While the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in Lagos was largely dominated by headline-grabbing wins from African stars like Rema, Burna Boy, Juma Jux, Yemi Alade, and Phyno, the ceremony also delivered some of its most compelling moments through a different narrative, unexpected winners. In many categories, lesser-known artists surprised everyone by beating bigger, more famous stars.
These wins show that AFRIMA celebrates all African music, not just the biggest…




