Wednesday May 14, 2025
Spotlight on the nominees
Recognizing Outstanding Talent and Trailblazing Achievements.Meet the incredible artistes who have won this edition.
Only music materials — including singles, videos, live recordings, EPs, and albums — released and distributed on digital streaming platforms or physical media (cassettes, CDs, and vinyl) between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, were eligible for nomination and selection.
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 album of 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.
