The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2025 has released its official nominees’ list, setting the stage for one of the most competitive editions in recent years.
Nigerian stars Davido and Burna Boy top the list with five nominations each, while fresh acts like Shallipopi, Ayra Starr, Moliy, and Senegal’s Mia Guissé are also making strong appearances.
Record-Breaking Submissions
AFRIMA revealed in a statement on Wednesday that this year’s nominations were drawn from 10,717 entries, the highest in the award’s 12-year history.
After 10 days of screening, a 13-member jury shortlisted 343 nominees across 40 categories, representing all regions of Africa and the diaspora.
Nigerian Artists Dominate the List
Burna Boy and Davido are both contenders for Album of the Year. Burna Boy earned the nomination with No Sign of Weakness, while Davido was recognized for 5ive.
Both artists are also competing in the Song of the Year and Best Collaboration categories.
Street-pop sensation Shallipopi secured four nominations, including Artiste of the Year and Song of the Year for his hit collaboration Laho.
Ayra Starr, with two nominations, will go head-to-head with Davido, Burna Boy, and Morocco’s El Grande Toto in the Artiste of the Year category.
Strong Continental and Diaspora Representation
Other African stars who earned multiple nominations include:
- DJ Maphorisa (South Africa) – 5 nominations
- El Grande Toto (Morocco) – 5 nominations
- Mia Guissé (Senegal) – 5 nominations
- Moliy (Ghana) – 5 nominations
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – 4 nominations
- Tyla (South Africa) – 4 nominations
- Uncle Waffles (Eswatini) – 4 nominations
The African diaspora also features prominently. Aya Nakamura (France-Mali), Darkoo (UK), and Deborah Lukalu (Canada-Congo) represent female voices, while DJ Snake, Tayc, and Niska headline the male category.
AFRIMA 2025 to Hold in Lagos
AFRIMA jury member Delani Makhalima described the nominees’ list as proof of African music’s global impact.
“For years our voices were not heard, but today African music is global. This is AFRIMA, the biggest music entity on the continent,” he said.
The AFRIMA 2025 Awards will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, from November 25 to 30. The week-long celebration will feature:
- AFRIMA Music Village
- Africa Music Business Summit
- Nominees Party
- Grand Finale on November 30
The final award ceremony will be broadcast live to more than 84 countries.
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