AFRIMA Win Is Career-Changing for Juma Jux and Folex, Say East African Creatives

Award-winning Tanzanian singer Juma Jux and music video director Folex have described their victories at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) as career-defining moments, highlighting the growing impact of the continental platform on East African music.

The artists shared their experiences during a media and stakeholders’ engagement organised by the AFRIMA International Committee at the Urban by City Blue Hotel in Dar es Salaam. The forum brought together musicians, regulators, executives and media professionals to assess how AFRIMA is shaping opportunities for creatives in the region.

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“The Exposure Is Massive” – Juma Jux

Juma Jux, who won Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa at the awards ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria, said the recognition significantly expanded his professional reach beyond Tanzania.

The ceremony, which took place from January 7 to 11, 2026, featured winners from all five African regions and was broadcast to audiences in 84 countries.

“AFRIMA places you on a continental and global stage,” Jux said, noting that the exposure has opened new doors for collaborations and international visibility.

He called for stronger partnerships between AFRIMA and Tanzanian government institutions to ensure artists benefit not only from recognition, but also from training, knowledge sharing and structured industry support.

Folex: Recognition Validates East African Creatives

Music video director Folex, who won Best Music Video of the Year for Juma Jux’s “Ololufemi” featuring Diamond Platnumz, said the award affirmed the quality and competitiveness of Tanzanian creative professionals.

Released in November 2024, the video competed against top international productions from across the continent.

“The experience in Lagos connected me to new professional networks and learning opportunities,” Folex said. “It shows that East African creatives can compete successfully on the global stage.”

AFRIMA as a Development Platform

Victoria Nkong, Associate Producer of AFRIMA, explained that the awards have evolved beyond celebrating talent to becoming a development and capacity-building platform for Africa’s creative industries.

She said AFRIMA’s mission includes talent promotion, industry growth and creating pathways that move artists from local recognition to global visibility.

Nkong stressed the importance of engaging stakeholders in Tanzania, noting that collaboration with government institutions and industry bodies is essential to strengthening East Africa’s presence on the global music stage.

Tanzania Signals Readiness to Partner

Selemani Mabisso, Acting Assistant Director of the Music Department at Tanzania’s National Arts Council (BASATA), confirmed the council’s willingness to partner with AFRIMA and other international organisations.

He said BASATA is prepared to support initiatives that help position Tanzanian creatives competitively in global markets.

Highlights of the 9th AFRIMA

The 9th AFRIMA was organised by the African Union Commission and AFRIMA’s International Executive Committee, in partnership with the Lagos State Government.

The five-day celebration featured seven major events, including:

• A Welcome Soirée
• The Africa Music Business Summit
• The AFRIMA Music Village at Ikeja City Mall, where over 25 artists performed for more than 30,000 attendees

The grand finale at the Eko Convention Centre was broadcast to audiences in 84 countries, with 1,216 artists, delegates and production team members from 48 African countries participating, according to AFRIMA President Mike Dada.

Other Notable Winners

Nigerian star Rema emerged as the most decorated artist, winning three awards, including Artiste of the Year.
Burna Boy took home Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness, while Shallipopi won Song of the Year for Laho.

Other regional winners included:

• Wendy Shay (Ghana) – Best Female Artiste in Western Africa
• Element Eleéh (Rwanda) – Best Producer of the Year, becoming the first Rwandan to win the category

All winners were selected through a jury process involving seasoned music industry experts.