Remi Chauveau Notes
Nigeria dominated the 9th AFRIMA ceremony as Burna Boy led a wave of major wins — including Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness — highlighting the unstoppable global rise of Afrobeats.
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Burna Boy won Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness

12 January 2026
@songplux_ Burna Boy talks about his album No Sign Of Weakness #burnaby #interview #album #afrobeats #amapiano ♬ Mmmn - Naira Marley

Echoes on an Open Road

Burna Boy’s “Empty Chairs” gains an even brighter resonance in light of his recent triumph, winning Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness at AFRIMA — and the presence of Mick Jagger only deepens its meaning. Jagger’s weathered, spectral voice drifts through the track like a witness to time, turning the song into a dialogue between generations, between resilience and reflection. In this new light, “Empty Chairs” becomes a bridge between Burna Boy’s introspective moments and his rise to global acclaim, transforming every empty seat into a symbol of the distance he has traveled and the legacy he is now shaping.

🎶 🎸🔥🌍🤸🎤🦁🌀👑🥁✨🌅🎧🇳🇬💫🎸🥁 🔊 Empty Chairs - Burna Boy and Mick Jagger




“Music is the road, and Africa keeps moving".

At the 9th AFRIMA ceremony in Lagos, the spotlight fell brightly on Nigeria, whose artists swept the awards with confidence, colour, and unstoppable momentum.

🎵 Burna Boy’s Triumph: A New Peak for No Sign of Weakness

Burna Boy won Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness, released in July 2025 — a project already hailed as a defining moment in his evolution as an artist. His victory stood as a powerful reminder of his role as one of Afrobeats’ most influential ambassadors, a figure whose global reach continues to expand with every new era. He also secured Best African Collaboration, sharing the honour with rising star Shallipopi, whose viral hit Laho earned Song of the Year and cemented his place among the continent’s fastest‑growing talents.

🌍 A Night Dominated by Nigerian Excellence

The week‑long AFRIMA celebration brought together jurors and industry leaders from across Africa and the diaspora, culminating in a ceremony that showcased Nigeria’s musical dominance with striking clarity. Rema led the night with three major wins — Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in RnB and Soul — reaffirming his status as one of the continent’s most dynamic young performers. Yemi Alade added to the country’s tally with Best Soundtrack for her song You Are, while veteran rapper Phyno claimed Best African Artiste in Hip‑Hop, proving the genre’s longevity and depth within Nigeria’s scene.

🌟 Rising Stars and Fresh Voices Take the Stage

Beyond the established names, AFRIMA also shone a light on emerging talent shaping the future of African music. Qing Madi was crowned Most Promising Artiste of the Year, while Chella earned the title of African Fans’ Favourite, reflecting the growing influence of young audiences across the continent. Their recognition signals a generational shift — one where new voices are stepping confidently into the spotlight, ready to carry Afrobeats and its sister genres into the next decade.

🌐 A Continental Celebration Beyond Borders

While Nigeria dominated, AFRIMA remained a celebration of Africa as a whole, honouring artists from every corner of the continent with equal reverence. Senegal’s Bakhaw Dioum won Songwriter of the Year, Algeria’s DJ Moh Green claimed DJ of the Year, Ghana’s Wendy Shay took Best Female Artiste in West Africa, South Africa’s Nontokozo Mkhize earned Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa, and Tanzania’s Juma Jux was named Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa. Together, these wins painted a vivid portrait of a continent whose musical diversity continues to flourish.

🔥 Afrobeats’ Global Rise — And Burna Boy at Its Frontline

The night ultimately underscored the unstoppable global rise of Afrobeats — a genre blending African rhythms with Western influences, now resonating across stadiums, charts, and cultures around the world. Burna Boy, long considered one of its most powerful ambassadors, saw his influence reaffirmed with this latest accolade. No Sign of Weakness stands not only as an album but as a statement: a declaration of resilience, artistry, and the unshakeable force of African music on the world stage.


If you feel called to bring this album into your collection, these links offer an easy way to make it yours.

👉 Buy No Sign of Weakness on Burna Boy’s official store https://eu-get.onaspaceship.com/eu/

👉 Buy the Limited Blue Vinyl Edition on Fnac https://www.fnac.com/a21662801/Burna-Boy-No-Sign-Of-Weakness-Edition-Limitee-Vinyle-Bleu-Vinyle-album

#Afrobeats🔥 #AfricaRising 🌍 #NoSignOfWeakness🎶 #AFRIMA2025🏆 #BurnaBoy💫

Burna Boy’s wise artistic world

The Vault of Emotional Endurance
One of the quiet engines behind No Sign of Weakness is Burna Boy’s obsession with “emotional endurance” — he reportedly keeps a private archive of unfinished melodies, voice notes, and half‑formed ideas that he only returns to when he feels he has grown enough to “deserve” them. This album is the first time he pulled heavily from that vault, revisiting fragments recorded years earlier and finishing them with the perspective of someone who has lived, lost, learned, and risen again. It’s why the project feels both raw and refined — it’s built from pieces of the past completed by a man who no longer fears his own evolution.

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