BET Awards 2025: African Artists Secure Major Nominations as Global Spotlight Intensifies

African musicians have earned a wave of nominations at the 2025 BET Awards, underlining the continent’s growing influence on the global music stage.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on 9 June, and this year’s nominations reflect a strong international focus—particularly on talent emerging from across Africa.

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, one of the continent’s fastest-rising stars, is nominated in two major categories. She joins SZA, Summer Walker, and Victoria Monét in the running for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist—traditionally one of the most competitive categories at the show. Her recognition comes on the back of a breakout year that has seen her gain traction well beyond West Africa.

In the Best International Act category, African artists dominate the field. Ayra Starr appears again, joined by fellow Nigerian star Rema, Ghana’s Black Sherif, South Africa’s Tyla, and eSwatini’s Uncle Waffles. The group is up against nominees from Brazil, France, and the UK, in a category that increasingly reflects the genre-bending, cross-cultural nature of today’s music industry.

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African acts also feature prominently in the Best New International Act category. South Africa’s Maglera Doe Boy, TxC, and Dlala Thukzin are joined by Nigeria’s Shallipopi and Tanzania’s Abigail Chams—each of them part of a new wave of artists breaking into global charts and streaming platforms.

In a notable development, Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy has been nominated in the Best Male Hip Hop Artist category—a category usually dominated by North American names. He will compete against artists such as Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Tyler, the Creator, marking a rare direct contest between African and US acts in one of the BET Awards’ core segments.

The 2025 edition of the awards is being framed as a celebration of global Black excellence. With African artists appearing not just in niche or regional slots, but in headline categories, the nominations point to a shifting musical landscape where boundaries are increasingly blurred.

Hosting the show this year is comedian and entertainment mogul Kevin Hart. The Emmy winner and best-selling author is expected to bring his trademark energy to the stage when the awards air live on BET Africa at 2:00am CAT on Tuesday, 10 June.

BET says Hart’s involvement speaks to its mission of spotlighting Black creativity, humour, and influence on a global scale.

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The full list of nominees follows below.

Viewer’s Choice Award

• ‘Residuals’ – Chris Brown
• ‘Denial Is A River’ – Doechii
• ‘Nokia’ – Drake
• ‘Like That’ – Future & Metro Boomin ft. Kendrick Lamar
• ‘TGIF’ – GloRilla
• ‘Not Like Us’ – Kendrick Lamar
• ‘Luther’ – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
• ‘Brokey’ – Latto

BET Her

• ‘Beautiful People’ – Mary J. Blige
• ‘Blackbiird’ – Beyoncé ft. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
• ‘Bloom’ – Doechii
• ‘Burning’ – Tems
• ‘Defying Gravity’ – Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
• ‘Heart of a Woman’ – Summer Walker
• ‘Hold On’ – Tems
• ‘In My Bag’ – FLO & 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 Pierre
• 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

YoungStars 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 Award

• Aaron Judge
• Anthony Edwards
• Deion Sanders
• Jalen Hurts
• Jayson Tatum
• LeBron James
• Saquon Barkley
• Stephen Curry

R&B/Pop Artist

• ⁠Ayra Starr
• ⁠Ari Lennox
• ⁠Coco Jones
• ⁠Kehlani
• Muni Long
• Summer Walker
• SZA
• Victoria Monét

Best International Act

• Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
• ⁠Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• ⁠Bashy (United Kingdom)
• ⁠Black Sherif (Ghana)
• ⁠Ezra Collective (United Kingdom)
• Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
• ⁠Mc Luanna (Brazil)
• ⁠Rema (Nigeria)
• ⁠Sdm (France)
• ⁠Tyla (South Africa)
• Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)

Best New International Act

• ⁠Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
• ⁠Ajuliacosta (Brazil)
• ⁠Amabbi (Brazil)
• ⁠Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
• ⁠Dr Yaro (France)
• ⁠kwn (United Kingdom)
• ⁠Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
• Merveille (France)
• Odeal (United Kingdom)
• ⁠Shallipopi (Nigeria)
• ⁠TxC (South Africa)

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

• Burna Boy
• ⁠BigXthaPlug
• ⁠Bossman Dlow
• Drake
• ⁠Future
• ⁠Kendrick Lamar
• ⁠Key Glock
• ⁠Lil Wayne
• Tyler, the Creator

Album of the Year

• $Ome $Exy $Ongs 4 U – Drake & PartyNextDoor
• 11:11 Deluxe – Chris Brown
• Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii
• Cowboy Carter – Beyoncé
• Glorious – GloRilla
• GNX – Kendrick Lamar
• Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
• We Don’t Trust You – Future & Metro Boomin

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 30’ – SZA ft. Kendrick Lamar
• ‘Alter Ego’ – Doechii ft. JT
• ‘Are You Even Real’ – Teddy Swims ft. Givēon
• ‘Beckham’ – Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, Kj Swervo
• ‘Bless’ – Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
• ‘Like That’ – Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
• ‘Luther’ – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
• ‘Sticky’ – Tyler, the Creator ft. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
• ‘Timeless’ – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

• Cardi B
• Doechii
• Doja Cat
• GloRilla
• Latto
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Nicki Minaj
• Rapsody
• Sexyy Red

Video of the Year

• ‘3AM in ToKEYo’ – Key Glock
• ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ – Shaboozey
• ‘After Hours’ – Kehlani
• ‘Denial Is A River’ – Doechii
• ‘Family Matters’ – Drake
• ‘Not Like Us’ – Kendrick Lamar
• ‘Timeless’ – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti
• ‘Type Shit’ – Future, 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
• BigXthaPlug
• 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 ft. Jennifer Hudson
• ‘Amen’ – Pastor Mike Jr.
• ‘Better Days’ – Fridayy
• ‘Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)’ – Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence
• ‘Constant’ – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
• ‘Deserve To Win’ – Tamela Mann
• ‘Faith’ – Rapsody
• ‘Rain Down on Me’ – GloRilla ft. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music