The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) is set to return to Nigeria in grand fashion, with Lagos State confirmed as the official host city for the 2025 edition, themed “Unstoppable Africa.” The announcement was jointly made by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the AFRIMA International Committee on Tuesday, during a press briefing at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The week-long cultural spectacle will take place from November 25 to 30, 2025, and is expected to transform Lagos into the creative heartbeat of the continent. With previous editions hosted across African capitals, AFRIMA’s return to Nigeria signals a powerful homecoming to one of Africa’s most influential entertainment hubs.
Angela Martins, the AUC’s Director for Social Development, Culture, and Sport, commended Lagos for its “consistent excellence in hosting major global events,” praising the city’s world-class infrastructure, vibrant media landscape, robust security system, and unmatched hospitality as key factors for its selection.
Entry submissions for AFRIMA 2025 will open on May 27 and close on August 8, 2025, with categories spanning every music genre and cultural expression from across the African continent and diaspora. Over 1,600 nominees will be shortlisted, with more than 2,300 production crew members involved in the event’s logistics and technical execution.
Organizers estimate that Lagos will host over 60,000 visitors and delegates, including artists, executives, fans, and global media influencers. The event is projected to reach over 400 million viewers worldwide through a massive live broadcast operation spanning 109 television stations across 84 countries, making it the largest cultural broadcast from Africa in 2025.
Beyond the glitz and performances, AFRIMA will also host forums on music policy, artist empowerment, and intellectual property, as well as street festivals, city tours, and talent showcases—further cementing its reputation as Africa’s biggest music and culture event.
Lagos State is expected to unveil a local organizing committee to support AFRIMA’s successful hosting, with stakeholders hailing the announcement as a major boost for tourism, branding, and youth engagement in Nigeria.
