The global spotlight is once again on African music as the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2025 unveiled its official list of nominees, showcasing the vibrant diversity, creativity, and global influence of the continent’s biggest stars.
This year’s edition has already made history with a record-breaking 10,717 entries, underscoring AFRIMA’s growing stature as the most prestigious music award platform in Africa.
Scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria, from November 25 to 30, 2025, the event promises to be one of the grandest celebrations of African artistry in recent memory.
Nigeria’s Afrobeats giants Burna Boy and Davido lead the pack with five nominations each, cementing their dominance in Africa’s ever-evolving music landscape.
Burna Boy earned nods in Album of the Year for his chart-topping project No Sign of Weakness and will also contest in Song of the Year and Best Collaboration categories.
Davido, fresh off global tours and chart success, also bagged nominations in Album of the Year for 5ive, alongside Song of the Year and Artiste of the Year.
Rising sensation Shallipopi made waves with four nominations, including the coveted Artiste of the Year and Song of the Year for his viral collaboration Laho.
Meanwhile, Ayra Starr, fondly called the “Sabi Girl,” secured two major nominations, including Artiste of the Year, where she will face heavyweights like Burna Boy, Davido, and Moroccan superstar El Grande Toto.
Beyond Nigeria, the nominations reflect AFRIMA’s continental scope.
South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa secured five nominations, highlighting the dominance of Amapiano, which continues to influence global soundscapes.
Morocco’s El Grande Toto, Senegal’s Mia Guissé, and Ghana’s Moliy each earned five nods, reinforcing the international reach of North and West African artists.
East Africa is strongly represented with Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, who grabbed four nominations.
Southern Africa’s new global sensation, Tyla, and Eswatini’s Uncle Waffles, also clinched four nominations each, marking them as ones to watch.
This wide representation underscores AFRIMA’s mission to spotlight African diversity and cultural fusion in music.
The six-day event promises more than a glamorous award show. Organizers have lined up a series of activities to celebrate African culture and business:
AFRIMA Music Village: A mega concert featuring performances from nominees across genres.
Africa Music Business Summit: A gathering of stakeholders, entrepreneurs, and investors exploring opportunities in Africa’s booming music industry.
Nominees Party: An exclusive night of networking and celebration.
Grand Finale (Nov 30): The award ceremony to crown Africa’s finest.
The entire event will be broadcast live to over 84 countries, reaffirming African music’s global resonance and influence.
AFRIMA jury member Delani Makhalima reflected on the journey of African music, saying:
“For years, our voices were not heard, but today African music is global. This is AFRIMA, the biggest music entity on the continent.”
Indeed, the rise of Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Afro-fusion on international charts demonstrates that African music is no longer confined to regional acclaim—it is now a global cultural powerhouse.
AFRIMA has become a strategic cultural export platform for Africa. Beyond awarding artists, it:
Amplifies African identity in global music.
Drives economic opportunities through tourism, events, and music investments.
Unites the diaspora, with nominations extending beyond Africa to Afro-inspired talents globally.
For Nigeria, hosting AFRIMA 2025 positions Lagos as the creative hub of Africa, boosting cultural tourism and reaffirming its place as the heartbeat of Afrobeats.
With Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, DJ Maphorisa, Diamond Platnumz, Tyla, and Uncle Waffles among the frontrunners, AFRIMA 2025 is shaping up to be a battle of legends and rising stars.
The ceremony will not only celebrate music but also tell the story of a continent whose sound is now reshaping global pop culture.
As November approaches, fans across Africa and the diaspora will eagerly anticipate who takes home the golden trophies—but one thing is certain: African music has never been louder, prouder, or more influential.