By OBSERVERS TIMES
Nigerian artistes continue to make waves on the global stage as the nominees for the 2025 BET Awards were unveiled, with Ayra Starr leading the pack as the most nominated African artist.
Joining her are fellow Nigerian stars Burna Boy, Tems, Rema, and Shallipopi, who also earned significant nominations.
Ayra Starr secured three nods in key categories: Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best New Artist, and Best International Act. The 21-year-old singer, renowned for her vibrant sound and dynamic performances, has enjoyed a breakthrough year with chart-topping releases and acclaimed international appearances.
Her BET nominations come on the heels of her recent triumph at the Headies Awards, where she was named Best Female Artist, cementing her position as one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising music talents.
Grammy-winning singer Tems, celebrated for her soulful style, received two nominations in the BET Her category for her impactful tracks “Burning” and “Hold On,” both featured on her debut album Born In The Wild.
Afrobeats heavyweights Burna Boy and Rema were both nominated for Best International Act, highlighting their continued influence on the global music scene. Burna Boy, a dominant figure in the genre, is no stranger to this category, having won the award four times.
Emerging artist Shallipopi, known for his distinctive street-hop sound, earned a nomination in the Best New International Act category, representing the fresh wave of Nigerian talent gaining international recognition.
Other notable African nominees include South African acts Tyla and Uncle Waffles, Ghana’s Black Sherif, and Tanzania’s Abigail Chams, all recognized across various categories.
On the broader nominations front, American rapper Kendrick Lamar leads 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 received six nominations, while Metro Boomin garnered five. SZA and The Weeknd followed with four nominations apiece.
The nominations cover music, film, television, and sports, and were selected by the BET Voting Academy—a panel of industry professionals spanning entertainment, media, digital, public relations, and the creative arts.
