With the receipt of a record breaking 10,717 entries for this year’s edition, the All-Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has raised the bar for music excellence on the continent.
According to the organisers, the figure represents a substantial increase from 9,076 entries recorded in the last edition. The entry window, which opened on May 27 and closed on August 8, welcomed songs, albums and music videos from every part of the continent and beyond. Submissions came not only from artistes, songwriters and music producers, but also from video directors, DJs, dancers, choreographers, record labels, and even unrecorded talents.
Leading the pack is West Africa with 5,215 entries (48.68%), followed by Southern Africa with 2,080 entries (19.42%), and Eastern Africa with 804 entries (7.50%), with the remaining coming from Northern Africa – 267 (2.49%), Central Africa – 291 (2.72%), and Africans in the Diaspora – 75 (0.70%).
Meanwhile, the 13-member jury, which commenced adjudication on Friday, August 8, in Lagos, will end the process on Sunday, August 17. During this period, entries will be screened, categorised and scored based on quality, originality, impact and cultural relevance, with nominees selected across regional and continental categories.
Speaking on the record turnout, Southern Africa Jury member, Adam Tiran, said: “The record number of entries for AFRIMA 2025 is more than just a statistic; it shows how alive, creative and unstoppable African music is right now. It’s about growing confidence among artists that AFRIMA is the stage where their works can be seen, respected and celebrated on a global scale. It’s clear that African music is not only growing fast, but also making a big impact on the global stage.”
To this end, the AFRIMA 2025 nominees list will be unveiled on August 24, leading to the commencement of voting. From September 5, the AFRIMA Academy, as well as fans worldwide, can vote for their favourite nominees via the official AFRIMA website: www.afrima.org. Voting closes 24 hours before the Awards Night on November 30. To ensure transparency and credibility of the process, all results will be monitored and audited by an international auditing firm.
The award ceremony will feature a weeklong of activities, including Africa Music Business Summit, AFRIMA Music Village Concert, Nominees Party, and the grand Awards Night on November 30, which will be aired live to over 84 countries.
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