About APVA Awards

The Association of African Podcasters and Voice Artists is a community-driven organization that seeks to discover, amplify, and award African voice/audio creatives. We are dedicated to fostering the growth and development of the audio-creative industry on the African continent.

The African Podcast and Voice (APVA) Awards is the celebration and recognition of Africa’s audio creatives, specifically podcasters, voice-over artists, and spoken word artists. The inaugural edition launched on the 11th of April, 2022, making it the first of its kind in Africa. The premiere virtual award ceremony received over 2000 nominations and 70,000 votes from over 20 countries. The APVA Awards is therefore set to be one of the most anticipated events in the audio industry. Watch the ceremony here.

The second edition, which took place on September 23, 2023, was a resounding success, with more than 2300 nominations and over 44,967 votes. The event transcended borders, hosting watch parties in five countries: Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. This groundbreaking move solidified the APVA Awards as an industry leader with watch parties spanning multiple nations, fostering unity and recognition across borders. Watch the ceremony here.

As we eagerly anticipate the APVA Awards in 2024, it promises to continue its mission of ensuring that outstanding and underrepresented podcasters, spoken-word artists, and voice performers receive the recognition they truly deserve.

The aims of the awards are to:

Acknowledge, highlight, and celebrate the achievements of African voice talents
Educate the globe with industry insights.
Motivate audio-creatives at all levels in their chosen field of endeavor.
Develop a sense of pride in being an AVPA Nominee or Awardee.
Build self-confidence through rewards for excellence.
Provide role models and mentors for budding creatives to follow their achievements and the pursuit of excellence.
Encourage leadership on the continent.

Award Testimonials

The African Podcast and Voice Awards hosted by @apva_official took place today. Honored to have bagged the "Best TV Promo" category. Thank you for the votes and to all esteemed collaborators for sending dope work my way to voice. The awards also have a special honors category called APVA LEGACIES. The 2022 Voice Over “Spotlight of The Year” Award has been bestowed upon me and I’m honored 😎 🙏🏾

Chilu Lemba

Actress, Voice-over artist

My voice has toured the world telling stories and last night my voice told MY story... A story of an adventure into an unpredictable industry that has proved to be worthwhile. To be winner - Best Commercial Performance-TV - @apva_official is to be winner in Africa! Thank you @safaricomplc_ for trusting my voice to tell the story of #bongaforfood. To receive a legacy award-African Innovation Award-is to me an equivalent of being knighted. God has truly blessed the work of my voice. Asanteni sana kwa wote walionipigia kura na walioniaminia. In a few days I will be on the other side of Award ceremonies as Judge in @societyvoicearts awards which is a global affair... May God grant me wisdom as I take on this task.

Wakio Mzenge

Actress, Voice-over artist

There are so many lessons life has taught me. What is even more interesting is I am still learning. This year has been one for the books. I have experienced honor in incredible dimensions. Who would have thought the passionate vision to turn around the lives of African voices will lead to such? Sometimes you even wonder who sent you message. 😂 However, awards like this help you look inwards and give yourself an applause. These are the type of recognitions that encourage you to keep choosing service above your own interest. I am beyond honored to be given this legacy award by @apva_official for LEADERSHIP IMPACT in the African Audio and Voice Over industry. This is dedicated to everyone of you who keep cheering me on! You don’t know how much it means to me. ABBA! I see your works of your hand everyday. Thank you!😭

Seun Shobo

Founder Voice Over Academy

The AVPA Awards were a smash hit…hats off to @APVAofficial for putting on such a show Congratulations to all the winners and nominees We see your hard work and continue cheering you on

AfricaPodfest

Simply amazing!

Thank you so much, @apva_official 🥰 I am honored. Thank you for this platform. It means a lot to me as a voice-over artist to be recognized for doing what I love and also for all African Voice talents..this is a huge win. Thank you

Stephanie Anene

Let me do a reintroduction, The Queen Raffy's Space Podcast is now an award-winning Podcast!!!! I have taken a long break from here because the algorithms were just really stressing me out, but I truly appreciate all the love, the support, and votes that went toward making this award a possibility. A massive shout-out and rounds of applause for @apva_official Team. They did it,, and it came out fantastic. Well done. 🎉🙌👏

Queen Raffy

"I underestimated how good this would feel. I didn't know how badly I wanted to win until I won! It's weird. It's nice to be recognized. It's sweeter than mother's milk. You put in all those hours, plus your heart and soul without so much of a guarantee and then years later, you get yours… Now I know how Leonardo DiCaprio feels! These awards are the first of their kind in Africa! And to be at the forefront of it. To be a pioneer. To be one of the first to be recognized internationally in African podcast excellence is incredible. There was no blueprint. No path to follow. I didn't have a map… but I have a compass... And to think that 3 years ago, people cringed when I called myself a god. They cringed at the title of my podcast. They called me egoistic and narcissistic. They boycotted me. I lost followers. I would hear stories of people whom I had no issues with, having issues with me because of my godly declarations. Today I'm a multiple award-winning god-caster and I hope they understand something very important: When someone says they’re a god, you better not underestimate them. You better pay attention. Ask yourself: what does this person know, what do they have, what are they made of, that gives them the pendulous balls to make such a declaration? Then watch them prove or disprove themselves. Apply curiosity instead of judgment. With all of that said, "multiple award-winning podcast" does have a nice ring to it. Thank you all who have supported and rooted for me when there wasn't much to root for. My price has gone up and we're just getting started."

Rodney Omeokachie

It’s been a while since good news came my way🙈So I’m so happy to share that @sound_africa has won the best non-fiction podcast award at the inaugural @apva_official awards this year. Thank you to each and everyone who nominated and voted for us. It’s such a wonderful surprise. Thank you, Siyabonga🌻👏🏾❤️ “Success is not final, failure is not permanent. It’s the will to continue that counts jedidiahramalapa @apva_official thank you all so much for creating this platform and space for African podcast and voice over artist to shine, share and showcase their work and creativity. It’s an incredible achievement and I wish you all more growth and success in the future. Asante 🙌❤️

Jedi Ramalapa

Starting a male-led podcast that doesn’t pander to the typical narratives we see online from our peers, wasn’t the obvious move. But we did it anyway, because we believe whole heartedly that every positive change starts with a conversation. A glimpse into the behind the scenes would show just how hard this 3 year journey has been. We have often been overlooked and dismissed, so to finally get recognition for the work we do really means the world. Our incredible audience online and offline has been the fuel that keeps us running. Bumping into many of you while out in about in Nairobi has left us speechless and often emotional after hearing the impact the podcast has had on your lives. We love you dearly. Special thank you to our incredible production team @artlight_studios this podcast would not exist without your tireless efforts. We know we are a handful! 😂 To the guests that have given us their time, perspectives, and co-signs, thank you. You were the missing link for this podcast and you bring immense value to our season. Finally thank you @apva_official for recognizing our platform, it’s truly a Kanye at the Grammys moment!

Man talk KE

I am so honoured to have received the SPOTLIGHT OF THE YEAR award at the inaugural African Podcast & Voice Awards! I’m thankful as well to every African that’s been on the podcast and to everyone listening! I fear awards because it’s very easy to get caught up in their hype and forget about your purpose and what you’re building. But I’m going to sit in this win because: They’re African! And anything created by Africans for Africans is my jam!

Adelle Onyango

Legally Clueless Africa

We won an award for the podcast I host, My First Time Stories! What a way to kick off World Contraception Day today, as we continue to tackle Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights matters on our platform. We have conversation currently underway with male champions from the community and we’ll share some highlights later. Meanwhile, head over to @myfirsttimestories for details on this award which, as I say in this video, is a win for us all. Thank you for all your votes 🙏🏾 You can also find the book My First Time in Text Book Centre stores in Nairobi. Thank you to #menstrualchampions for your tireless work. A special thank you to those who’ve been guests on the podcast. We’ll be opening the space soon and can’t wait to collaborate and host trainings! Congratulations as well to all the other nominees and winners and thank you to @apva_official for creating this platform and sharing our PanAfrican stories ✨

Janet Mbugua

My First Time Stories

A famous African proverbs says “If you want to go fast, go alone but if you desire to go far, go together” This proverb exposes to us the power of community and togetherness. Yesterday at the @apva_official awards, we were honored to be the first ever recipient of the award for ⭐️🥇” VOICE OVER SERVICE OF THE YEAR “🥇⭐️ Could we have done this without YOU? It is impossible. We truly are going FAR because of YOU. This award is specifically dedicated to our amazing core team, incredible faculty and of course our extraordinary and astonishing alumni @voa_alumninetwork . You are our true trophies! This brand keeps growing and making impact because of you all. For us, we are celebrating this! 🥂🥂🕺🏾💃🕺🏾💃

Voice-over Academy

Simply amazing!

A huge Congratulations to our very own 🇿🇲Chulu @chulu_bydesign 🇿🇲 for winning the: Best Society and Culture Podcast APVA @apva_official continue to do great work. We look forward to more Zambian podcasters participating and winning😁 next year.

ZedPodHub

Simply amazing!

Thank you so much once more for the recognition you have given my team and I through your award and platform. We are deeply grateful. Thank you even more for the incredible work you are doing to recognize and expose young African talent in this domain. You are making a huge difference. We seldom get such opportunities, Thank you so much You have made us feel seen, heard and valued. You have introduced us to a new continental platform stage. Thank you so much.