Diaspora Creatives Awards · MMXXVI

Categories for every craft

Official Diaspora Creatives Awards 2026 Categories

A place for every kind of brilliance.

Explore the official award categories for the inaugural Diaspora Creatives Awards. Eligible creatives, artists, professionals and businesses may be nominated across the categories below.

The official catalogue

Thirty ways to
make history.

Categories 01–28 are open for nominations and paid public voting, with votes starting at $1.99. Categories 29–30 are Special Recognition Awards selected by the Diaspora Creatives Awards Committee and are not open for public nominations or voting.

01

GRAND AWARDS

  1. Diaspora Creative of the Year

    Overall Highest Honor

  2. Diaspora Artist of the Year

02

ARTIST AWARDS

  1. Best Male Artist

  2. Best Female Artist

  3. Best New Artist

03

GENRE AWARDS

  1. Best Afrobeats Artist

  2. Best Amapiano Artist

  3. Best Afro-Fusion Artist

  4. Best Afro-Gospel Artist

  5. Best Afro-R&B / Afro-Soul Artist

  6. Best Hip-Hop / Rap Artist

  7. Best Dancehall / Reggae Artist

  8. Best Highlife / Traditional Fusion Artist

  9. Best Afro House Artist

  10. Best Afro Jazz Artist

  11. Best Afro Pop Artist

04

MUSIC CREATION AWARDS

  1. Song of the Year

  2. Music Video of the Year

  3. Producer of the Year

  4. Songwriter of the Year

  5. DJ of the Year

  6. Videographer of the Year

  7. Dancer / Choreographer of the Year

05

DIASPORA BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

  1. African Restaurant of the Year

  2. African Nightclub of the Year

  3. African Business of the Year

06

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

  1. Diaspora Legacy Artist of the Year

    Recognizing an established African artist with longevity and a significant body of work who remains actively involved in music.

    This category is open for public nominations and voting.

  2. Diaspora Live Band of the Year

    This category is open for public nominations and voting.

  3. Afrobeats Diaspora Impact Award

    DCA Committee-selected Special Recognition Award

    Recognizing significant contribution to the growth, visibility and cultural influence of Afrobeats across the diaspora.

    NOT open for public nominations or voting.

  4. Diaspora Cultural Influence Award

    DCA Committee-selected Special Recognition Award

    Recognizing exceptional influence in amplifying African music, entertainment, talent and culture across borders.

    NOT open for public nominations or voting.

The nomination window

KNOW SOMEONE WHO
DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED?

Nominate an outstanding creative, artist, professional or business for the inaugural Diaspora Creatives Awards.

NOMINATE NOW
Beyond the official categories

DIASPORA CREATIVES
HONORARY AWARDS

Presented by the Diaspora Creatives Awards Committee in recognition of exceptional achievement, legacy, influence and contribution to African creativity and culture worldwide.

Diaspora Creatives Honorary Awards are not open for public nominations or voting and are selected exclusively by the Diaspora Creatives Awards Committee.