By By: Staff Writer
Washington DC, — Two of Liberia’s most prominent performers shared the spotlight at the 2025/2026 Liberia Entertainment Awards (LEA), with JZyNO named Afrobeat Artist of the Year and CIC capturing the night’s top prize, Artist of the Year.
JZyNO’s win highlights Liberia’s growing footprint in Afrobeat, a genre that continues to drive African music exports to global charts and streaming platforms. The Buchanan-born singer, known for the breakout single “Butta My Bread,” has built a catalog of releases blending Afrobeat structures with melodic elements that have found audiences across West Africa, Europe, and the diaspora. The LEA recognition follows a year of international collaborations and sustained streaming numbers, placing him among the country’s most followed artists.
The evening also belonged to CIC, who walked away with Artist of the Year — described as the ceremony’s “biggest and most competitive award.” The win marks his second consecutive top honor across Liberia’s two major award platforms, after taking Artist of the Year at the 2024/2025 Liberia Music Awards.
Organizers noted that the award reflects overall impact, including music releases, consistency, performances, fan engagement, and industry influence over the past year. CIC also collected Album of the Year at Saturday’s event, adding to a strong awards-night showing.
Both victories drew widespread reaction online from fans, musicians, and entertainment stakeholders, with many citing the results as a measure of the commercial growth and regional reach of Liberian music. The wins come as local artists continue to compete on continental stages where Afrobeat dominates programming, charts, and festival bookings.
