Rwandan Singer The Ben won the East Africa Best Artist award at the 2026 HiPipo Music Awards, beating 11 nominees, including Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Uganda’s Jose Chameleone, at a ceremony in Kampala on November 13.
The award was presented at Kampala Serena Hotel, where musicians and other figures from the African music industry gathered for the 15th edition of the annual event.
The Ben competed in the category against Ali Kiba, Bien, Diamond Platnumz, Dr Jose Chameleone, Element EleéeH, Harmonize, John Frog, Joshua Baraka, Natacha, Sheebah and Silver X.
He had three nominations at this year’s awards, representing Rwanda in the East Africa Best Artist and Africa Number One categories, as well as East Africa Best Act/Song with his track ‘Inshallah’.
Ugandan singer Joshua Baraka won the Africa Number One award, ahead of nominees including The Ben, Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Diamond Platnumz, DJ Maphorisa, Jose Chameleone, Mohamed Ramadan, The Unveiled, Tyla and Uncle Waffles.
Baraka also took the East Africa Best Act/Song award with ‘This Time’, his collaboration with British producer JAE5.
The track was selected ahead of other nominees, including The Ben’s ‘Inshallah’, ‘Pom Pom’ by Bruce Melodie featuring Diamond Platnumz and Brown Joel, ‘Ayayaah’ by Element EleéeH featuring Bien and Joshua Baraka, and Diamond Platnumz’s ‘Happy’.
The Ben’s latest award follows his success at the 2025 edition, when his song ‘True Love’ won the East Africa Best Act/Song category. The 2025 East Africa Best Artist award went to Joshua Baraka.
The HiPipo Music Awards are organised by Uganda-based company HiPipo. The awards grew out of the HiPipo Charts Festival, which began in 2012, with the first formal awards ceremony held in Kampala in February 2013.
The awards recognise artists, songs and other contributors to the music industry across Uganda, East Africa and the wider African continent.
