Opinion: AFRIMA Just Exposed the Zambian Music Industry - and Malawi Is Miles Ahead
2 September 2025
Let’s not sugarcoat it. The newly announced AFRIMA nominations have drawn a line in the sand between Malawi and Zambia. And the truth is loud: Zambia has Yo Maps, Malawi has an industry.
This year, Zambia managed two nominations. Just two. And of course, at the center of it is Yo Maps. It’s almost like without him, there’s no Zambian music scene to speak of. That’s not an industry; that’s dependency on one man’s shoulders. Remove Yo Maps, and what’s left is music that struggles to matter beyond Lusaka.
Malawi, on the other hand, came through with range and representation:
▪️ Teddy Makadi and Zeze Kingston up for Best Male Artist in Southern Africa
▪️ Temwa standing tall for Best Female Artist in Southern Africa
▪️ Sean Morgan bagging a nod in Best African Act – Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall
That’s not one genre, not one artist, not one fluke. That’s structure. That’s diversity. That’s growth.
And the craziest part? Malawian creatives are achieving this with limited resources. Our videographers are stretching every coin, artists are refusing to be boxed into one sound, and the results are visible on the biggest stages of African music.
Meanwhile, Zambia still wants to argue dominance because of YouTube numbers. But AFRIMA just reminded them that global recognition isn’t built on one man carrying the flag, it’s built on an industry working together.
So yes, AFRIMA has exposed what many of us have been saying: Malawi is on the rise, and Zambia is being dragged by one superstar. As a Malawian, I’ll take this win and urge everyone to rally behind our artists when voting opens.
The difference is clear. Malawi has an industry, Zambia has Yo Maps.
This year, Zambia managed two nominations. Just two. And of course, at the center of it is Yo Maps. It’s almost like without him, there’s no Zambian music scene to speak of. That’s not an industry; that’s dependency on one man’s shoulders. Remove Yo Maps, and what’s left is music that struggles to matter beyond Lusaka.
Malawi, on the other hand, came through with range and representation:
▪️ Teddy Makadi and Zeze Kingston up for Best Male Artist in Southern Africa
▪️ Temwa standing tall for Best Female Artist in Southern Africa
▪️ Sean Morgan bagging a nod in Best African Act – Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall
That’s not one genre, not one artist, not one fluke. That’s structure. That’s diversity. That’s growth.
And the craziest part? Malawian creatives are achieving this with limited resources. Our videographers are stretching every coin, artists are refusing to be boxed into one sound, and the results are visible on the biggest stages of African music.
Meanwhile, Zambia still wants to argue dominance because of YouTube numbers. But AFRIMA just reminded them that global recognition isn’t built on one man carrying the flag, it’s built on an industry working together.
So yes, AFRIMA has exposed what many of us have been saying: Malawi is on the rise, and Zambia is being dragged by one superstar. As a Malawian, I’ll take this win and urge everyone to rally behind our artists when voting opens.
The difference is clear. Malawi has an industry, Zambia has Yo Maps.
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