The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has unveiled its 2025 nominees, spotlighting some of the continent’s biggest stars, including Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, Ayra Starr, Shallipopi, El Grande Toto, Fally Ipupa, Moliy, Jux, and Senegal’s Mia Guissé.
According to AFRIMA’s PR and Media Relations Manager, Michael Osunnuyi, this year’s edition attracted a record 10,717 entries — the highest in the award’s 12-year history.
After a 10-day screening process, a 13-member jury shortlisted 343 nominees across 40 categories, representing Africa’s five regions and the diaspora.
Burna Boy and Davido lead with five nominations each, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
They share the top spot with Morocco’s El Grande Toto, South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa, Ghana’s Moliy, and Senegal’s Mia Guissé, who also earned five nominations apiece — reflecting the rising impact of female acts on the continent’s music scene.
Shallipopi secured four nods, including Artiste of the Year, while Rema, Côte d’Ivoire’s Himra, Gabon’s Eboloko, and DR Congo’s Fally Ipupa each received three.
The diaspora category features global names such as DJ Snake, Aya Nakamura, Darkoo, and Deborah Lukalu.
Public voting opens on September 10 via AFRIMA’s official website and will close on November 30, the eve of the grand ceremony.
AFRIMA jury member Delani Makhalima said the 2025 list reflects Africa’s growing influence: “In just 12 years, we’ve gone from being marginalised to becoming a global force.
This is AFRIMA, the biggest music entity on the continent.”
The week-long festival, organised with the African Union Commission, the Nigerian government, and Lagos State as host, will run from November 25–30.
It will feature a welcome soiree, AFRIMA Music Village, the Africa Music Business Summit, a nominees’ party, and the main awards night on November 30, broadcast live in 84 countries.
