The awards ceremony took place on Sunday, January 11, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria, marking the ninth edition of AFRIMA. Element EleéeH from Rwanda clinched the award thanks to his hit song “Tombe”, surpassing top producers such as Tempoe (“With You” – Davido & Omah Lay), Hezer (Diplomatico – El Grande Toto), Progrex (Laho – Shallipopi), DaVinci (Super Homem – Liliany), and Jazzworx (Bengicela – various African artists).
Invited by the AFRIMA organizers, Element also performed at the ceremony and entertained guests during the welcome reception.
Beyond his win as Producer of the Year, Element was nominated for Best Male Artist in Eastern Africa, competing against artists including Rwanda’s Bruce Melodie.
He represented the category with “Tombe”, while Melodie performed “Beauty of Fire” featuring Joeboy. Element was also in contention for Songwriter of the Year for the same track, showcasing his creative contribution to AFRIMA’s recognition.
Meanwhile, Nigerian superstar Rema made history by dominating AFRIMA 2026. He won three major awards: Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in RnB & Soul, further cementing his continental and global reputation.
Other notable winners included:
Burna Boy – Album of the Year (No Sign of Weakness)
Yemi Alade – Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series, or Documentary (You Are)
Shallipopi – Song of the Year (Laho) and Best African Collaboration (with Burna Boy)
Phyno – Best African Artiste in African Hip-Hop
Chella – African Fans’ Favourite
Qing Madi – Most Promising Artiste of the Year
Element’s win, alongside Rema’s historic sweep, highlights the growing global impact of African music and the rising influence of talent from different countries competing on an international stage.
AFRIMA 2026 Continental Highlights:
Best Male Artiste, Eastern Africa: Jux (Tanzania) – Winner; Other nominees included Element EleéeH (Rwanda), Bruce Melodie (Rwanda), Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania).
Best Producer: Element EleéeH (Rwanda) – Winner.
Best Songwriter: Element EleéeH (Tombe, Rwanda) – Nominee.
Artiste of the Year: Rema (Nigeria) – Winner.
Best African Video of the Year: Mbosso (Ova, Tanzania) – Winner.
Song of the Year: Shallipopi (Laho, Nigeria) – Winner.
Other winners from the continent included Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Chella, Phyno, and Qing Madi, reflecting a vibrant and competitive African music scene across genres and regions.
Element EleéeH has won the Producer of the Year award at the 2026 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)
Rema Makes History at AFRIMA 2026, Wins Three Major Awards