The 2025 BET Awards are shaping up to be a major celebration of African talent, with Nigerian artists once again dominating key categories. From Afrobeats royalty to rising stars, this year’s lineup reflects the genre’s global takeover.
Leading the Nigerian pack is Ayra Starr, who secured a remarkable three nominations:
- Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Best New Artist
- Best International Act
Already dubbed Mavin Records’ golden girl, Ayra’s triple nod affirms her meteoric rise and global appeal.
Tems also made a powerful showing, earning two nominations in the BET Her category for her soulful anthems “Burning” and “Hold On.” Known for her raw vocal emotion and poetic songwriting, Tems continues to define her lane in the global R&B and soul scene.
Burna Boy, Rema, and Shallipopi also landed well-deserved nominations, further cementing Nigeria’s strong presence on the international music stage. Burna Boy is nominated for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, a nod to his genre-blending sound and dominance beyond Afrobeats.
Global Competition Heats Up
On the global front, Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with a staggering 10 nominations, followed by Doechii, Drake, GloRilla, and Future with six nods each. Heavy hitters like SZA, Metro Boomin, and The Weeknd also feature prominently.
The ceremony will take place on June 9, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, airing live on BET.
Highlight: Best International Act
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
- And more…
Best New International Act Features:
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
- Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
- Ajulicosta (Brazil)
- Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
Other Key Categories Featuring Nigerian Artists:
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Ayra Starr
- SZA
- Coco Jones
- Kehlani
- Victoria Monét
- Summer Walker
Best New Artist
- Ayra Starr
- Leon Thomas
- Shaboozey
- Teddy Swims
- And more…
BET Her
- Tems – Burning, Hold On
- Beyoncé – Blackbiird
- Mary J. Blige, Doechii, Summer Walker
From chart-toppers to breakout stars, Nigerian acts are clearly at the forefront of the global Black music scene, and the BET Awards 2025 are taking notice. With June 9 fast approaching, all eyes will be on Los Angeles to see who takes home the gold.
