The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2025 is officially coming to Lagos, Nigeria, from November 25 to 30, 2025, promising to be a landmark event in the continent’s entertainment calendar. The announcement was made at a landmark event held at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on May 13, 2025, by Angela Martins, Director for Social Development, Culture and Sport at the African Union Commission (AUC), alongside Jannet Hadadi, a prominent figure in music distribution and publishing from Morocco.
While the winners of the 2024 AFRIMA have not been explicitly detailed , the 2023 AFRIMA winners shows that Nigerian stars Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid were among the big winners at the 8th edition held in Dakar, Senegal, with Davido taking home three awards including Best African Collaboration and Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational Music
AFRIMA is organized by the International Committee of AFRIMA in collaboration with the African Union Commission. Since its inception in 2014, AFRIMA has grown into Africa’s premier music awards platform, celebrating the continent’s rich musical diversity and cultural heritage while promoting African music globally.
The awards serve as a critical platform to recognize and reward musical works, talents, and creativity across Africa and its diaspora.
Nomination (Entry Submission):
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Eligible works must have been produced or released between August 8, 2024, and August 8, 2025.
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Only music professionals of African origin, living on the continent or in the diaspora, can submit entries. This includes artists, songwriters, producers, video directors, DJs, dancers, and choreographers.
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Entries must be submitted exclusively online via the official AFRIMA website at www.afrima.org. Email or physical submissions are not accepted.
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The entry submission period opened on May 27, 2025, and closes on August 8, 2025.
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By submitting, entrants consent to AFRIMA using their works for promotional and official purposes.
Adjudication and Nominee Announcement:
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After submission closes, a Screening Committee verifies entries for compliance.
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A 13-member international jury representing Africa’s regions and diaspora adjudicates the entries from August 12 to 19, 2025, assessing them based on fairness, authenticity, creativity, excellence, integrity, and transparency.
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The official nominees list is announced on August 27, 2025.
Voting Process:
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Voting is conducted online on www.afrima.org by both the AFRIMA International Voting Academy (a 100-member group of music professionals) and the African public.
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Public voting opens after the nominee announcement and closes shortly before the awards ceremony.
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Votes are audited by AFRIMA’s international auditors to ensure fairness and integrity.
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The winner in each category is the nominee with the highest combined votes from the Academy and public.
This transparent and digital process ensures broad participation and credibility in selecting AFRIMA winners
Lagos is no stranger to AFRIMA, having previously hosted the awards in 2018 and 2022, events that were widely praised for their vibrancy and world-class execution. The city’s dynamic music scene, excellent infrastructure, strong media presence, and hospitality make it an ideal host for AFRIMA’s 2025 edition. Angela Martins highlighted Lagos’ consistency and excellence in hosting global events as a key reason for its selection, congratulating the city for embodying the spirit of African music—full of rhythm, creativity, and vibrant energy.
The 2025 AFRIMA edition is themed “Unstoppable Africa,” reflecting the resilience, growth, and global influence of African music. It is expected to feature over 1,600 nominees, including their teams, more than 60,000 visitors and delegates, and over 2,300 production crew members. The live broadcast will reach an estimated global audience of over 400 million viewers across 109 stations in 84 countries, underscoring AFRIMA’s role as a major platform for African music worldwide.
Previous AFRIMA ceremonies have attracted a host of special guests and top African music stars, including celebrated artists from diverse genres and countries, as well as international dignitaries and media. These events have been known for their electrifying performances, industry networking opportunities, and cultural showcases, further cementing AFRIMA’s reputation as a unifying force in African entertainment.
The 2025 AFRIMA calendar kicks off with a call for entries starting May 27, 2025, and closes on August 8, 2025. The week-long festivities will include workshops, panels, the Africa Music Business Summit, the Diamond Showcase, Nominees & Industry Night, and the AFRIMA Music Village, culminating in the grand awards ceremony in Lagos.
As AFRIMA returns to Lagos, anticipation is high for an unforgettable celebration that will spotlight Africa’s unstoppable musical talent and cultural vibrancy on a truly global stage.
