The globally-anticipated Nominees List for the 5th All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, has been unveiled by the African Union Commission, AUC, and the International Jury of AFRIMA, during a World Media announcement held on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The released nominees list covers the five Regional Categories divided into Female and Male categories as follows: Best Female Artiste in Central Africa; Best Male Artiste in Central Africa; Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa; Best Female Artiste in Northern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa; Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa; Best Female Artiste in Western Africa and Best Male Artiste in Western Africa.
A total of 79 songs made it to the Regional nominees list.
The AFRIMA’s open voting process will occur via the AFRIMA website, www.afrima.org. Music lovers will be empowered to decide which artiste/song emerges winners of the 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy.
The 5th AFRIMA is scheduled to hold in November 2018, other activities scheduled for the main awards events is the Africa Music Business Roundtable, a combination of musical conference and trade expo where stakeholders in the creative and arts industry come together to discuss the business of music in Africa, also the AFRIMA Music Village, a music concert and cultural festival that accommodates over 40,000 music lovers across the continent who witness live performances from their favourite African artistes.
Below is the nominees’ list and their various categories.
| Best Female Artiste in Central Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Amanda Malela | DRC | Kumama |
| 2 | Anabela Aya | Angola | I love you Bue |
| 3 | Blanche Baily | Cameroon | BonBon |
| 4 | Bruna Tatiana | Angola | Amo-te |
| 5 | Charlotte Dipanda ft Yemi Alade | Cameroon | Sista |
| 6 | Daphne | Cameroon | Jusqu’à La Gare |
| 7 | Iyenga | DRC | Sorry |
| 8 | Shura | Cameroon | Allez Dire |
| Best Male Artiste in Central Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | AFROTRONIX | Chad | DYD |
| 2 | Belamy Paluku (DRC) | DRC | Blood Brothers |
| 3 | Dadju | DRC | Bob Marley |
| 4 | FALLY IPUPA FT KEBACK& NAZ | DRC | MANNEQUIN |
| 5 | GAZ MAWETE | DRC | PAULINA |
| 6 | Locko | Cameroon | Je Serai La |
| 7 | Magasco | Cameroon | Sokoto |
| 8 | Maite Gims Ft. Vianney | DRC | La Meme |
| Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Betty G | Ethiopia | Mengedegna |
| 2 | Irene namatovu | Uganda | Nsambila nyuma nga janzi |
| 3 | Maua Sama | Tanzania | Nakuelewa |
| 4 | Petra Ft. Victoria Kimani | Kenya | I got that |
| 5 | Rash Ft Ruff | Kenya | Nitachange |
| 6 | Sandra Nankoma | Uganda | kaddugala |
| 7 | Sheebah SASHA VYBZ | Uganda | Mummy Yo |
| 8 | Vibe ft MC Galaxy | Rwanda | Neza |
| Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Bebe Cool | Uganda | Freedom |
| 2 | Diamond Platnumz | Tanzania | A boy from Tandale |
| 3 | HARMONIZE FT DIAMOND PLATNUMZ | Tanzania | KWANGWARU |
| 4 | Kagwe Mungai Ft. Niniola | Kenya | Till the end |
| 5 | Khaligraph Jones Ft. Petra | Kenya | Rider |
| 6 | Nyashinski | Kenya | Bebi Bebi |
| 7 | RAYVANNY FT MAPHORISA & DJ BUCKZ | Tanzania | MAKULUSA |
| 8 | Yamiu Mola | Ethiopia | Wegegta |
| Best Female Artiste in Northern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Kenza | Algeria | Maliket Saba |
| 2 | Lyna Mahyem | Algeria | Boucan |
| 3 | Lyna Mahyem ft Medi Meyz | Algeria | Bye Bye |
| 4 | Maryam Saleh, Maurice Louca, Tamer Abu Ghazaleh | Egypt | Ekaa Maksour |
| 5 | N-S feat Kafon | Tunisia | Daloula |
| 6 | Souhia Ben Lachhab | Algeria | Lik Manwalich |
| Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Abu Ft. Yousta | Egypt | 3 Daqat |
| 2 | Balti ft Hamouda | Tunisia | Ya Lili |
| 3 | DJ Moh Green Ft. Magasco | Algeria | Por Favor |
| 4 | Hamza El Fadly | Morocco | Ya Mraya |
| 5 | Lartiste ft Carolina | Morocco | Mafiosa |
| 6 | Muslim | Morocco | Mama |
| 7 | Saad Lamjarred | Morocco | Casablanca |
| 8 | Sofiane Ft. Maitre Gims | Algeria | Arafricain |
| Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Ammara Brown | Zimbabwe | Akiliz |
| 2 | Babes Wodumu | South Africa | Ganda Ganda Ft. Mampintsha & Madanon |
| 3 | Lily | Malawi | Bad at Love |
| 4 | Mandisa Mamba | Swaziland | Party |
| 5 | Nadia Nakai | South Africa | Money Calling Ft. Frank Casino |
| 6 | Rouge | South Africa | Dololo Ft. Bigstar |
| 7 | Ruby the Pigeon | Namibia | Rorisang |
| 8 | Shekhinah | South Africa | Please Mr |
| Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Cassper Nyovest | South Africa | Ksazobalit |
| 2 | EXQ | Zimbabwe | Pahukama Ft. Jah Prayzah |
| 3 | Jah Prayzah | Zimbabwe | Nziyo Yerudo Ft. Yemi Alade |
| 4 | Kwesta | South Africa | Spirit Ft. Wale |
| 5 | Nasty C | South Africa | Jungle |
| 6 | Roberto | Zambia | Contolola Ft. Patoranking |
| 7 | Shane Eagle | South Africa | Let it Flow |
| 8 | Sibusiso Mashiloane | South Africa | Niza |
| Best Female Artiste in Western Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Angelique Kidjo | Benin | Once in a Lifetime |
| 2 | Aya Nakamura | Mali | Oumou Sangare |
| 3 | Becca | Ghana | Number One Ft. Mr. Eazi |
| 4 | Efya | Ghana | Mame Ft. Mr Eazi |
| 5 | Josey | Cote d’Ivoire | Jour J-O |
| 6 | Simi | Nigeria | Joromi |
| 7 | Tiwa Savage | Nigeria | Ma Lo Ft. Wizkid & Spellz |
| 8 | Viviane Chidid | Senegal | Marriage Force |
| Best Male Artiste in Western Africa | |||
| Name of Artist | Country | Track title | |
| 1 | Davido | Nigeria | Fia |
| 2 | DJ Spinall | Nigeria | Nowo Ft. Wizkid |
| 3 | Djodje | Cape Verde | Be Mine Ft. Patoranking |
| 4 | King Promise | Ghana | CCTV Ft. Mugeez |
| 5 | Kuami Eugene | Ghana | Angela |
| 6 | Kwesi Arthur | Ghana | Grind Day Ft. Sarkodie & Medikal |
| 7 | MHD | Guinea | Bella Ft. Wizkid |
| 8 | Olamide | Nigeria | Wo! |
| 9 | Starboy | Nigeria | Soco Ft. Terry, Spotless, Ceeza Milli & Wizkid |
