Wiyaala and Bro Philemon won a total of three awards at the maiden edition of the All Africa Music Awards held at the Grand Oriental Ballroom, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday.
Wiyaala won two of the coveted 23.9-carat gold-plated trophies for The Most Promising Artist in Africa and The Revelation of the African Continent, whilst Bro Philemon took home the trophy for the Best Inspirational Artist of the African Continent.
The glitteringly ceremony which celebrates musical talent across the African continent was broadcast live on 109 TV Stations and attended by a host of international African music celebrities including Davido (Nigeria), 2face Ibidia (Nigeria), DJ Arafat (Cote D’Ivoire); Mi Casa (South Africa); Ahmed Soultan (Morocco); Laurette La Perle (Democratic Republic of Congo); Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania); Radio and Weasel (Uganda); Lawi (Malawi); D Bling (Mozambique); Davina Green (Mozambique); Cindy Munyavi (Zimbabwe); MC Mahjoul (Algeria); Elani (Kenya) and Dear Zim (South Africa).
The multi-cultural event included themes from the rich Egyptian heritage of the Pharaoh era to the earthy depth of the artistically intricate Benin Kingdom and the fierce power of the Zulu Kingdom was set alight with fierce live performances from Wiyaala and Davido amongst others.
The Upper West songstress has bounced back in style and has ended the year with a string of awards and citations including Face of Pepsi Ghana, Converse All Stars Brand Ambassador for Ghana, the Youth Achievers Award of the Upper West, Female Personality of the Year at the Sissala Prestige Awards, Music Ambassador for the Upper West and for being the Indomie Kid’s Music Icon of the year besides Saturday’s Afrima Pan-African accolades.
In her acceptance speech, Wiyaala said that she hoped that her success would serve as an example to her community in the Upper West that there was a future for young women beyond an early forced marriage which can lead to independence and self-fulfillment. The singer added that Afrima had done a great job in providing a great awards platform to include all African countries and predicted that it would by next year become the premier African awards event for artists and music lovers alike.
A FULL LIST OF THE AWARD WINNERS HERE
BEST MALE ARTIST IN WEST AFRICA
Davido
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE IN WEST AFRICA
Angelique Kidjo
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE IN NORTH AFRICA
Noura Mint Seymale
BEST MALE ARTISTE IN NORTH AFRICA
Ahmed Soultan
BEST EAST AFRICAN MALE ARTIST
Diamond
BEST EAST AFRICAN FEMALE ARTIST
Vanessa Mdee
BEST MALE ARTISTE IN CENTRAL AFRICA
Fally Ipupa
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE IN CENTRAL AFRICA
Laurette La Perle
BEST MALE ARTISTE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
Heavy K
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
Cindy Munyavi
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE IN AFRICAN INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC
Nikki Laoye
BEST MALE ARTISTE IN AFRICAN INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC
Bro Philemon
BEST AFRICAN CONTEMPORARY
Angelique Kidjo
MOST PROMISING ARTISTE IN AFRICA
Wiyaala
BEST AFRICAN ROCK
Dear Zim
BEST AFRICAN TRADITIONAL
Adjiboye
BEST AFRICAN HIP-HOP (SONG)
Davido
BEST AFRICAN POP (SONG)
Elani
BEST AFRICAN RNB & SOUL
2BABA
BEST AFRICAN REGGAE, RAGGA & DANCEHALL
Radio and Weasel
BEST AFRICAN TRADITIONAL
Yinka Ayanda
BEST AFRICAN GROUP/ DUO/BAND
P square
BEST AFRICAN COLLABORATION
D’Banj and Friends (Cocoa na Chocolate)
REVELATION OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT
Wiyaala
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Olawale Ashimi (Down)
PRODUCERS OF THE YEAR
Don Jazzy (for Eminado) and Robbie Malinga & Mojalefa Thebe (for Impilo)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Baddest Guy ever liveth (olamide)
BEST VIDEO
Bez (Say)
SONG OF THE YEAR
Davido (Aiye)
ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Davido