Future Awards Africa 2026 Nominees: Full List

The Future Awards Africa 2026 has unveiled a list of nominees spanning music, sports, acting, technology, entrepreneurship, journalism and other professional fields, with Nigerian singer Shoday, track and field star Tobi Amusan and actress Bolaji Ogunmola among the names featured in this year’s nominations. Their inclusion brings attention to 3 different areas of achievement, while the wider list highlights young Africans making contributions across the continent.

The nominees for the 20th edition were announced on October 19, 2026, ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for November 2026. Carrying the theme “Celebrating The Redefiners: Africa’s AI Generation,” the edition recognises young Africans aged 18 to 35 across various industries, including entertainment, business, technology, governance, education and community development.

The Future Awards Africa marks its 20th anniversary

The Future Awards Africa, commonly known as TFAA, is an awards platform that recognises young Africans for their achievements, leadership, creativity and contributions to society. Its categories cover several professional and creative fields, bringing together individuals whose work reflects different aspects of African enterprise and talent.

The 2026 edition marks the 20th anniversary of the awards. Its theme, “Celebrating The Redefiners: Africa’s AI Generation,” highlights young Africans developing ideas, creating opportunities and contributing to their communities and industries.

The organisers announced the nominees on October 19, 2026, with the awards ceremony scheduled for November. The published announcement identifies the ceremony month but does not specify an exact date.

According to the organisers, the nominees will undergo an assessment process involving the awards jury and an Independent Audit Committee. The process will determine the eventual winners across the recognised categories.

Shoday earns a place among the Music nominees

Shoday

Nigerian singer Shoday is among the nominees in the Music category, where he appears under his full name, Shodade Solomon Segun. His nomination places him alongside performers from Nigeria and Kenya, reflecting the awards’ recognition of musical talent across national boundaries.

Shoday shares the category with Kenyan singer Nikita Kering, Idris Lawal Oluwadamilare, popularly known as Oshamo, Samuel Damilare, known as Abefe, and Amalachukwu Okonkwo Chantell, who performs as Amma. The 5 nominees represent different musical identities within a category dedicated to recognising contributions to the music industry.

Tobi Amusan leads attention in the Sports category

Tobi Amusan

Nigerian track and field athlete Tobi Amusan is nominated in the Sports category alongside Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, Nigerian footballer Ashleigh Plumptre, Kenyan athlete Emmanuel Wanyoyi and Nene Joy Ojo.

Amusan is internationally recognised for her achievements in the 100 metre hurdles. She won the event at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, becoming the first Nigerian athlete to win a world outdoor athletics title. She also set a world record of 12.12 seconds in the semifinal at that championship.

Her nomination places her among the athletes being considered for recognition at the 20th edition of The Future Awards Africa.

Bolaji Ogunmola earns an Acting nomination

Bolaji Ogunmola

Nigerian actress and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola is among the nominees for the Acting award, sharing the category with Teniola Aladese, Uche Montana, Rosman Sunshine and Taye Arimoro.

Ogunmola has built a career in the Nigerian entertainment industry through acting and filmmaking, with work spanning screen performances and film production. Her nomination places her among the performers being considered for recognition at the awards.

Full List of The Future Awards Africa 2026 Nominees

The published list features nominees from Nigeria and other African countries across the creative industries, business, technology, public service and other professional fields.

Photography

Agbaje Halimah

Daniel Msirikale

Oluwatosin Junaid

Chidubem Praise Nmeka

Stephen Tayo Ajibare

Technology and Innovation

Odunayo Eweniyi

Maxwell Opondo

Charles Mfouapon

Wendy Okolo

Yanmo Omorogbe

Music

Nikita Kering (Kenya)

Shodade Solomon Segun (Shoday)

Idris Lawal Oluwadamilare (Oshamo)

Samuel Damilare (Abefe)

Amalachukwu Okonkwo Chantell (Amma)

On Air Personality

Claudia Naisambwa Leshoomo (Kenya)

Joey Akan

Kanyinsola Olukoya

Nina Shaban (Kenya)

Onyinyechi Aderibigbe

Entrepreneurship

Iretidayo Zaccheaus

Keyinde and Taiwo Smith

Esther Uzodinma

Olamidun Ogundoyin

Adeola Adeyemi (Diiadem)

Governance

Emma Inamutila Theofelus

Rinsola Abiola

Abideen Olasupo

Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa

Khalil Nur Khalil

Advocacy and Activism

Aisha Hamman

Habib Sheidu

Violet Ejiata

Joshua Okoduwa

Oluwaseun Ikusika

Law

Dr Stanley U. Nweke-Eze

Taiwo Aromolaran

Maryam Dan-Habu

Oluwafunke Adeoye

Temijuopelo Alufa

Technology and Innovation

The organisers’ published list contains a second category under this name.

Justina Nwokedi

Chiemela Ebere

Martins Okechukwu

Elizabeth Chibuzor

Chiemela Anosike

Education

Princess Natasha Momoh

Monalisa Agbata

Israel Oyedare

Jennifer Jonathan

Gloria Babarinde

Journalism

Onyinyechi Obaroh Obaroh

Adesola Abisoye

Omolola Afolabi

Emmanuel Onwuka

Riyah Abdul

Agriculture

Chy Nwakanma

Titilayo Aisha Damilola

Funmilayo Famuyiwa

Chioma Aniagolu

Adaeze Ruth Okonmah

Professional Service

Fatou Jeng

Faith Emmanuel

Abraham Mbuthia

Ifeoluwa Ebiseni

Iheakachi Nwabueze

Sports

Letsile Tebogo (Botswana)

Ashleigh Plumptre

Tobi Amusan

Emmanuel Wanyoyi (Kenya)

Nene Joy Ojo

Art

Blessing Ejiroghene Adewale

Echezona Ogudu

Rahmal Houssig (Morocco)

Anthony Azekwoh

Tioluwa Yoloye

Literature

Damilare Kuku

Fatima Bala

Eloghosa Osunde

Somtochukwu Ihezue

Peter Okonkwo

Community Action

Daniel Ajala

Damilola Feyide

Oyinkansola Akinbiyi

Deborah Aderogba

Mordecai Orimiladeye

Health and Wellness

Dr Princess Akawor

Mobolaji Ajayi

Dr Cassandra Akinde

Kiki Diorgu

Faith Adewale

Fashion

Goodnews Emmanuel

Fisayo Longe

Prudent Gabriel Peterson

Esther Yonkor

Desirée Iyama

Film

Eniola Korty Olanrewaju

Abdulazeez Greene

Ogechi Chikezie

Damilare Adeeso

Jigar Ganatra

Ogheneyerhovwo Nana

Content Creation (Comedy)

Aderonke Adepoju

Daniel Ekpe (Akwaman)

Folagade Banks

Destiny Ogie Osarewinda (Dezny)

Crazy Kennar (Kenya)

Content Creation (Lifestyle)

Tobe Ugeh

Wode Maya (Ghana)

Eric Gugua

Adenike Tejuoso

Chef T

Acting

Bolaji Ogunmola

Teniola Aladese

Uche Montana

Rosman Sunshine

Taye Arimoro

Young Person of the Year

James Popoola

Abdul Azeez Abdulyekeen

Taiwo Aromolaran

Deborah Johnson

Nora Awolowo

Creative Excellence

Laetitia KY (Abidjan)

Akintunde Ikudayisi Ikudayisi

Emmanuel Whajah

Kendo Grant

Ijeoma Mathew

Performing Arts

Ibukunoluwa Ajagbe (Ibquake)

Hafsat Abdulllahi

Victory Ashaka

Kingfahd Ibitoye

Diana Modeme

Energy and Sustainability

Charlot Magayi

Brian Gadisi

Chiemela Anosike

Damilola Hamid Balogun

Oyinkansola Owoyemi

When will The Future Awards Africa 2026 hold?

The 20th edition of The Future Awards Africa is scheduled for November 2026, following the announcement of nominees on October 19. The organisers have identified the ceremony month but have not specified an exact date in the published information.

The winners will be selected from the nominees across the listed categories following the assessment process described by the organisers. Shoday, Tobi Amusan and Bolaji Ogunmola are among the prominent Nigerian names competing for recognition in music, sports and acting, while the wider list covers a range of professional, creative and community contributions.

For further details about the nominees and ceremony, visit the official awards website.

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