AFRIMA 2025 Receives Record-Breaking 10,717 Entries for Africa’s Global Music Awards

AFRIMA 2025

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has officially announced an unprecedented milestone for its 2025 edition, receiving a record-setting 10,717 entries from across the African continent and the diaspora. This figure marks a remarkable increase from the 9,076 entries recorded in the previous edition, reinforcing AFRIMA’s status as Africa’s premier platform for discovering, celebrating, and promoting African music globally.

A Surge in Participation Across the Continent

According to a statement released by AFRIMA on Monday, the entry window, which opened on May 27, 2025, and closed on August 8, 2025 (23:59 GMT), welcomed submissions of songs, albums, and music videos from:

Artistes
Songwriters
Music producers
Video directors
DJs and dancers
Choreographers
Record labels
Emerging and unrecorded talents

Regional breakdown of submissions:

West Africa: 5,215 entries (48.68%)
Southern Africa: 2,080 entries (19.42%)
Eastern Africa: 804 entries (7.50%)
Northern Africa: 267 entries (2.49%)
Central Africa: 291 entries (2.72%)
African diaspora: 75 entries (0.70%)

This participation surge highlights West Africa’s dominant influence in African music, followed by significant contributions from Southern and Eastern Africa.

Rigorous Adjudication Process Underway

The 13-member International Jury, composed of seasoned music industry professionals from across Africa and the diaspora, commenced the adjudication process on Friday, August 8, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria. The evaluation, which will run until Sunday, August 17, involves:

Screening entries for eligibility
Categorising submissions into regional and continental categories
Scoring based on quality, originality, cultural relevance, and global impact

A jury member representing Southern Africa, Adam Tiran, described the turnout as a reflection of African music’s unstoppable growth:

“The record number of entries for AFRIMA 2025 is more than just a statistic; it shows how alive, creative, and unstoppable African music is right now. This is proof that AFRIMA is the stage where African artistes can gain global recognition and respect.”

Nominee Announcement and Voting Timeline

The official nominees list for AFRIMA 2025 will be released on August 24, 2025, signalling the start of the global voting period.

Voting Opens: September 5, 2025
Voting Closes: 24 hours before the Awards Night on November 30, 2025

Both the AFRIMA Academy and fans worldwide will be able to cast votes via the official AFRIMA website. To ensure transparency and credibility, all results will be audited by an appointed international auditing firm.

Lagos to Host AFRIMA 2025

In partnership with the African Union, AFRIMA has secured strong collaborations with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Lagos State Government. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is set to spearhead preparations for the 2025 edition, which will take place from November 25 to 30 in Lagos.

The week-long event will feature:

Africa Music Business Summit – a platform for networking and industry growth
AFRIMA Music Village Concert – showcasing top African acts
Nominees Party – celebrating shortlisted artistes
The Grand Awards Night – to be broadcast live to over 84 countries worldwide

Why AFRIMA Matters for African Music

AFRIMA is more than an award ceremony — it’s a global cultural movement that showcases Africa’s diverse soundscape to the world. By providing a platform for both established and emerging talents, AFRIMA plays a key role in shaping the future of African music on a global scale.

To learn more about the awards, past winners, and the voting process, visit the official AFRIMA website.

Punch

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