Veteran Nigerian music executives Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye have been honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), recognising their contributions to the growth of Africa’s music industry.
The awards were presented during the live grand finale of AFRIMA on Sunday at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, marking the climax of a week-long celebration of African music and culture.
Ogungbe and Adeneye, fondly known as “Keke” and “D1”, are co-founders of Kennis Music, one of Nigeria’s most influential record labels.
Established in 2000, the label played a pivotal role in shaping contemporary Nigerian music by discovering and nurturing several artistes who went on to become industry stars.
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Speaking while receiving the honour, the duo reflected on their career journey, noting that their success came from “prioritising talent development over simply recycling hit songs and classics.”
They said focusing solely on established hits “would not have allowed them to build the number of artistes and music stars” they successfully introduced to the industry.
Kenny Ogungbe is a renowned DJ, music promoter, television presenter and broadcaster. He is also the founder of Kennis Music and the owner of Kennis 104.1 FM in Lagos.
Dayo Adeneye, on the other hand, is a broadcaster, music producer and entertainment entrepreneur with decades of experience across media, music and talent development.
Together, they helped redefine Nigeria’s music landscape through innovative production, media platforms and artist management, contributing significantly to the global rise of African music.
The 9th AFRIMA Awards, organised in partnership with the African Union Commission, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Lagos State Government, brought together musicians, industry executives, Nollywood stars and music lovers from across Africa and the diaspora.
The ceremony celebrated musical excellence across regional and continental categories, promoting African creativity, unity and global cultural influence, with stars such as Rema, Shallipopi, Burna Boy, Wendy Shay and Yemi Alade winning major awards.
The event was hosted by Nigerian rapper and actor Falz and French-Senegalese media personality Liliane Maroune, with glamorous red-carpet appearances, live performances and acceptance speeches adding to the night’s highlights.
