Kenyan sensation Nadia Mukami has ascended to the throne of East African music, clinching the coveted title at the 2023 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMAs) held in Dallas, Texas.
Competing against talented artists like Zuchu and Maua Sama from Tanzania, Mukami’s victory is a testament to her musical prowess and growing influence in the region.
In a heartfelt social media post, Mukami expressed her gratitude, “I feel like God’s Favorite because I really struggled for months and I hated music videos and pictures in General! I thank God for his unconditional love and always giving me three things! Grace, Mercy & Favor. Queen of the East is my New Name Now, Thank you Afrimma.”
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Nadia Mukami has also earned a nomination for the Trace Awards, which are set to be held in Africa for the first time, in Kigali. This is alongside Janet Otieno.
The Kenyan nominees were named on October 21, 2023, alongside giants of the African music scene such as Burna Boy, Diamond Platnumz, and Davido.
Full list of Afrimma winners
Artist of the Year
- Asake – Nigeria
- Fally Ipupa – DR Congo
- Diamond Platnumz – Tanzania
- Burna Boy– Nigeria
- Rema – Nigeria (winner)
- SoolKing – Algeria
- Aya Nakamura – Mali
- Davido – Nigeria
Male West Africa
- Adekunle Gold – Nigeria
- Black Sherif – Ghana
- Bnxn – Nigeria
- Santrinos Raphael – Togo
- Asake – Nigeria
- Didi B – Côte d’Ivoire
- King Promise – Ghana (winner)
- Tonton Pal – Mali
- Omah Lay – Nigeria
Female West Africa
- Ammarae – Ghana
- Tems – Nigeria
- Josey – Côte d’Ivoire
- Manamba Kante – Guinea
- Ayra Starr – Nigeria (winner)
- Gyakie – Ghana
- Tiwa Savage – Nigeria
- Fatoumata Diawara – Mali
Male East Africa
- Lij Michael – Ethiopia
- Nyashinski – Kenya
- Eddy Kenzo – Uganda
- Diamond Platnumz – Tanzania (winner)
- Mbosso – Tanzania
- Bien – Kenya
- Harmonize – Tanzania
- Meddy – Rwanda
- Single Dee – South Sudan
Female East Africa
- Maua Sama – Tanzania
- Nadia Mukami – Kenya (winner)
- Zuchu – Tanzania
- Azawi– Uganda
- Nikita Kering – Kenya
- Spice Diana – Uganda
- Fena Gitu – Kenya
- Nandy – Tanzania
- Hewan Gebrewold – Ethiopia
Male Central Africa
- T-Rex – Angola
- Fabregas – DR Congo (winner)
- TayC – Cameroon
- Fally Ipupa – DR Congo
- Calema – São Tomé
- Mic Monsta – Cameroon
- Gerilson Israel – Angola
- Djodje – Cape Verde
Male Southern Africa
- Costa Titch – South Africa
- DJ Tarico – Mozambique
- Macky2 – Zambia
- Musa Keys – South Africa
- DJ Maphorisa – South Africa
- Winky D – Zimbabwe
- AKA – South Africa (winner)
- Han C – Botswana
- Sjava – South Africa
Female Southern Africa
- Ami Faku – South Africa
- Tamy Moyo – Zimbabwe
- Mpho Sebina – Botswana
- DJ Zinhle – South Africa
- Sha Sha – Zimbabwe
- Nadia Nakai – South Africa (winner)
- Towela – Zambia
- Makhadzi – South Africa
- Tyla – South Africa
Newcomer
- Hewan Gebrewold – Ethiopia
- Guchi – Nigeria
- Jyzno – Liberia
- Young Jonn – Nigeria
- Lavalava – Tanzania
- Odumodu Blvck – Nigeria (winner)
- Lisandro Cuxi – Cape Verde
- Lasmid – Ghana
- Shalipopi – Nigeria
Best Gospel
- Mercy Chinwo – Nigeria
- Piesie Esther – Ghana
- Christina Shusho – Tanzania
- Miguel Buila – Angola
- Bidemi Olaoba – Nigeria
- KS Bloom – Côte d’Ivoire
- Mike Kalambay – DRC (winner)
- Joel Lwaga – Tanzania
- Pulani Maphari – South Africa
- Sumisola Agbebi Okeleye – Nigeria
Best Live Act
- Sauti Sol – Kenya
- Burna Boy – Nigeria
- Diamond Platnumz – Tanzania
- Flavour – Nigeria (winner)
- Barnaba – Tanzania
- Fally Ipupa – DR Congo
- Calema – Sao Tomé
- C4 Pedro – Angola
Best Male Rap Act
- Odumodu Black – Nigeria
- Yung Lunya – Tanzania
- Ninho – DR Congo
- Black Sherif – Ghana
- A-Reece – South Africa
- Blaqbonez – Nigeria (winner)
- Blxckie – South Africa
- Marwan Moussa – Egypt
Best Collaboration
- Mbosso ft. Costa Titch & Alfa Kat – ‘Shetani’
- Spyro x Tiwa Savage – ‘Who’s Your Guy?’ (winner)
- Davido x Musa Keys – ‘Unavailable Musa Keys’
- Rema ft. Selena Gomez – ‘Calm Down Remix’
- Wegz x AshMusic – ‘Amira’
- Fally Ipupa ft. Charlotte Dipanda – ‘Garde du Coeur’
- Joshua Baraka ft. Joeboy, King Promise & Bien – ‘Nana Remix’
- Boutross ft. Juiceer Mann – ‘Angela’
Best DJ Africa
- DJ Spinall – Nigeria
- DJ Dollar – Sénégal
- Waffles – South Africa
- Ms DSF – Nigeria (winner)
- DJ Danni Gato – Cape Verde
- DJ Faculty – Ghana
- DJ Nelasta– Angola
- Major League DJz – South Africa
- DJ Consequence – Nigeria
Best African DJ USA
- DJ Nani – Nigeria
- DJ Akua – Ghana
- DJ Prince – Nigeria
- DJ Shinski – Kenya
- DJ Birame BB l’amour – Côte d’Ivoire
- DJ Yas Meen Selectress – Egypt
- Lex and Answer – Zimbabwe
- DJ Freshy K– Nigeria (winner)
Music Producer of the Year
- C4 Pedro – Angola
- Andre Vibez – Nigeria
- 207 – Uganda
- Ayo Lizzer – Tanzania
- Magicstickz – Nigeria
- MOGBeatz – Ghana
- Kabza De Small – South Africa
- Maajabu Gospel – DRC (winner)
- London – Nigeria
Best Francophone
- Fally Ipupa – DR Congo (winner)
- Serge Beynaud – Côte d’Ivoire
- Josey – Côte d’Ivoire
- Wally B. Seck – Sénégal
- TayC – Cameroon
- Innos B – DR Congo
- Tenor – Cameroon
- Dadju – DR Congo
Best African Group
- Disco Misr – Egypt
- Sauti Sol – Kenya
- Calema – São Tomé
- The Cavemen – Nigeria
- Show Dem Camp – Nigeria
- Toofan – Togo (winner)
- Jano Band – Ethiopia
- Mafikizolo – South Africa
AFRIMMA Album of the Year
- Davido – Timeless (winner)
- AKA – Mass Country
- Ammarae – Fountain Baby
- Fatoumata Diawara – London Ko
- Stonebwoy – 5th Dimension
- Asake – Work of Art
- Nomfundo Moh – Ugcobo
- Omah Lay – Boy Alone Deluxe
Lifetime Achievement Award
Fally Ipupa (DR Congo) and Timaya (Nigeria)
AFRIMMA Legendary Awartd
Kcee – Nigeria