Nigeria’s music powerhouses shine on the global stage once again as Ayra Starr emerges with the most nominations among African artists at this year’s BET Awards.
The 2025 BET Awards nominations have been revealed, and Nigerian sensation Ayra Starr is making headlines as the most-nominated African artist. The 21-year-old hitmaker secured three major nominations: Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best New Artist, and Best International Act, cementing her place as one of Africa’s brightest music exports.
Ayra Starr’s rapid ascent in the music world has been nothing short of spectacular. Known for her unique blend of Afropop and R&B, the Mavin Records star has spent the past year lighting up global charts and stages.
She’s not the only Nigerian artist turning heads. Grammy-winning songstress Tems earned two nominations in the BET Her category for her soul-stirring singles “Burning” and “Hold On,” both from her 2024 debut album Born In The Wild.
Afrobeats giants Burna Boy and Rema were also recognized in the Best International Act category. Burna Boy, already a four-time winner in this category, continues to wave the Nigerian flag high with his genre-defining sound and global acclaim. Rema, fresh off his worldwide success with hits like “Calm Down,” is again being celebrated for his cross-cultural impact.
Meanwhile, street-hop newcomer Shallipopi earned a well-deserved nomination for Best New International Act, marking a breakout year for the artist and signaling a fresh wave of talent emerging from Nigeria.
Beyond Nigeria, other African stars made the list, including South Africa’s Tyla and Uncle Waffles, Ghana’s Black Sherif, and Tanzania’s Abigail Chams, reflecting the growing presence of African music on the global stage.
U.S. rapper Kendrick Lamar leads all artists with ten nominations, including Album of the Year for GNX and Video of the Year for “Not Like Us.” He’s followed by heavyweights like Drake, Future, GloRilla, and Doechii, who each scored six nominations.
This year’s BET Awards nominations span music, television, film, and sports, with nominees selected by the BET Voting Academy, made up of industry professionals across entertainment, media, and the creative arts.
The ceremony promises to be a celebration of Black excellence—and with Nigerian stars leading the charge, the global influence of Afrobeats is impossible to ignore.
Here is the full list of nominees:
Album of the Year
$ome $exy $ongs 4 UDrake & Partynextdoor
11:11 DeluxeChris Brown
Alligator Bites Never HealDoechii
Cowboy CarterBeyoncé
GloriousGloRilla
GNXKendrick Lamar
Hurry Up TomorrowThe Weeknd
We Don’t Trust YouFuture & Metro Boomin
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Ayra Starr
Coco Jones
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Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA
Victoria Monét
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
Leon Thomas
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Usher
Best Group
41
Common & Pete Rock
Drake & Partynextdoor
Flo
Future & Metro Boomin
Jacquees & Dej Loaf
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
30 For 30SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar
Alter EgoDoechii feat. JT
Are You Even RealTeddy Swims feat. Givēon
BeckhamDee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo
BlessLil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
Like ThatFuture & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
LutherKendrick Lamar & SZA
StickyTyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
TimelessThe Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doechii
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Rapsody
Sexyy Red
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
BigXthaPlug
Bossman DLow
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Key Glock
Lil Wayne
Tyler, The Creator
Video of the Year
3AM in TokeyoKey Glock
A Bar Song (Tipsy)Shaboozey
After HoursKehlani
Denial Is a RiverDoechii
Family MattersDrake
Not Like UsKendrick Lamar
TimelessThe Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
Type ShitFuture, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
Video Director of the Year
Anderson .Paak
B Pace Productions & Jacquees
Benny Boom
Cactus Jack
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Dave Meyers
Foggieraw
Tyler, The Creator
Best New Artist
41
Ayra Starr
BigXthePlug
Bossman DLow
Dee Billz
Leon Thomas
October London
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
A God (There Is)Common & Pete Rock feat. Jennifer Hudson
AmenPastor Mike Jr.
Better DaysFridayy
Church DoorsYolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix)
ConstantMaverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
Deserve to WinTamela Mann
FaithRapsody
Rain Down on MeGloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
Viewer’s Choice Award
ResidualsChris Brown
Denial Is a RiverDoechii
NokiaDrake
Like ThatFuture & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
TGIFGloRilla
Not Like UsKendrick Lamar
LutherKendrick Lamar & SZA
BrokeyLatto
Best International Act
Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Basky (UK)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Ezra Collective (UK)
Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
MC Luanna (Brazil)
Rema (Nigeria)
SDM (France)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best New International Act
Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Ajulicosta (Brazil)
Amabbi (Brazil)
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Dr Yaro (France)
KWN (UK)
Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
Merveille (France)
Odeal (UK)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
TxC (South Africa)
BET Her
Beautiful PeopleMary J. Blige
BlackbiirdBeyonce feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
BloomDoechii
BurningTems
Defying GravityCynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
Heart of a WomanSummer Walker
Hold OnTems
In My BagFlo & GloRilla
Best Movie
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Luther: Never Too Much
Mufasa: The Lion King
One of Them Days
Rebel Ridge
The Piano Lesson
The Six Triple Eight
Best Actor
Aaron Pierce
Aldis Hodge
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Denzel Washington
Jamie Foxx
Joey Bada$$
Kevin Hart
Sterling K. Brown
Will Smith
Best Actress
Andra Day
Angela Bassett
Coco Jones
Cynthia Erivo
Keke Palmer
Kerry Washington
Quinta Brunson
Viola Davis
Zendaya
Young Stars Award
Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
Melody Hurd
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Tyrik Johnson
VanVan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Dawn Staley
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year
Aaron Judge
Anthony Edwards
Deion Sanders
Jalen Hurts
Jayson Tatum
LeBron James
Saquon Barkley
Stephen Curry
