Bien, Nikita Kering, Bridget Blue, among Kenyan artistes nominated for AFRIMMA 2026

Kenya is making a strong statement at the upcoming African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) 2026 Awards with four artistes Bien, Bridget Blue, Nikita Kering and Njerae nominated in the highly competitive East Africa categories.

In an announcement on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, AFRIMMA unveiled the nominees set to compete for honours at the continental music awards.

In the Best Male East Africa category, Bien (Bien-Aimé Sol) will compete against 8 of the region’s biggest music stars, including Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, Juma Jux, Mbosso, Marioo and Barnaba Classic, as well as Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Joshua Baraka.

“Best Male East Africa. One category. Nine incredible artists, 🌍🔥”AFRIMMA wrote.

In the Best Female East Africa category, Bridget Blue, Nikita Kering and Njerae will fly Kenya’s flag against a strong lineup featuring Tanzania’s Zuchu and Abigail Chams, Uganda’s Winnie Nwagi, Rwanda’s Ariel Wayz and Ethiopia’s Veronica Adane.

Bien’s solo success

The nomination adds to a remarkable period for Bien, who has continued building his profile after the success of Sauti Sol.

In 2025, the singer released the hit song “All My Enemies Are Suffering”, which gained widespread attention and dominated online conversations.

He later followed it up in 2026 with “Finale” featuring Tanzanian star Alikiba and the single “Don’t Be Shy”, further strengthening his position as one of Kenya’s biggest music exports.

Bien’s recent achievements were recognised at the 2025 Trace Awards, where he won Best Artist East Africa, cementing his position as one of the region’s leading performers.

He now enters the AFRIMMA race against established names including Diamond Platnumz, who remains one of Africa’s most influential artists, and Juma Jux, the previous winner of the Best Male East Africa category.

Kenyan women shine

Bridget Blue enters the competition after an impressive new chapter in her career following the release of her album “RNB” in April 2026.

The project showcased her signature soulful sound blended with Afro-pop influences, featuring tracks such as “Ni Wewe,” “Mapenzi” featuring Toxic Lyrikali, and “Mbuzi.”

Nikita Kering returns to the AFRIMMA stage with previous success behind her after winning the Best Female Artist East Africa award at the ceremony.

In 2026, she released the EP “The Lick Back,” led by the emotional single “Niwache,” alongside songs including “Bambi (Remix)” and “Dilly Darling.”

Njerae also joins the female category nominees as she continues to build her name in Kenya’s music industry.

Major African stage

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMMA) are among the continent’s most recognised music awards, celebrating artists from Africa and the diaspora.

The awards have previously honoured some of Africa’s biggest names and have become an important platform for musicians seeking international recognition.

The AFRIMMA 2026 ceremony will be held on September 12, 2026, at Annette Strauss Square in Dallas, Texas, during the AFRIMMA Music Fest.

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