The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) is set to announce the list of nominees for the 2025 awards on August 24, after
hitting an all-time high with 10,717 entries, showcasing Africa’s thriving music scene.
With the figures, Afrima International Committee, the organisers of African global music awards, once again raised the bar for music excellence.
The development represents a substantial increase from the last edition’s 9,076 entries, with the surge in entries showing AFRIMA’s position as the continent’s most prestigious platform for developing,celebrating and promoting African music globally.
The entry window, which opened on Tuesday, May 27 and closed on Friday, August 8, welcomed songs, albums, and music videos from every corner of the continent and beyond.
Submissions came not only from artistes, songwriters, and music producers but also from video directors, DJs, dancers, choreographers, recording labels, and even unrecorded talents.
Leading the pack is West Africa with 5,215 entries (48.68 percent), followed by Southern Africa with 2,080 entries (19.42 percent), and Eastern Africa with 804 entries (7.50 percent).
The remaining entries came from Northern Africa with 267 entries (2.49 percent), and 291 entries (2.72 percent) from Central Africa, while Africans in the diaspor pooled a total of 75 entries (0.70 percent).
The 13-member international jury, made up of seasoned music industry professionals from across Africa and the diaspora, began adjudication on Friday, August 8, in Lagos, a process that will run until Sunday, August 17.
During this period, entries are screened, categorised, scored based on quality, originality, impact and cultural relevance, and select nominees from the submitted entries across various regional and continental categories.
Speaking on the record turnout, Adam Tiran, a Jury member representing Southern Africa, said: “The record number of entries for AFRIMA 2025 is more than just a statistic; it shows how alive, creative, and unstoppable African music is right now.
“It’s about growing confidence among artists that AFRIMA is the stage where their work can be seen, respected, and celebrated on a global scale. It’s clear that African music is not only growing fast but also making a big impact on the global stage.”
According to the organisers, the official nominees list for this year’s award will be announced on August 24, which will also lead to the start of the voting period. From September 5, the AFRIMA Academy, as well as fans worldwide, can vote for their favourite nominees via the official AFRIMA website, www.afrima.org.
Voting will close 24 hours before the awards night on November 30. All results will be monitored and audited by an appointed international auditing firm to ensure transparency and credibility of the process.
It need be noted that AFRIMA, in partnership with the African Union (AU), secured strategic partnerships with the Nigerian government and Lagos as the official host city, is spearheaded by Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu.
The week-long event from November 25 to 30, will feature activities like Africa Music Business Summit, AFRIMA Music Village Concert, Nominees Party, and the grand Awards Night. It will be broadcast live to over 84 countries.
