Ghanaian Stars Lead Nominations for 2025 AFRIMA

For Ghana, the spotlight shines on some of the nation’s most influential voices as nominations for the 2025 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) are announced.

Three leading female artistes, Amaarae, Moliy, and Wendy Shay, have been shortlisted in the Best Female Artiste (Western Africa) category. On the men’s side, big names such as Sarkodie, Black Sherif, and Stonebwoy have also secured nominations, placing Ghana firmly on the map for this year’s awards.

The countdown to AFRIMA has officially begun, promising another exciting celebration of African music and culture. The International Committee of AFRIMA, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), has unveiled the full list of nominees, setting the stage for a fierce contest between Africa’s biggest superstars and a vibrant wave of emerging acts.

This year’s AFRIMA has already set a record by attracting 10,717 submissions, the highest since its inception 12 years ago. From this massive pool, a 13-member jury carefully shortlisted 343 nominees across 40 categories, representing all five African regions as well as the diaspora. The scale and diversity of the submissions point to the continued growth of African music on the global stage.

Several top names dominate the nominations list. Nigeria’s Burna Boy and Davido, South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa, Morocco’s El Grande Toto, and Senegal’s Mia Guissé each received five nominations. They are joined by Ghana’s very own Moliy, whose rising career has captured continental attention.

Moliy also bagged five nominations, including Best Female Artiste in Western Africa and Song of the Year for her energetic track Shake It to the Max.

Other multiple nominees include Egypt’s Amr Diab, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, South Africa’s Tyla, and eSwatini’s Uncle Waffles, who all secured four nominations each. Their presence reflects the dominance of Afropop, amapiano, and Afro-house sounds across the continent and the growing appeal of these genres worldwide.

Speaking on the announcement of nominees, AFRIMA jury member Delani Makhalima described the journey of the awards as remarkable. “Twelve years in, we’re now here. This is global. This is AFRIMA, the biggest music entity on the face of the continent,” he said. His words echo the vision of AFRIMA as a platform that celebrates the power of African creativity while positioning it on the international stage.

The 2025 awards ceremony will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria, from November 25 to November 30. It will be a week-long festival filled with music and culture, including the AFRIMA Music Village, the Africa Music Business Summit, and the highly anticipated awards night.

The ceremony will be broadcast to more than 80 countries, ensuring that millions of viewers around the world can share in Africa’s biggest night of music.