The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) revealed its list of nominees for 2025 on Wednesday, showcasing some of the continent’s most celebrated musicians.
Nigeria’s Burna Boy and Davido lead the nominations with five nods each. Burna Boy’s album No Sign of Weakness and Davido’s 5ive are both in the running for Album of the Year. Additionally, their hit singles earned them nominations in the Song of the Year and Best Collaboration categories.
South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa also received five nominations, including Best African DJ and Album of the Year. Morocco’s rap artist El Grande Toto matched this tally with five nods, thanks to his album Salgoat and the popular single Diplomatico, which has gained international attention.
Emerging Nigerian street-pop artist Shallipopi secured four nominations, including Artiste of the Year and Song of the Year for his collaboration Laho. Fellow Nigerian star Rema received three nominations, including Artiste of the Year and Best Male in West Africa.
Ayra Starr earned two nominations and is competing for the prestigious Artiste of the Year award alongside heavyweights such as Davido, Burna Boy, and El Grande Toto.
According to the event organisers, public voting will open globally on September 10, 2025, via the official AFRIMA website (www.afrima.org). Music enthusiasts from across Africa and the diaspora will have the opportunity to vote for their favourites. Voting will close on November 30, the eve of the awards ceremony.
Delani Makhalima, a member of the AFRIMA jury representing Southern Africa, described the 2025 nominees list as a testament to the remarkable progress African music has made on the global stage.
“For many years, African artists and creators were overlooked, but now our voices are heard worldwide. AFRIMA is the continent’s biggest music platform, and this year’s nominees reflect the hard work and growth of African music over the past twelve years,” he said.
AFRIMA 2025 will be held in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria and hosted officially by Lagos State.
AFRIMA 2025 Nominees Announced, Featuring Top African Music Stars
