The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in partnership with the African
Union Commission (AUC) is set to host The Diamond Party and Prize
Presentation on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Voyage Lagos, Nigeria, as
part of its broader commitment to sustainable talent development and the
long-term growth of Africa’s creative and cultural industries.
The event will celebrate seven outstanding emerging African artistes
whose stage names are Ellacentric, Black Astro, Yamayeh Vibez, Mayowa
Afolabi, DELLFIRE, El Nayaan and Blinkz Baba. They are collectively
known as The AFRIMA Diamonds, discovered through the AFRIMA Talent
Discovery and Promotion Initiative, one of the institution’s strategic
development pillars designed to identify, nurture, empower and elevate
the next generation of African music stars.
The Diamond Party represents the culmination of a year-long talent
discovery and development process that attracted entries from emerging
artistes across the continent. Following a rigorous selection process
conducted by AFRIMA’s International Jury, seven exceptional talents
were selected and subsequently given the opportunity to perform at the
AFRIMA Music Village during the 9th AFRIMA Awards held in Lagos,
Nigeria.
The performances introduced the young artistes to an audience of over
10,000 music fans physically present at the venue, while also extending
their reach to millions of viewers across global broadcast networks and
digital streaming platforms within Africa and the diaspora.
Speaking ahead of the Diamond Party, Member of the International Jury of
AFRIMA representing Northern Africa, Marwane Fachane, stated that
AFRIMA’s developmental focus goes far beyond celebrating established
stars, emphasizing the organisation’s commitment to building
sustainable pathways for emerging African creatives.
_“AFRIMA is not only focused on rewarding excellence in African
music; we are equally committed to creating structures and opportunities
that support the future of the industry. Through the Talent Discovery
and Promotion Initiative, we are intentionally investing in young
African talents by providing visibility, mentorship, industry access and
platforms that can accelerate their growth and global
competitiveness,”_ Fachane said.
He noted that the initiative forms part of AFRIMA’s wider agenda to
contribute meaningfully to the sustainable growth of Africa’s creative
economy by connecting emerging artistes to critical stakeholders across
the music value chain.
“These young talents are being exposed to record label executives,
producers, promoters, broadcasters and other key industry players who
can guide their careers and open doors to greater opportunities. The
objective is to ensure that African creatives are not only discovered,
but also properly supported to thrive within the global music
ecosystem,” he added.
Fachane further described the Diamond Party as both a celebration of
emerging excellence and a strategic launchpad for the selected talents.
“The seven Diamonds have already demonstrated immense potential on the
AFRIMA stage before thousands of fans and millions of viewers globally.
This event formally introduces them to wider opportunities within the
African and international music industry while reinforcing AFRIMA’s
commitment to talent development and cultural advancement,” he stated.
As part of their reward and continuous professional development, the
seven finalists have also been accepted to participate in the _Showbiz
101 Workshop & Music Creation Camp_ organised by bridgeAFRIC, scheduled
to hold in Lagos, Nigeria from June 23 to June 30, 2026.
Speaking on the opportunity extended to the AFRIMA Diamonds, President
of bridgeAFRIC, Victoria Nkong, described the initiative as an important
investment in the future of Africa’s creative industry.
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“At bridgeAFRIC, we strongly believe that Africa’s creative future
depends on how intentionally we invest in emerging talents today. The
AFRIMA Diamonds have already shown remarkable promise, and through the
Showbiz 101 Workshop & Music Creation Camp, we want to help sharpen
their artistry, deepen their understanding of the music business, and
expose them to collaboration opportunities by putting them in the studio
with some of the biggest music producers and artistes in Africa like
Mastercraft, Qing Madi, Makhadzi, Tamsir, Phina e.t.c and link them to
mentorship that can accelerate their careers,” Nkong said.
She further commended AFRIMA for creating sustainable platforms that go
beyond awards recognition to genuinely support talent development across
the continent.
“AFRIMA continues to demonstrate leadership in building a stronger
African creative ecosystem. We are excited to collaborate in empowering
these young artistes with the knowledge, networks and opportunities they
need to compete globally while proudly representing African creativity
and culture,” she added.
The event is being organised in partnership with SE Electronics and
Voyage Lagos, both of whom are contributing to the development of
emerging African creatives through strategic support and collaboration.
While Voyage Lagos, a premium club, is providing hospitality support for
the event, SE Electronics will present professional audio gear and music
equipment to selected talents to support their creative development,
music production capabilities and artistic journey.
According to the Bolaji Onisiwo, Management for New Media Technologies
Nigeria (national distributor for SE Electronics), ‘this partnership
with AFRIMA is essential to strengthening Africa’s creative ecosystem
and empowering young talents with the resources needed for sustainable
growth’.
“SE Electronics is demonstrating a strong commitment to the future of
African music. Through this collaboration, these young artistes are
receiving not just recognition, but practical support, industry exposure
and access to tools that can help shape their careers. This is how
sustainable creative industries are built,”
The Diamond Party and Prize Presentation is expected to attract leading
personalities from across Africa’s entertainment and creative sectors,
including Rapper Ladipoe, Alternate Afrobeats star Qing Madi; CEO,
Perception Media & Media Personality, Olisa Adibua; Radio Host & Media
Personality, Dotun ‘Energy Gahd’; Founder & Creative Director, Red &
Axla Consults, Alex Okeke and Celebrity Influencer, Enioluwa, alongside
music executives, entertainment entrepreneurs, cultural stakeholders and
industry leaders.
AFRIMA is Africa’s biggest and longest running music awards with its
week-long programme of events broadcast live to over 85 countries around
the world. The Talent Discovery and Promotion initiative remains a
critical part of AFRIMA’s long-term vision to ensure a continuous
pipeline of globally competitive African talents while promoting African
culture, youth empowerment, innovation and creative excellence across
the continent and beyond.
