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)

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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

READ ALSO: Full List Of Winners At Oscars 2025

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

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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.