In case you blinked on Sunday night time, you in all probability missed one of many largest moments in African music this yr.

Sunday night time in Lagos belonged to Rema, because the 25-year-old celebrity emerged as the most important winner on the ninth All Africa Music Awards. The ceremony, held on the Eko Inns Conference Centre, noticed the Mavin Data artiste stroll away with three of the night time’s most prestigious awards.

Rema kicked off his successful streak with Finest Male Artiste in Western Africa, beating out heavyweight contenders together with Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid. He didn’t cease there. The singer went on to assert Artiste of the Yr, the very best honour of the night time, and in addition picked up Finest African Artiste in RnB/Soul for his hit monitor “Child, (Is It A Crime).”

Taking the stage, Rema mirrored on how far he has come since his breakout in 2019. Now 25, he jokingly described himself as “getting previous,” whereas celebrating seven years of consistency within the trade. Based on him, nonetheless standing on main phases and receiving awards in spite of everything these years is one thing he doesn’t take evenly.

Past the jokes, his speech carried a deeper message. Echoing sentiments from his viral 2023 Headies second, Rema urged fellow artistes to proceed backing African-owned platforms and establishments. He pressured that the long-term world success of Afrobeats will depend on unity and assist for homegrown constructions fairly than division.

The night time wasn’t nearly Rema, although. The ninth AFRIMA additionally delivered notable wins for Burna Boy, who clinched Album of the Yr for “No Signal of Weak point,” whereas Shallipopi took residence Tune of the Yr with “Laho.”

Nonetheless, when the lights went down and the awards had been counted, it was clear who owned the night time. ICYMI, Rema didn’t simply win massive at AFRIMA; he reminded everybody why he stays one of many defining voices of this era of Afrobeats.