Africa’s most prestigious music celebration, the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), is back and this year’s edition promises to be the fiercest showdown yet.
Nigerian megastars Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, and Ayra Starr headline a dazzling list of nominees, squaring up against the continent’s brightest talents for continental supremacy.
Nigeria’s Heavyweights Take the Lead
With 10,717 submissions—a record-breaking number in AFRIMA’s 12-year history—the 2025 nominations spotlight the unrelenting dominance of Afrobeats. After a grueling 10-day adjudication process by a 13-member international jury, 343 nominees across 40 categories have been unveiled.
Burna Boy and Davido top Nigeria’s charge with five nominations each, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Male Artiste (West Africa), and Artiste of the Year. They are joined by South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa and Morocco’s El Grande Toto, who also earned five nods apiece, underlining AFRIMA’s pan-African spread.
Rising Voices, Global Reach
Street-pop sensation Shallipopi emerged as the year’s surprise contender, racking up four nominations, including Artiste of the Year and Song of the Year for his breakout anthem Laho. His producer, Progrex, also scored a nod for Producer of the Year.
Rema secured three nominations, while Ayra Starr bagged two, staking her claim alongside global giants. Other notable nominees include Senegal’s Mia Guissé, Ghana’s Moliy, Egypt’s Amr Diab, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, South Africa’s Tyla, and Eswatini’s Uncle Waffles—a reflection of the continent’s musical diversity.
AFRIMA Returns to Lagos
From November 25–30, 2025, Lagos will once again play host to AFRIMA with a six-day spectacle featuring the Welcome Soiree, AFRIMA Music Village, Africa Music Business Summit, and the main awards night on November 30, to be broadcast in over 84 countries worldwide.
Public voting begins on September 10 and runs until November 29, giving fans across the globe the final say in determining Africa’s finest.
Why It Matters
This year’s AFRIMA is more than a competition—it’s a cultural milestone. With Afrobeats titans like Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid battling alongside fresh forces like Rema, Ayra Starr, and Shallipopi, Africa is showcasing not only its superstars but also its unstoppable new wave.
From Lagos to the world, African music is no longer knocking on the door—it owns the stage.
