Rema Dominates AFRIMA as Austria Unveils Amadeus Award Nominees

Two significant music events, occurring on consecutive days, painted a clear picture of the contemporary global music landscape. The conclusion of the ninth edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) on January 11, 2026, in Lagos, followed swiftly by the announcement of nominees for the Amadeus Austrian Music Award in Vienna the very next day, demonstrated a crucial shift: the world’s musical epicenter is no longer singular; instead, it pulses with multiple, simultaneous rhythms.

The AFRIMA ceremony, hosted at the Eko Convention Centre, proved to be a crowning moment for the artist Rema. He secured a remarkable haul, capturing three major accolades: Artist of the Year, Best Male Artist West Africa, and Best African RnB & Soul Artist for his hit track, Calm Down. This victory is particularly telling, as Rema triumphed over established heavyweights like Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid, signaling that the new wave of Afrobeats is not merely continuing a legacy but actively reshaping the international sound.

Meanwhile, Burna Boy maintained his stature as a foundational architect of the genre, earning the Album of the Year award for No Sign of Weakness. Further recognition was given to Shallipopi, who took home Song of the Year for Laho and shared the Best African Collaboration award with Burna Boy. During his acceptance speech, Rema emphasized the importance of success alongside responsibility, urging continued investment in African-owned platforms as the bedrock for sustainable global expansion of Afrobeats.

Running parallel to these African celebrations, the nominations for the 26th Amadeus Austrian Music Awards were revealed on January 12, 2026. This Austrian event, scheduled for March 6 at the Marx Halle and set to be broadcast on ORF 1, showcased a different facet of musical vitality. The leading contenders, each securing three nominations apiece, were Anna Buchegger, Folkshilfe, and Seiler und Speer.

In total, 52 artists made the shortlist for the Amadeus Awards, with 16 of those being newcomers. According to representatives from IFPI Austria, this high number of debut artists perfectly reflects the sheer breadth and adventurous spirit characterizing the current Austrian music scene. The final winners will be determined through a tripartite system: public online voting (concluding January 19), evaluation by a professional jury, and analysis of sales data.

The selection of Conchita Wurst as the host for the Austrian ceremony further underscored the event’s commitment to celebrating self-expression and diversity. These simultaneous developments—from the vibrant energy in Lagos to the diverse nominations in Vienna—collectively inject a powerful frequency of decentralization into the global soundscape.

Music is clearly no longer flowing strictly from a single core outward to the edges. Instead, it is emerging concurrently from numerous distinct points, forging a truly multipolar global rhythm. The confidence and self-sufficiency inherent in the Afrobeats movement contrast compellingly with the diversity and dialogue championed by the European scene. Together, these distinct currents are weaving the fabric of contemporary international music.