The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has unveiled Nigerian rapper and actor, FalzTheBahdGuy, and French-Senegalese actress and media personality, Liliane Maroune, as hosts of its 9th edition.
The awards ceremony, organised by AFRIMA’s International Executive Committee in collaboration with the African Union Commission and in partnership with the Lagos State Government as host city, will take place from January 7 to 11, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria.
With this announcement, Falz becomes the second Nigerian, after music legend 2Baba, to host the prestigious AFRIMA stage. 2Baba previously co-hosted the inaugural edition of the awards in 2014.
Over the years, AFRIMA has featured a diverse lineup of hosts from across Africa and the diaspora. These include 2Baba (Nigeria) and Maryse Acotie (Togo) in 2014; DNG (Kenya) and Aurélie Eliam (Côte d’Ivoire) in 2015; Ahmed Soultan (Morocco), Bonang Matheba (South Africa) and Ika De Jong (DRC) in 2016; Akon (Senegal/USA) and Sophy Aiida (Cameroon) in 2017; Michael Blackson (Ghana/USA), Pearl Thusi (South Africa) and Anita Erskine (Ghana) in 2018; Pearl Thusi and Eddie Kadi (DRC/UK) in 2019 and 2021; and Ahmed Sylla (France/Senegal), Sophy Aiida and Pearl Thusi at the 8th edition held in January 2023.
FalzTheBahdGuy, a multiple award-winning artiste, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential figures in music and film. Known for his socially conscious lyrics, confident stage presence and sharp storytelling, Falz has also built a successful acting career, earning praise for roles in films such as New Money, Brotherhood, 10 Days in Sun City and Chief Daddy.
Liliane Maroune brings global appeal and strong African identity to the AFRIMA stage. The French-Senegalese actress, model and television host—who also has Lebanese and Mauritanian ancestry—is known for her roles in West African television series, including Emprises and Coeurs Brisés. She also hosts the talk show Wakhtane Ak Lily, where she interviews leading African creatives, and has gained a growing following across Africa and Europe.
Speaking on the choice of hosts, AFRIMA’s Regional Director for Central Africa, Nde Ndifonka, said the duo embodies the spirit of contemporary African culture.
“FalzTheBahdGuy brings intelligence, strong ideas and a powerful African voice that connects with both young and old audiences. Liliane embodies elegance, diversity and the modern African woman with international influence. Together, they reflect the strength and richness of African music and culture,” he said.
The build-up to the 9th AFRIMA has gathered momentum, with music fans worldwide still voting for their favourite artistes across 39 award categories on the AFRIMA website.
Activities for the five-day event will begin with a Welcome Soirée for guests and nominees at the British Deputy High Commission House in Lagos on Wednesday, January 7. This will be followed by the Africa Music Business Summit on Thursday, January 8, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites.
The AFRIMA Music Village will hold on Friday, January 9, at Ikeja City Mall, Alausa, Lagos, while the Nominees and Industry Party is scheduled for Saturday, January 10.
The Main Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 11, at the Eko Convention Centre. The red carpet is expected to commence at 3:00 p.m. (WAT), with the ceremony broadcast live to audiences in over 84 countries worldwide.
