Thursday February 20, 2025
Spotlight on the nominees
Get ready to meet the incredible artistes who have been nominated this year. Explore their journeys, witness their artistry.
Only music materials including singles, videos, video live recordings, EPs and albums released and distributed on digital streaming platforms, and physical music media (cassettes, CDs and vinyl) within the year in review (April 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024) were considered for nomination.
A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically with the absence of an album in the year under review.
A non-voting category for the best recording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artiste or group in the year under review.
A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition) in the year under review.
A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
An individual or collection of people responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
A voting category for a single (released on-air and streaming platforms) recording of a rap song.
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single or album.
A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.
A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.
A voting category for the best R&B, pop, Hip-Hop, or Afrobeats collaborative track (including cameos).
A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.
A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in the year under review (by single individual or group).
A non-voting category for the rapper with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album in the year under review.
A voting award category for the best inspirational single in the year under review (by an individual or group).
A voting category to award the fans’ favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Western African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Eastern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Northern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Southern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
A voting award category for an individual African artist or group (of Central African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
A voting award category for a non-African artist or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact on Afrobeats.
A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artist or group in the year under review.
This is a non-voting category for a song written and composed originally for use in a motion picture or series.
This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with a single, EP or Album) in the year under review.
A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in the year under review (by single individual or group).
A non-voting category for the artist with the most outstanding live performance in front of an audience by singing, or playing a musical instrument. The live performance must have been recorded and officially released in video format – streaming, TV and physical media.
A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.
A voting award category for an individual Nigerian artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact digitally in the year under review.
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in the year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).
This category is a voting category for the most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review.
