Entertainment

FULL LIST: Burna Boy, Shallipopi, Rema Get 2025 BET Awards Nominations As Ayra Starr Leads

Published

5 months ago

May 9, 2025

Editor

The 2025 BET Awards nominations are out—and African artists are making history.
With stars like Nigeria’s Ayra Starr, Rema, Shallipopi, and Burna Boy earning nods in top-tier categories traditionally dominated by American acts, this year’s lineup signals a powerful shift in global music dynamics.

Slated for 9 June at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, the awards are shaping up to be a landmark celebration of Black talent across the world.

Ayra Starr is nominated for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist—a fiercely contested category that includes SZA, Summer Walker, and Victoria Monét—marking a career milestone and reinforcing her rapid ascent on the global stage.

Africa’s influence continues in the Best International Act category, where Starr is joined by fellow Nigerian Rema, Ghana’s Black Sherif, South Africa’s Tyla, and eSwatini’s Uncle Waffles.

They’re up against peers from Brazil, France, and the UK, highlighting the continent’s expanding footprint in global music conversations.

Rising stars from South Africa, Nigeria, and Tanzania also dominate the Best New International Act category, further cementing Africa’s role as a hotbed of fresh, genre-defying talent.

Perhaps most notably, Burna Boy breaks new ground with a nomination for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, going head-to-head with heavyweights like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Tyler, the Creator—a rare crossover into a category typically reserved for U.S. rap icons.

As anticipation builds, this year’s BET Awards are already being hailed as a moment of reckoning for African music’s influence—and a celebration of its rightful place on the world stage.

Here is the full list of nominees, categories:

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’ – Tem
‘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

Launched in 2001, the BET Awards were created by Black Entertainment Television to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and entertainment.
Over the years, the show has evolved into one of the most influential platforms honouring Black excellence globally.

Held annually, the awards spotlight trailblazing talent and cultural milestones, with performances, tributes, and iconic moments that shape the broader narrative of Black artistry.

As the entertainment industry becomes more global, the BET Awards have expanded their reach, increasingly recognising international acts—particularly from Africa—whose voices are redefining the global music landscape.
Tosin Oyediran
Tosin, with over six years’ experience, conducts incisive interviews, pens engaging features, subedits and delivers impactful stories for the digital sphere.

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Entertainment

‘We Don’t Monitor Such Record’ —GWR Rejects Nigerian Adult Entertainment Star’s Marathon Sex Attempt

Published

4 days ago

September 24, 2025

Editor

The Guinness World Records, GWR, has rejected plans by controversial Nigerian adult entertainment star, Mandy Kiss, to set a world record by having sex with 100 men at a time.

Mandy Kiss had earlier in an Instagram post announced her plan to attempt to have sex with 100 men.

The event is scheduled for October 30, 2025, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The development has sparked controversy on social media with many questioning her moral values.

However reacting to the trending news under a promotional flyer shared by @Naija_PR on X, Guinness World Record distance itself from the attempt.

The organisation noted that it doesn’t monitor such records.

“This is not a record we monitor,” GWR stated under the post.

Entertainment

VDM Mobilises Ratel Movement For Nationwide Community Service

Published

4 days ago

September 24, 2025

Editor

Nigerian controversial social media critic and activist, Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, VDM, has begun mobilising his followers under the banner of the Ratel Movement for a nationwide community service.

In a viral video shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday, VDM said the movement would commence monthly sanitisation of communities from Saturday, November 29, 2025.

According to him, the new civic initiative is aimed at tackling environmental decay and promoting patriotism among Nigerian youths.

“Starting from the 29th of November, 2025, which will be on a Saturday, we the Ratel Movement are taking over Nigeria, we are shutting down this country.

“That being said, we are not shutting down in terms of violence, we are shutting it down in terms of impact,” he said.

VDM explained that the activities would include cleaning public spaces, clearing drainages, rehabilitating school facilities, and other grassroots community services.

“We are going to start what has never been seen before in Nigeria. We are going to be moving from just being on social media claiming to be Ratels to presenting ourselves in real life and impacting our society,” he said.

Entertainment

Davido Gifts Wife Chioma 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon

Published

4 days ago

September 24, 2025

Editor

Nigerian Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has gifted his wife, Chioma Adeleke, a 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon.

The luxury SUV, recently released to the market, is valued at over $150,000 (N240 million), depending on specifications.

The 2025 model features a new design and electric options, representing a significant upgrade from previous versions.

In a video posted on his Instagram Story on Wednesday, Davido said he traded in an older model and added funds to purchase the new vehicle.

Presenting the G-Wagon to Chioma, he described the gesture as his way of giving her “only the best”.

Chioma, who appeared visibly delighted, received the car months after the couple’s high-profile white wedding in Miami on August 10, 2025.

The wedding, the last in a series of three ceremonies, reportedly cost about $3.7 million and drew notable figures from politics, business and entertainment.