By Mosimiloluwa Kupoluyi
Did you know that the first voice-over awards date back to the 1980s? With the establishment of the Annie Awards, which honoured outstanding achievements in animation?
Indeed, the voice industry has a rich history of celebrating excellence in voice-over work. In recent years, there has been a significant surge in talent from Africa, with voice artists from the continent making a global impact at a fast-growing pace.
To recognize and celebrate their excellence, here are a few available for African Voice Artists.
APVA Awards
The African Podcast and Voice Artists Awards (APVA) is a celebration of Africa’s audio creatives, specifically podcasters, voice-over artists, and spoken word artists. Founded in 2022, the APVA Awards have been dedicated to acknowledging the achievements of African voice talents and providing a platform for motivation. The 2024 APVA Awards ceremony took place on September 28th, with winners like Femi Olugbade (Voice Artist of the Year), Eniola Keshinro (Best Commercial Performance – TV), Diana Modeme (Spoken Word Artist of the Year), and Comfort Olofin (Rising Talent of the Year) among many others. Past winners have reported increased exposure and new career opportunities, including collaborations with major brands and productions. Visit apva.africa to stay updated.
One Voice Awards USA 2025
The One Voice Awards USA 2025 is an annual event that celebrates excellence in voice acting. This year, the awards feature 32 categories, including a special international category for African talent (Best International Overall Voiceover Performance). Notable past winners include African voice artists such as Jennifer Eniye Kanari, who won the award in 2024. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Visit https://www.onevoiceconference.com/america-awards-2025 for more information.
Ladies in Media (LIMA) Awards
LIMA is an award scheme designed to celebrate and honor media women in a bid to build excellence while creating platforms for young, talented women to hone their skills through mentoring and coaching. The 2024 edition featured nominees from Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and other African nations. The 2023 Best Female Voice Artists award was won by Victory Wilson from Nigeria. Check out more on ladiesinmedia.org
The Voice Arts Awards (SOVAS Awards)
The Voice Arts Awards, presented by the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS), is a globally recognized platform that celebrates voice actors. Established in 2013, the Voice Arts Awards is regarded as the Oscars of the voiceover industry. Founded by Rudy Gaskins and Joan Baker, the award is open to voice artists worldwide, offering African talent the opportunity to compete on an international stage. The 2025 edition introduces 7 new categories for African talent, including Outstanding Animation Character – Film or TV, Outstanding Commercial—TV or Streaming, Outstanding Audiobook Narration – Ensemble Cast, and more. Visit sovas.org for more information.
African Golden Awards
The Africa Golden Awards honors top achievers driving Africa’s progress in entrepreneurship, innovation, arts, technology, humanitarian work, and beyond. The Awards have a category for “Best Voice-Over Artist,” which celebrates the artistry and impact of African voice actors in various fields, including commercials and animation. The 2025 edition features nominees like Grace Ekundayo and the real voice of Steph from Nigeria. The event is scheduled to be held on May 3, 2025, in Kenya. Find out more at africagoldenawards.co
The Grammy Awards
Shocked? Let me explain. The Grammy Awards may be well known for their recognition of vocal musical performances. Many categories recognize vocal performance within music, including pop vocal performance, R&B vocal performance, and more. Nevertheless, the “Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration, & Storytelling Recording” is a notable category that recognizes voice-over work and is open to voice-over artists, especially those who major in delivering narrative scripts. Check out Grammy.com for more.
Ambies Award (Honourable mention)
The Ambies Award, also known as the Awards for Excellence in Audio, is a prestigious podcast industry award show presented by the Podcast Academy. Voice-over artists are specifically recognized in the “Best Performer in Audio Fiction” category, which celebrates powerful voice-over performances in podcasting.
The 2025 Ambies Awards, held on March 31st in Chicago, saw “The Skies Are Watching” win the Best Performance in Audio Fiction category. The winning production featured talented artists including Caitlin Stasey, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and David Yow, alongside other talented performers who brought the story to life. For the latest news and updates, visit www.ambies.com
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or aspiring talent, there’s never been a more exciting time to pursue your passion for voice acting and seal your status as an OG by going for these opportunities. You, too, deserve to be called an award-winning voice actor.
Learn more about these awards and how to get involved by visiting their websites.
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