The 2025 BET Awards nominations have been announced, with African artists earning recognition across top categories, marking another milestone in the continent’s growing global influence in music.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on 9 June.
Nigerian artist Ayra Starr made a significant impact by securing nominations in two of the show’s most prestigious categories. She joins the ranks of SZA, Summer Walker, and Victoria Monét in the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist category, a highly competitive field dominated by US heavyweights. Starr’s nomination highlights her meteoric rise and growing international acclaim following the success of her recent releases.
In the Best International Act category, African talent is front and centre. Nigeria’s Ayra Starr and Rema, Ghana’s Black Sherif, South Africa’s Tyla, and eSwatini’s Uncle Waffles are among the ten nominees. They compete alongside Brazil’s Any Gabrielly and Mc Luanna, France’s Joé Dwèt Filé and Sdm, and the UK’s Bashy and Ezra Collective. This diverse line-up underscores the global reach of African music, with multiple regions now looking to the continent for new sounds and voices.
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The Best New International Act category also features a strong African presence. South Africa’s Maglera Doe Boy, TxC, and Dlala Thukzin, Nigeria’s Shallipopi, and Tanzania’s Abigail Chams are competing with rising stars from Brazil, France, and the UK. These nominations not only signal the international momentum African acts are building, but also the BET Awards’ commitment to showcasing talent beyond traditional markets.
In a surprising development, Nigerian Grammy-winner Burna Boy secured a nomination in the Best Male Hip Hop Artist category, typically dominated by American rappers. He faces off against the likes of Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, and Future, marking a rare moment of direct competition between African and American artists in a core BET Awards category.
The 2025 BET Awards, set to take place later this year, are shaping up to be a celebration of global Black excellence, with African artists not only represented but actively competing at the highest levels of international music.
Below is the full list of nominees:
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
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
Platforms Africa
