Entertainment
FULL LIST: Shallipopi, Belove Olocha, Malumfoodie Win Big At TikTok Awards 2025

TikTok has announced the full list of winners for the 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigerian stars Shallipopi, Belove Olocha and South Africa’s Malumfoodie taking home some of the biggest honours of the night.
The ceremony held on December 6 in Johannesburg and attracted top creators, performers and industry figures from across the continent. The theme for this year’s event was New Era, New Icons.
The show featured performances from Ciza, Lord Kez, Thuli P, DJ Fif Laa and Thabsie. South African entertainer Bontle Modiselle Moloi hosted the event while Keegan Gordon and Zayaan Noorani handled the red carpet. Influencer Mihlali Ndamase made a surprise appearance to present the Video of the Year award. Olympian Akani Simbine also presented the Sport Creator of the Year category.
Brands including NIVEA, inDrive, Coca-Cola, PEP and Dis-Chem supported the awards.
READ ALSO:Meta Suspends Activists For Showing Election Killings
TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Boniswa Sidwaba, said the platform is recognising creators who are shaping global conversations.
She said, “Tonight’s ceremony was a gathering of the trailblazers who have redefined what it means to be a creator in Africa. From Sokoto to Nairobi, and Accra to Pretoria, we honoured the creators who turned 60-second clips into cultural movements. We are honoured to celebrate them as they amplify their voices and take their stories from Africa to the world.”
The ceremony will be rebroadcast on December 11 at 20:00 SAST on TikTok LIVE through the @tiktok.africa account.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Creator of the Year
Raja’atu Muhammed Ibrahim @diaryofanortherncook (Nigeria)
Storyteller of the Year
Brian Nwana @briannwana (Nigeria)
He said, “Every single creator is a storyteller. We all tell stories that help drive the local communities, our cities, and our countries, and when we do that we change the perception that the world has about us”.
READ ALSO:Osaze Urhoghide Wins FC Dallas MLS Defender Of The Season
Video of the Year
Fanuel John Masamaki @zerobrainer0 (Tanzania)
He said, “I am truly grateful to my fans and the love I have received from Tanzanians. Thank you so much . This win was for all of us.”
Rising Star of the Year
@tunero_animations (Kenya)
Runner up: Esther Francis @estherfrancisbackup (Nigeria)
Social Impact Creator of the Year
Dejoke Ogunbiyi @noositiwantiwa_ (Nigeria)
Runner up: Sinethemba Masinga @ufarm_julia (South Africa)
Food Creator of the Year
@malumfoodie (South Africa)
He said, “From my humble beginnings of Haamanskraal, to Soshanguve and to all of South Africa, now we are in Africa!”
Runner up: Abena Amoakoaa Sintim Aboagye @chefabbys (Ghana)
READ ALSO:Ballon d’Or: Why Neymar Didn’t Win Award – Gerard
Sports Creator of the Year
John Maingi Mbugua @zozasportscast (Kenya)
He said, “Winning isn’t the finish line, it’s fuel for the next chapter. Every piece of content, every discussion, every moment captured was driven by passion, and receiving this recognition means that passion is resonating far beyond my expectations.”
Runner up: Victor Ademola @ademolavictortv (Nigeria)
Entertainment Creator of the Year
Belove Olocha @beloveolocha (Nigeria)
Runner up: Jabulani Macdonald @jabu_macdonald (South Africa)
Education Creator of the Year
Izzi Boye @izziboye (Nigeria)
Runner up: @michelle_expert (South Africa)
Artiste of the Year
Crown Uzama @theycallmeshallipopipp (Nigeria)
He said, “Thank you, TikTok, for supporting all upcoming artists and giving them a spotlight to shine.”
Entertainment
Why I Stopped Attending Church Service – Funke Akindele
Famous Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, has opened up on why she lost interest in attending church service.
The actress who made the revelation in a Snapchat video on Sunday, stated that she stopped going to church because attention often shifted to her rather than the service.
While explaining that she’s always the one they take pictures of, the actress said she now joins church service online.
READ ALSO:Drama As Eniola Badmus Challenges Funke Akindele To Celebrity Boxing Fight
Akindele said “Anytime I go to church, I am always the one they take pictures of. So I will join online.”
Recall that in 2022, Akindele openly identified herself with the Celestial Church of Christ.
“Every time I have challenges I go to the Celestial church quietly at night for solutions. But I have to stop hiding and publicly identify with the church”, she said.
Entertainment
‘My Mum Started Quoting Bible’ — Shank Sparks Debate After Tattoo Confession
Popular Nigerian content creator, Shank has stirred reactions online after opening up about a personal clash with his mother over tattoos, while also revealing a fresh body ink linked to his “Lit Gang” identity.
The revelation surfaced in a recent viral video shared on his social platforms, where he recounted the moment he tattooed his mother’s name, “Oluremi,” on his arm.
According to him, what he expected to be an emotional moment quickly turned tense.
“The day I tattooed my mum’s name on my arm, she started crying and quoting Bible,” Shank said.
READ ALSO:Drama As Eniola Badmus Challenges Funke Akindele To Celebrity Boxing Fight
He explained that his mother strongly opposed the act, citing religious reasons and warning him against marking his body.
“She told me, ‘did I ask you to draw my name? I don’t like it. Don’t do tattoo again. God said don’t mark your body,’” he recalled.
Shank, however, said he challenged her stance by pointing out what he described as a contradiction.
“I asked her, if you say I should leave my body the way God created it, why do you shave your hair? You that shave hair and me that draw tattoo, we are committing the same sin,” he added.
READ ALSO:Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking
The content creator used the moment to advise young people navigating similar situations with parents, stressing the importance of independence when making personal decisions.
“Just make sure you’re independent before doing what your parents are not comfortable with,” he said.
Amid the conversation, Shank also unveiled a new tattoo on his back with the inscription “Lit Gang,” a move that has further fueled reactions among fans.
While some social media users backed his arguement on personal choice and self-expression, others sided with his mother, citing cultural and religious concerns about body markings.
The development has continued to generate debate online, highlighting the growing tension between traditional beliefs and modern youth culture in Nigeria’s entertainment space.
Entertainment
Drama As Eniola Badmus Challenges Funke Akindele To Celebrity Boxing Fight
Popular Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus, has challenged Funke Akindele to a celebrity boxing fight.
This came a few hours after Nigerian streamer, Carter Efe defeated Portable in a celebrity boxing match.
Carter Efe defeated Portable on Friday to win the N50 million prize.
Following Carter’s victory, E-Money, a Lagos-based socialist gifted him N50 to celebrate his win.
READ ALSO:Funke Akindele Snubs Toyin Abraham At Iyabo Ojo’s Premiere (VIDEO)
Prior to the match, popular talent manager, and music executive, Soso Soberekon, gave N40 million to Carter Efe and Portable each.
However, speaking in a now viral post on her Instagram page, Eniola Badmus challenged Funke Akindele to a boxing fight and called on E-Money and Soso Soberekon to sponsor the match.
She wrote “Funke Akindele, let’s get on the boxing ring. It’s about time. Soso, E-Money, let’s get to it. No time. Money has to be made.”
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