The stage was set, the lights dazzled and the future of African music took centre stage as the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) unveiled seven emerging artistes tipped to become the continent’s next generation of superstars.

During the AFRIMA Diamond Party and Prize Presentation held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Voyage Lagos, Nigeria, AFRIMA Awards, through its Talent Discovery and Promotion programme, formally launched Ellacentric, Black Astro, Yamayeh Vibez, Mayowa Afolabi, DELLFIRE, El Nayaan and Blinkz Baba into the African music space, declaring them the latest talents poised to take African music to greater heights.

The seven artistes, collectively known as the AFRIMA Diamonds, emerged from a continent-wide talent search that attracted entries from aspiring musicians across Africa.

Speaking at the event, the President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, delivered a stirring charge to the young talents, predicting that they could become dominant forces in African music within the next two to three years.

Standing before an audience of entertainment executives, artistes, influencers and industry stakeholders at the prestigious Voyage Lagos, Dada said the Diamonds had been carefully selected because of their exceptional talent and potential to shape the future of African music.

“You are not here by accident. You were chosen because we saw something special in you. We saw talent, passion, discipline and the potential to become stars not just in your countries, but across Africa and the world.

“I am challenging you today to go out and dominate the music space in the next two to three years. The opportunity is here. The platform is here. The spotlight is on you. The next move belongs to you,” he said.

Dada said AFRIMA’s vision extends beyond celebrating established stars, stressing that the awards platform was committed to building a pipeline of globally competitive African talents. He noted that Africa’s growing youth population presents a unique opportunity for governments and industry leaders to invest in the creative sector.

“The world is moving towards a content creation economy. Content is the new currency. Young people are creating value every day through music, digital media, fashion and entertainment. Our culture is our competitive advantage. The question is how we can leverage it for economic benefit, job creation and sustainable development. That is the direction AFRIMA is focused on, and we will continue to invest in initiatives that empower young Africans through creativity,” he said.

The seven Diamonds earned their place after a rigorous selection process conducted by AFRIMA’s International Jury before being introduced to a wider audience through performances at the AFRIMA Music Village during the ninth AFRIMA Awards.

At the party in their honour, the Diamonds once again took centre stage, delivering electrifying performances that left guests cheering and offered a glimpse into what could become the next wave of African music stars.

An emotional Black Astro described the initiative as a turning point in his career. “This opportunity has changed everything for me. AFRIMA has given us visibility, confidence and access to people who can help shape our future. We are ready to show the world what we can do,” he said.

Mayowa Afolabi said: “Being named an AFRIMA Diamond is a dream come true. This platform has given us an opportunity that many young artistes spend years searching for.”

Ellacentric also expressed gratitude for the journey, describing the experience as a powerful reminder that perseverance and hard work can eventually pay off.

As part of their rewards, the seven artistes secured participation slots in the Showbiz 101 Workshop and Music Creation Camp organised by bridgeAFRIC, where they will receive mentorship and collaborate with some of Africa’s leading music producers and artistes.

Speaking on behalf of New Media Technologies Nigeria, the national distributor of SE Electronics, Bolaji Onisiwo, while presenting the musical equipment, said, “You have been identified as some of Africa’s brightest emerging talents. With that comes the responsibility to keep learning, improving and representing the continent positively through your music. These are not just gifts but investments, and how you use them will determine how far your careers can go,” Onisiwo said.

The event, which had hospitality and entertainment provided by Voyage Lagos, attracted some of renowned names in the creative and entertainment industry, including Radio personality and Hypeman extraordinaire, Do2dtun Energy Gahd; Head of International Jury of AFRIMA, Olisa Adibua; Principal Consultant, Equally Diverse Solutions, Bolaji Durojaiye; CEO Voyage Lagos, Nader Issa; UK Rapper, SneaKBO; Chief Brand, Communications & Programming Officer, Murphy Ben International, Mark Redgard and CEO, DNMT, Michael Igbelabo, among others.

With the celebrations over, attention now shifts to the seven AFRIMA Diamonds. For them, the journey has only just begun, and if Dada’s prediction proves accurate, Africa may have witnessed the unveiling of its next music sensations.

•PHOTO, L-R: Black Astro, AFRIMA Diamond, (represented by JacInth); Ellacentric, AFRIMA Diamond; Mayowa Afolabi, AFRIMA Diamond; Mike Dada, Executive Producer/President, AFRIMA; Yamayeh Vibez, AFRIMA Diamond; El Nayaan, AFRIMA Diamond; Adenrele Niyi, Chief Experience Officer, (CXO), AFRIMA; Dellfire, AFRIMA Diamond and Blinkz Baba, AFRIMA Diamond, during the AFRIMA Talent Discovery & Promotion Initiative, (AFRIMA Diamond Party and Prize presentation) held at Voyage Lagos, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday.

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