Kassmasse (Fikru Semma), an Ethiopian artist, took home the award for Best East African Artist at the 2022 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). The annual awards ceremony, which was created in 2013 by the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in partnership with the African Union (AU), honors outstanding achievement in the African music industry and recognizes the best contemporary music from across the continent.
Kassmasse is arguably the most influential Ethiopian hip hop artist of this generation. In just 18 months, his rise to fame has been nothing short of phenomenal. After releasing his groundbreaking EP (Maleda) that catapulted him to top tier status in January 2021, he went on to release his first full length studio album (Bahil | Weg), which includes a feature from global sensation Julian Marley.
Kassmasse, who is known for blending culture, history, and modernism in his music, quickly gained recognition with the release of his first album. His unique style and message resonated with audiences and critics alike, earning him a spot among the best artists in the region. He recently collaborated with reggae artist Proteje, further cementing his place in the music industry.
The East African region had a strong showing at the awards, with Kassmasse’s win adding to the already impressive list of nominees from the region. Ethiopian stars Teddy Afro, Hewan Gebrewold, Addis Legesse, Betty G, and Lencho Gemechu were all nominated for the awards, representing the diverse array of talent coming out of the country.
Sources: Addis Insight and AFRIMA