Davido’s album 5ive won Album of the Year at the AFRIMMA Awards in Dallas. No handover, no dilution, no fine print. Just the thing itself, won outright.

Davido entered the ceremony as the most-nominated artist of the night, with five nods, and 5ive took Album of the Year against a field that included Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness, Asake’s M$NEY and Tyla’s A-Pop. The ceremony, AFRIMMA’s first since a two-year break, was held on September 12 in Dallas and paired for the first time with a full music festival.

Tems and Ruger also picked up wins in the West Africa categories. Fally Ipupa took Artist of the Year, and BNXN and Sarz shared Song of the Year.

No transition committee sat between Davido and his trophy. No dilution table explained what percentage of the win actually belonged to him. Today also carried a school strike settled by committee and a refinery IPO measured in fractions of a percent. This one is just the thing itself, won outright.