The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has officially dropped its 2025 nominees’ list, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the fiercest showdowns in African music history. From Afrobeats giants to rising stars, the competition is hotter than ever.

Nigeria is coming in strong, with Burna Boy and Davido leading the pack at five nominations each. Both heavyweights will face off in the prestigious Album of the Year category—Burna with No Sign of Weakness and Davido with 5ive. Their hit singles also earned them nods for Song of the Year and Best Collaboration.

Street-pop sensation Shallipopi is not left out. The “Elon Musk” hitmaker bagged four nominations, including the highly competitive Artiste of the Year. Meanwhile, Ayra Starr, one of Afrobeats’ brightest young queens, scored two nominations but will be going head-to-head with Davido, Burna Boy, and Morocco’s El Grande Toto for Artiste of the Year.

Outside Nigeria, the heat is just as intense. South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa, Morocco’s El Grande Toto, Ghana’s Moliy, and Senegal’s Mia Guissé all secured five nominations each. Diamond Platnumz, Tyla, and Uncle Waffles also pulled in multiple nods, proving the pan-African spread of talent.

The diaspora is shining too, with names like Aya Nakamura, Darkoo, Deborah Lukalu, DJ Snake, and Tayc making the cut.

AFRIMA 2025, hosted in Lagos, will run from November 25 to 30, featuring the AFRIMA Music Village, Nominees Party, Africa Music Business Summit, and the grand finale on November 30. The event will be broadcast live across 84 countries.

One thing is clear: this year’s AFRIMA is going to be a battle of legends versus the new wave, and fans can’t wait to see who takes the crown.

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