Nigerian artistes are once again at the forefront of global recognition as BET unveiled the nominees for the 2025 BET Awards, with Ayra Starr emerging as the most nominated African artist.
Fellow Nigerian stars Burna Boy, Tems, Rema, and Shallipopi also earned notable nominations.
Ayra Starr secured three nominations: Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best New Artist, and Best International Act.
The 21-year-old singer, celebrated for her vibrant sound, has enjoyed a good year with chart-topping releases and acclaimed performances across global stages.
Her BET nominations follow her recent wins at the Headies Awards, where she was named Best Female Artist, reinforcing her status as one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising artists.
Grammy-winning singer Tems, known for her soulful music, earned two nominations in the BET Her category for her powerful tracks “Burning” and “Hold On,” both from her debut album Born In The Wild.
Afrobeats heavyweights Burna Boy and Rema were both nominated for Best International Act, underscoring their sustained influence on the global music scene. Burna Boy, a dominant force in the genre, is no stranger to this category, having taken home the award four times.
Shallipopi, a breakout star known for his street-hop sound, received a nomination in the Best New International Act Category, representing a new wave of Nigerian talent gaining international attention.
Other African acts such as South Africa’s Tyla and Uncle Waffles, Ghana’s Black Sherif, and Tanzania’s Abigail Chams were also nominated in various categories.
On the broader nominations list, American rapper Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s nominations with ten nominations, including Album of the Year for GNX and Video of the Year for “Not Like Us.”
Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla each garnered six nominations, followed by Metro Boomin with five. SZA and The Weeknd received four nominations apiece.
The nominations span music, film, television, and sports, and were selected by the BET Voting Academy, comprising industry professionals across entertainment, media, digital, public relations, and the creative arts.
