The nominations for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, announced on August 5, place African music firmly in the global spotlight.
Seven African artists received nominations in the Best Afrobeats category, with Nigerian heavyweights dominating the category.
These include, Asake and Travis Scott for “Active,” Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott for “TaTaTa,” ” Rema for “Baby (Is It a Crime),” Tems ft. Asake for “Get It Right,” Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz for “Piece of My Heart.” South Afrucan pop sensation Tyla earned a nomination for “Push 2 Start,” and Ghana’s Moliy vira hit “Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix) with Jamaicans Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea also secured a nomination in this hotly contested category.
Burna Boy and Asake lead among the African nominees with two nods each, with Burna Boy also nominated for Video for Good for “Higher” and Asake appearing twice in Best Afrobeats for both his solo and collaborative work.
Tyla, the breakout star from South Africa, also received another nomination for Best Choreography for her song “Push 2 Start alongside the Best Afrobeats nomination . Nigerian songstress Ayra Starr was also recognized outside the main categories with a nomination for MTV PUSH Performance of the Year for her performance of “Last Heartbreak Song.”
As reported by The Sauce in 2024, Tyla made history as the first South African artist to win a VMA, taking home the inaugural Best Afrobeats award for her viral hit “Water.” Her acceptance speech emphasized the importance of properly recognizing African music genres, reminding the audience that her style is Amapiano, not Afrobeats.
The 2025 VMAs, airing live on September 7 from UBS Arena in New York, continue to expand their recognition of global sounds. New award categories like Best Pop Artist and Best Country have been introduced this year, while categories such as Best Afrobeats, Best Latin, and Best K-Pop reflect the show’s growing international scope.
African acts now stand confidently alongside some of the world’s biggest names, no longer as features but as leading artists in their own right.
Globally, Lady Gaga leads this year’s nominations with a staggering 12 nods across major categories like Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and Artist of the Year.
