The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) on Wednesday released its official list of nominees for the 2025 edition, spotlighting top stars such as Davido, Burna Boy, El Grande Toto, Rema, Fally Ipupa, Shallipopi, Himra, Moliy, Ayra Starr, Jux, and Mia Guissé.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Michael Osunnuyi, AFRIMA’s PR and Media Relations Manager, revealed that this year’s event received a record-breaking 10,717 entries, the highest since the awards were established 12 years ago.
Following a 10-day screening process, a 13-member jury representing different regions of Africa and the diaspora shortlisted 343 nominees across 40 award categories.
Leading the pack, Burna Boy and Davido earned five nominations each, including spots in the prestigious Album of the Year and Song of the Year categories. They are joined by Morocco’s El Grande Toto and South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa, who also secured five nods.
Equally, Senegalese singer Mia Guissé and Ghana’s Moliy matched the feat with five nominations each, underlining the rising impact of women in Africa’s music industry.
Nigerian sensation Shallipopi scored four nominations, including Artiste of the Year. Other artists with four nods are Egypt’s Amr Diab, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, South Africa’s Tyla, and Eswatini’s Uncle Waffles.
Meanwhile, Côte d’Ivoire’s Himra, Gabon’s Eboloko, DR Congo’s Fally Ipupa, and Nigeria’s Rema each received three nominations.
The diaspora category also boasts heavyweight contenders such as DJ Snake, Aya Nakamura, Darkoo, and Deborah Lukalu.
Global voting will begin on September 10 via AFRIMA’s official website and run until November 30, a day before the awards ceremony.
Commenting on the announcement, AFRIMA jury member Delani Makhalima described the nominations as a clear sign of African music’s growing global influence.
“In just over a decade, African music has gone from being overlooked to becoming a global powerhouse. AFRIMA remains the continent’s biggest celebration of music,” he said.
The 2025 AFRIMA, held in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and hosted by Lagos State, will run from November 25 to 30.
The week-long festival will include a Welcome Soiree, AFRIMA Music Village, the Africa Music Business Summit, a Nominees Party, and will climax with the main awards night on November 30, broadcast live in over 84 countries worldwide.