Nigerian music heavyweights Burna Boy, Davido, Shallipopi, Rema, and Ayra Starr have emerged as frontrunners at the 2025 edition of the All-Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), securing multiple nominations across the continent’s biggest music categories.
The nomination list, released this week, features artists from across Africa, with Nigeria once again showing its dominance on the continental music stage.
Burna Boy and Davido lead the charge with five nominations each, placing them among the most recognised artistes this year. Burna Boy’s critically acclaimed hit No Sign of Weakness and Davido’s chart-topping album 5ive were both nominated for Album of the Year, setting up what promises to be a tough competition between two of Afrobeats’ biggest global exports.
Both stars also secured nominations for Song of the Year and Best Collaboration, thanks to their high-performing singles that have enjoyed massive airplay across Africa and beyond.
Joining them at the top of the nominations list is South African hitmaker DJ Maphorisa, who also earned five nods, including Album of the Year and Best African DJ.
Moroccan rapper El Grande Toto matched the Nigerian and South African stars with five nominations of his own, credited to his widely celebrated tracks Salgoat and Diplomatico.
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Nigerian street-pop sensation Shallipopi, who has rapidly risen to fame with his viral anthems, earned four nominations, including the highly coveted Song of the Year and Artiste of the Year categories.
On the East African front, Tanzanian star Diamond Platnumz continued to cement his dominance with four nominations, further strengthening his reputation as one of Africa’s most consistent hitmakers.
South African breakout star Tyla, who has been riding the global success of her chart-topping single Water, also secured four nominations, making her one of the strongest female contenders this year.
Tanzanian musician Juma Jux followed closely with three nominations, including Song of the Year for his emotional ballad Ololufe Mi.
Other Nigerian superstars, Rema and Ayra Starr, both secured three nominations each, further underscoring the new generation of Afrobeats’ global influence.
Rema, who has enjoyed international success with Calm Down, continues to be one of Africa’s most streamed artistes worldwide, while Ayra Starr’s nominations highlight her growing presence as one of Afrobeats’ leading female voices.
This year’s AFRIMA is particularly significant for Nigeria, as the country was announced in May as the official host of the 2025 edition.
The ceremony is expected to attract top music talents, industry stakeholders, and fans from across the continent, solidifying Nigeria’s role as a cultural hub for African music.
Since its inception, AFRIMA has served as Africa’s premier music award platform, celebrating excellence, diversity, and creativity across genres while projecting African music to the world.
With Burna Boy, Davido, and Shallipopi leading the Nigerian charge, and strong competition from South Africa, Morocco, and Tanzania, the 2025 edition promises to be one of the most competitive and star-studded in recent years.
