Burna Boy, Davido, Shallipopi Lead Nigerian Charge at AFRIMA 2025 Nominations

Nigerian music heavyweights Burna Boy, Davido, Shallipopi, Rema, and Ayra Starr have emerged among the top contenders for the 2025 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

The nomination list, released ahead of the awards ceremony, highlights Nigeria’s continued dominance on the continental music scene.

Both Burna Boy and Davido secured five nominations each, including Album of the Year, where Burna’s No Sign of Weakness will go head-to-head with Davido’s 5ive. They also earned nods for Song of the Year and Best Collaboration, further cementing their positions as Afrobeats powerhouses.

South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa matched their tally with five nominations of his own, including Album of the Year and Best African DJ. Moroccan rapper El Grande Toto also landed five nods, boosted by the success of his hits Salgoat and Diplomatico.

Rising Nigerian street-pop sensation Shallipopi made an impressive showing with four nominations, including Song of the Year and Artiste of the Year.

Elsewhere, Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz continued his East African dominance with four nominations, while South African singer Tyla and Tanzanian act Juma Jux earned four and three nods respectively. Jux’s Ololufe Mi is in the running for Song of the Year.

Nigeria’s next-generation stars Rema and Ayra Starr also picked up three nominations each, underlining the country’s global influence in contemporary African music.

This year’s awards hold special significance as Nigeria was announced in May as the host nation for AFRIMA 2025, bringing the continent’s biggest celebration of music back home.

The ceremony is expected to showcase the best of African talent while reaffirming Nigeria’s central role in shaping the global soundscape.