The official list of nominees for the 2022 edition was unveiled on September 14 by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Executive Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).
The only musicians from Ghana to receive nominations for this year’s competition were Black Sherif, Gyakie, Kidi, Camidoh, Nektunez, and JAE5.
From a total of 9,067 submissions submitted, the most ever for the awards since they began, the AFRIMA jury selected 382 nominations across 39 categories to represent all five regions of Africa as well as the diaspora.
Only entries received between August 20, 2021 and August 5, 2022 were considered for nomination for this year’s awards.
The Western African region leads the regional nominations this year, with 134 nominations, accounting for 35%; Eastern African region follows closely with 69 nominations, accounting for 18%; Southern African region races closely with 68 nominations, accounting for 17.8 per cent; Central Africa pulls in its weight with 52 nominations, accounting for 13.6 per cent; and the Northern African region follows closely with 49 nominations.
SEE FULL NOMINEE LIST
| Best Male Artist in Central Africa | ||
| Artist | Song | Country |
| C4 Pedro | Posa | Angola |
| Dadju | Ambassadeur | DRC |
| Fally Ipupa | Bloqué | DRC |
| Innoss’B | Mortel-06 | DRC |
| Gaz Mawete | 500 | DRC |
| Matias Damasio | Como Antes | Angola |
| Ninho | Jefe | DRC |
| Roga Roga & Extra Musica | Bokoko | DRC |
| Tayc | Dodo | Cameroon |
| Tenor Ft. Innoss’B | Mami Wata | Cameroon |
| Best Female Artist in Central Africa | ||
| Asaba | Mon Bebe | Cameroon |
| Blanche Bailly Ft. Joeboy | Mine | Cameroon |
| Emma’a | Encré | Gabon |
| Espoir La Tigresse | Abiane | Gabon |
| Pérola | Sincera | Angola |
| Shay | DA | DRC |
| Vernyuy Tina | Ndani Ya | Cameroon |
| Zara Williams Ft. C4 Pedro | Posa | DRC |
| Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa | ||
| Addis Legesse | Enja | Ethiopia |
| Bien (& Aaron Rimbui) | Bald Men Anthem | Kenya |
| Diamond Platnumz Ft. Zuchu | Mtasubiri | Tanzania |
| Eddy Kenzo | Songa | Uganda |
| Kassmasse | Sewasew | Ethiopia |
| King Saha | Zakayo | Uganda |
| Marioo Ft. Jovial | Mi Amor | Tanzania |
| Mbosso Ft. Costa Titch & Phantom Steeze | Moyo | Tanzania |
| Nyashinski Ft. Femi One | Properly | Kenya |
| Rayvanny Ft. Vjollca | Pele Pele | Tanzania |
| Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa | ||
| Betty G | Addis Semay | Ethiopia |
| Tanasha Donna | Maradonna | Kenya |
| Frida Amani | Fala Mimi | Tanzania |
| Hewan Gebrewold | Shemuna | Ethiopia |
| C4 Pedro | Posa | Angola |
| Dadju | Ambassadeur | DRC |
| Fally Ipupa | Bloqué | DRC |
| Innoss’B | Mortel-06 | DRC |
| Gaz Mawete | 500 | DRC |
| Matias Damasio | Como Antes | Angola |
| Ninho | Jefe | DRC |
| Roga Roga & Extra Musica | Bokoko | DRC |
| Tayc | Dodo | Cameroon |
| Tenor Ft. Innoss’B | Mami Wata | Cameroon |
| Best Female Artist in Central Africa | ||
| Asaba | Mon Bebe | Cameroon |
| Blanche Bailly Ft. Joeboy | Mine | Cameroon |
| Emma’a | Encré | Gabon |
| Espoir La Tigresse | Abiane | Gabon |
| Pérola | Sincera | Angola |
| Shay | DA | DRC |
| Vernyuy Tina | Ndani Ya | Cameroon |
| Zara Williams Ft. C4 Pedro | Posa | DRC |
| Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa | ||
| Addis Legesse | Enja | Ethiopia |
| Bien (& Aaron Rimbui) | Bald Men Anthem | Kenya |
| Diamond Platnumz Ft. Zuchu | Mtasubiri | Tanzania |
| Eddy Kenzo | Songa | Uganda |
| Kassmasse | Sewasew | Ethiopia |
| King Saha | Zakayo | Uganda |
| Marioo Ft. Jovial | Mi Amor | Tanzania |
| Mbosso Ft. Costa Titch & Phantom Steeze | Moyo | Tanzania |
| Nyashinski Ft. Femi One | Properly | Kenya |
| Rayvanny Ft. Vjollca | Pele Pele | Tanzania |
| Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa | ||
| Betty G | Addis Semay | Ethiopia |
| Tanasha Donna | Maradonna | Kenya |
| Frida Amani | Fala Mimi | Tanzania |
| Hewan Gebrewold | Shemuna | Ethiopia |
| Muthaka | Sorry | Kenya |
| Nandy | Siwezi | Tanzania |
| Nikita Kering | Last Name | Kenya |
| Rosa Ree | Watatubu | Tanzania |
| Spice Diana Ft. DJ Seven | Tujuoge | Uganda |
| Zuchu Ft. Bontle Smith & Tyler | Kitu | Tanzania |
| Best Male Artist in Northern Africa | ||
| Ali Loka | Matkhafesh Yamma | Egypt |
| Ahmed Saad Ft. 3enba & Double Zuksh | AlMoulouk | Egypt |
| A.L.A | 30 | Tunisia |
| DJ Snake | Disco Maghreb | Algeria |
| Draganov | Chichi | Morocco |
| El Grande Toto | Salade Coco | Morocco |
| Marwan Moussa | Batal 3alam | Egypt |
| Snor | Kasseta | Morocco |
| Soolking | Suavemente | Algeria |
| Wegz | Albakht | Egypt |
| Best Female Artist in Northern Africa | ||
| Faouzia | RIP Love | Morocco |
| Jaylann | Oui Oui | Morocco |
| Kenza Morsli Ft. DJ Adel | Moustahil | Algeria |
| Lyna Mahyem | Mal De Toi | Algeria |
| Manal | Makhelaw Magalou | Morocco |
| Marwa Loud & Moha K | Ghir Ntiya | Morocco |
| Ruby | Namet Nenna | Egypt |
| Rym | Stylo Warqa | Morocco |
| Best Male Artist in Southern Africa | ||
| A-Reece | Couldn’t Have Said It Better, Pt.3 | South Africa |
| Blxckie feat A-Reece | Sneaky | South Africa |
| DJ Tarico | Number One X DJ Consequence Ft. Nelson Tivane & Preck) | Mozambique |
| Gemini Major | Ooh Lala feat. Ayra Starr | Malawi |
| Focalistic | 16 Days No Sleep X Madumane and Mellow & Sleazy feat. DJ Maphorisa | South Africa |
