Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Shallipopi, and Tems Lead Nigerian Charge at 2025 BET Awards

Nigerian music continues to make waves globally, as several of the country’s biggest stars earn top nominations at the 2025 BET Awards.

Ayra Starr emerges as the most nominated African artist this year, picking up three nominations: Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best New Artist, and Best International Act.

The 21-year-old singer has steadily risen to international fame with her chart-topping hits and electrifying performances.

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Burna Boy and Rema also earned recognition in the Best International Act category. Burna Boy, who has previously claimed the award four times, remains a dominant force in the global Afrobeats scene.

Rising street-hop sensation Shallipopi was nominated in the Best New International Act category, marking a major milestone for his growing career and highlighting Nigeria’s new wave of talent.

Tems, who recently released her debut album Born In The Wild, received a nod in the BET Her category for her empowering tracks “Burning” and “Hold On.”

The 2025 BET Awards will be held on June 9 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles and will air live on BET. Leading the nominations overall is Kendrick Lamar with 10 nods, followed by notable names like Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla.

Complete List of Nominees:

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 Female R&B/Pop Artist
• Ayra Starr
• Ari Lennox
• Coco Jones
• 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 30 – SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar
• Alter Ego – Doechii feat. JT
• Are You Even Real – Teddy Swims feat. 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 feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
• Timeless – The 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
• Burna Boy
• BigXthaPlug
• BossMan Dlow
• Drake
• Future
• Kendrick Lamar
• Key Glock
• Lil Wayne
• Tyler, The Creator

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 feat. 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 feat. Jennifer Hudson
• Amen – Pastor Mike Jr.
• Better Days – Fridayy
• Church Doors – Yolanda Adams feat. Sir the Baptist & Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix)
• Constant – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
• Deserve to Win – Tamela Mann
• Faith – Rapsody
• Rain Down On Me – GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music

Viewer’s Choice Award
• Residuals – Chris Brown
• Denial is a River – Doechii
• Nokia – Drake
• Like That – Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
• TGIF – GloRilla
• Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar
• Luther – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
• Brokey – Latto

Best International Act
• Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Bashy (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)
• AJuliacosta (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 People – Mary J. Blige
• Blackbiird – Beyoncé feat. 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

Veteran Nollywood actress Laide Bakare has been recognized by the United Nations International Peace and Governing Council with the esteemed title of Ambassador for Peace.

The award celebrates her consistent dedication to promoting peace, unity, and global cooperation through her public influence and community engagements.