Nigerian music continues its global takeover as Burna Boy, Rema, and Ayra Starr headline the list of African nominees for the 2025 BET Awards, announced Tuesday. The trio secured multiple nods, further cementing their dominance on the international stage and showcasing the unstoppable momentum of Afrobeats.
Burna Boy, a Grammy-winning giant and previous BET Best International Act winner, was nominated again in that very category, alongside his genre-defining peer Rema. Rema, fresh off his historic Billboard success with “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez, also picked up a Best Collaboration nod.
Ayra Starr, the Mavin Records sensation, scored a Best New International Act nomination, marking her first-ever solo appearance on the BET nominations list. Her meteoric rise over the last year—with global hits like Rush—has positioned her as the new face of African pop music on the world stage.
Other African nominees include Tems, who earned a nomination for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, and South Africa’s Tyla, who is nominated in the Viewers’ Choice: Best New International Act category. These nominations highlight the continent’s continued influence on global music culture, particularly across the U.S. and Europe.
The 2025 BET Awards will take place on Sunday, June 30, in Los Angeles, with top global performers expected to grace the stage. With more African artists receiving recognition across categories, fans are eagerly awaiting live performances and possible wins that could shape new history.
Fans across Nigeria and the diaspora have already launched voting campaigns to support their favorites. Hashtags like #BET2025, #TeamBurna, #RemaToTheWorld, and #AyraStarrShines are trending across X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok as the countdown to the ceremony begins.
