the grand awards ceremony scheduled for May 23, 2027.

The African Union (AU) and AFRIMA announced Lagos as the host city during the 10th AFRIMA Creative Industry Roundtable and Global Calendar Unveiling in Los Angeles, United States.

The week-long programme will run from May 18 to May 23, with the main ceremony marking the culmination of activities celebrating African music, culture and creative talent.

AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, Mike Dada, said entries for the 10th edition would open globally on October 11, 2026, and close on January 10, 2027.

He said submitted works would undergo collation and pre-screening from January 11 to 14, followed by adjudication from January 15 to 22. The nominees are scheduled to be announced globally on January 29.

Public voting will run from February 21 to May 21, 2027, ahead of the awards ceremony.

Dada said eligible creative works must have been produced and released between August 10, 2025 and January 10, 2027.

According to AFRIMA’s PR and Media Relations Manager, Michael Osunnuyi, the build-up to the 10th edition will include the #Road2AFRIMA10Xperience, taking AFRIMA activities to London, Windhoek, Cotonou, Nairobi, Accra, Paris, Warri and Port Harcourt.

Lagos will also host the AFRIMA 10X Conference, Media Parley and Industry Night on April 14, while university activations and concerts are expected to take place in the city between February and April.

The main programme will begin on May 18 with the AFRIMA Diamond Showcase before culminating in the grand awards ceremony on May 23.

Dada said the milestone edition would celebrate “a decade of African musical excellence” while supporting the continent’s creative economy.

He noted that the increasing global recognition of African artistes had created opportunities for greater investment in the creative sector.

“We must translate this visibility into investment and sustainable creative industries,” Dada said.

The Los Angeles event attracted artistes, actors, producers, media executives and other creative industry stakeholders.

AFRIMA was established in 2013 in partnership with the African Union as an annual platform for celebrating African music, culture and creative talent.