By Emeka Blast 
AFRIMA 2025: Burna Boy, Davido, Shallipopi & Juma Jux Lead the Nominations
Lagos, Nigeria – The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2025 nominations, unveiled on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, have set the stage for a fierce showdown, with Nigerian heavyweights Burna Boy, Davido, Shallipopi, and Tanzanian star Juma Jux dominating the list. The 12th edition of the awards, organized in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), saw a record-breaking 10,717 entries, the highest in AFRIMA’s history, with a 13-member international jury shortlisting 343 nominees across 40 categories.
Burna Boy and Davido lead the pack with five nominations each, including Album of the Year for No Sign of Weakness (Burna Boy) and 5ive (Davido), as well as Song of the Year and Best Collaboration for their hit singles. The duo’s dominance reflects their enduring influence, with both artists also vying for Artiste of the Year, per The Sun Nigeria and Vanguard. South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa and Morocco’s El Grande Toto match their tally with five nods each, the latter for tracks Salgoat and Diplomatico, while Senegal’s Mia Guissé and Ghana’s Moliy also secured five nominations, highlighting the rise of female talent.
Fast-rising Nigerian street-pop sensation Shallipopi earned four nominations, including Artiste of the Year and Song of the Year for his collaborative track Laho, produced by Progrex, who also bagged a Best Producer nod. Tanzanian crooner Juma Jux scored three nominations, notably Song of the Year for his soulful hit Ololufe mi, cementing his East African influence, as reported by NigerianEye and Starconnect Media. Other notable contenders include Nigeria’s Rema with three nominations (Artiste of the Year, Best Male in West Africa) and Ayra Starr with two, competing for Artiste of the Year against Burna Boy, Davido, and El Grande Toto.
The 2025 nominations showcase Africa’s musical diversity, with Egypt’s Amr Diab, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, South Africa’s Tyla, and Eswatini’s Uncle Waffles each securing four nominations. South Africa’s Mawhoo and Nasty C, along with Morocco’s Jaylann, earned three nods each, with Mawhoo’s Bengicela and Nasty C’s Soft standing out. The diaspora also shines, with names like Aya Nakamura, DJ Snake, Darkoo, and Deborah Lukalu making the cut, per Leadership.ng.
AFRIMA jury member Delani Makhalima, representing Southern Africa, hailed the list as proof of African music’s global ascent, stating, “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,” according to Daily Post Nigeria. The record-breaking entries reflect the continent’s growing creative output, spanning Afrobeats, Amapiano, and more.
AFRIMA 2025, hosted in Lagos from November 25 to 30, will feature a week-long celebration including the Welcome Soiree, AFRIMA Music Village, Africa Music Business Summit, Host City Tour, Nominees Party, and the grand finale on November 30, broadcast live to over 84 countries. Public voting opens globally on September 10, 2025, via www.afrima.org, allowing fans to influence the winners, as confirmed by AFRIMA’s PR manager, Michael Osunnuyi, in a statement to TheStar.
Fans have taken to X with fervor, with @NaijaMusicHub tweeting, “Burna Boy and Davido with 5 noms each? AFRIMA 2025 is a war! Shallipopi and Juma Jux holding it down too! 🔥 #AFRIMA2025.” Others, like @EastAfricaVibes, celebrated Juma Jux’s Ololufe mi, posting, “Tanzania to the world! Jux deserves this shine.” The nominations have sparked debates over who will dominate the awards, with @AfrobeatsFanatic noting, “Shallipopi’s Laho vs. Burna’s No Sign of Weakness? Tough call!”
As AFRIMA 2025 approaches, the nominations underscore the continent’s vibrant music scene, blending established icons with emerging talents. With Lagos as the host city, backed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the event promises to be a global celebration of African artistry, further solidifying its cultural impact.
