SLeDU Awards Crown 40 Winners, Promise Unprecedented Transparency

Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry came alive over the weekend as the SLeDU National Music Awards unveiled 40 winners, honoring outstanding artists, DJs, bloggers, performers, and creatives both at home and in the diaspora.

The awards ceremony, marked by excitement and high-energy performances, also introduced a groundbreaking commitment to transparency. Organizers pledged to publicly release full voting results an unprecedented move aimed at strengthening credibility and trust within the country’s entertainment space.

One of the event’s key organizers, Prezo Koroma, took to Facebook to assure stakeholders of the process’s integrity. He stated that comprehensive voting data had been recorded and that nominees were satisfied after observing their vote counts in real time. He further described the awards as “the most credible and transparent” in Sierra Leone’s entertainment history, promising that the full results would be made accessible to the public.

The night celebrated a mix of established stars and emerging talents. Drizilik emerged as one of the biggest winners, clinching Best Male Artist of the Year, Best Album/EP, and Best Live Performance. Pretty S secured Best Female Artist of the Year, while Kontri Boss won Best Afrobeat Song, underscoring the genre’s growing dominance in the local music scene.

Other notable winners included King Sannoh as Best Blogger, DJ Yomie as Best Club DJ, and Yemata, who took home Best Comedian reflecting the diversity of talent shaping the industry.

The awards also recognized Sierra Leonean creatives making an impact internationally. Zua was named Best Diaspora Artist, while DJ Flavour earned Best Diaspora DJ, highlighting the global reach of the country’s entertainment scene.

Emerging acts were not left out, with So Yes O winning Best New Artist and Leonus Di Genius receiving Best Next Rated Act signaling a new wave of talent poised to shape the future of the industry.

Beyond the awards themselves, this year’s ceremony was widely viewed as a turning point. The commitment to releasing detailed voting results has been welcomed by fans and industry stakeholders, many of whom see it as a step toward greater accountability and fairness in award processes.

With 40 winners across multiple categories, the SLeDU National Music Awards once again showcased the vibrancy and evolution of Sierra Leone’s entertainment sector. For artists and audiences alike, the event served as a powerful reminder that creativity, consistency, and fan engagement continue to define success in the industry.