AFRIMA Records 10,717 Entries for 2025 Awards, Marking a New High for Africa’s Global Music Celebration

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has announced a record-breaking 10,717 entries for the 2025 edition of Africa’s premier music awards, surpassing last year’s 9,076 submissions. This surge underscores AFRIMA’s growing status as the continent’s most prestigious platform for nurturing, celebrating, and promoting African music on the global stage.

The submission window, which opened on May 27 and closed on August 8 at 23:59 GMT, attracted entries from a wide array of creatives including artistes, songwriters, producers, video directors, DJs, dancers, choreographers, recording labels, and emerging talents from across Africa and the diaspora.

West Africa led the charge with 5,215 entries (48.68%), followed by Southern Africa’s 2,080 entries (19.42%), and Eastern Africa contributing 804 entries (7.50%). Northern Africa accounted for 267 entries (2.49%), Central Africa 291 (2.72%), while Africans in the diaspora submitted 75 entries (0.70%).

Adjudication by AFRIMA’s 13-member International Jury — comprised of seasoned music industry experts from Africa and its diaspora — commenced on August 8 in Lagos. The rigorous process, set to conclude on August 17, involves categorizing, screening, and scoring entries based on quality, originality, impact, and cultural relevance to determine the nominees across various regional and continental categories.

Adam Tiran, a jury member from Southern Africa, commented, “The record number of entries for AFRIMA 2025 reflects how vibrant, creative, and unstoppable African music is right now. It shows growing confidence among artistes that AFRIMA is the stage where their work can be globally respected and celebrated.”

The official nominees’ list will be unveiled on August 24, kicking off the voting phase. From September 5, the AFRIMA Academy alongside fans worldwide will cast their votes via the official website, www.afrima.org, with voting closing 24 hours before the Awards Night on November 30. An independent international auditing firm will monitor the results to ensure transparency and credibility.

AFRIMA, held in partnership with the African Union and hosted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Lagos State under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will take place from November 25 to 30, 2025. The weeklong event will feature the Africa Music Business Summit, AFRIMA Music Village Concert, Nominees Party, and culminate in the grand Awards Night broadcast live to over 84 countries.