Nigerian stars Asake and Burna Boy have been nominated for multiple awards at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, making them strong contenders in the global music spotlight.
Both artists scored two nominations each, including spots in the fast-rising Best Afrobeats category.
Burna Boy’s song “Higher” got nominated in the Video For Good category, while his collaboration with American rapper Travis Scott, “TaTaTa,” earned him a second nod in the Best Afrobeats category.
Asake, known for his unique sound and energetic style, was also nominated twice in the same Afrobeats category. His tracks “Active” with Travis Scott and “Get It Right” with Tems both earned him recognition. These songs have gained massive airplay and streams in Nigeria and beyond.
Tems, who featured on “Get It Right” with Asake, also made the list, showing her continued growth in the international scene. Other Nigerian and African artists in the nominations include Rema, Wizkid, Ayra Starr, and Ghanaian-American singer Moliy.
Ayra Starr was nominated for her MTV Push performance in September 2024 for the song “Last Heartbreak Song.” Moliy appeared in the Best Afrobeats category with “Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix),” which also featured Silent Addy, Skillibeng, and Shenseea.
The 2025 VMAs will be held on September 7 at the UBS Arena in New York. American pop star Lady Gaga leads this year’s nominations with 12 nods.
Below is the full list of African nominations in their categories:
Best Afrobeats
Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – TaTaTa
Asake and Travis Scott – Active
Tems ft. Asake – Get It Right
Rema – Baby (Is It a Crime)
Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – Piece of My Heart
Tyla – Push 2 Start
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea – Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)
MTV Push Performance of the Year
September 2024 – Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
August 2024 – Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
October 2024 – Mark Ambor – Belong Together
November 2024 – Lay Bankz – Graveyard
December 2024 – Dasha – Bye Bye Bye
May 2025 – Damiano David – Next Summer
June 2025 – Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
July 2025 – Role Model – Sally, When the Wine Runs Out
January 2025 – Katseye – Touch
February 2025 – Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
March 2025 – Leon Thomas – Yes It Is
April 2025 – Livingston – Shadow
Video For Good
Burna Boy – Higher
Charli xcx – Guess featuring Billie Eilish
Doechii – Anxiety
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – Somebody Save Me
Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – Younger and Hotter Than Me
Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan – Sleepwalking
Video of the Year
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die with a Smile
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Rosé and Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – Timeless
Billie Eilish – Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Song of the Year
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Gracie Abrams – I Love You, I’m Sorry
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die with a Smile
Lorde – What Was That
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – Timeless
Rosé and Bruno Mars – Apt.
Tate McRae – Sports Car
Doechii – Anxiety
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Artist of the Year
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Bad Bunny
Kendrick Lamar
Beyoncé
Morgan Wallen
Best New Artist
Lola Young
Gigi Perez
Sombr
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
The Marías
Best Pop Artist
Justin Bieber
Miley Cyrus
Charli xcx
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Ariana Grande
Lorde
Best Collaboration
Rosé and Bruno Mars – Apt.
Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – Sunset Blvd
Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)
Kendrick Lamar and SZA – Luther
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die with a Smile
Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – Pour Me a Drink
Best Pop
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die with a Smile
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Rosé and Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Best R&B
Summer Walker – Heart of a Woman
SZA – Drive
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – Timeless
Chris Brown – Residuals
Leon Thomas and Freddie Gibbs – Mutt (Remix)
Mariah Carey – Type Dangerous
Partynextdoor – N o C h i l l
Best Hip-hop
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
LL Cool J ft. Eminem – Murdergram Deux
Drake – Nokia
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – Somebody Save Me
GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red – Whatchu Kno About Me
Travis Scott – 4X4 – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
Doechii – Anxiety
Best Rock
Coldplay – All My Love
Green Day – One Eyed Bastard
Lenny Kravitz – Honey – Roxie Records
Linkin Park – The Emptiness Machine
Twenty One Pilots – The Contract
Evanescence – Afterlife (From the Netflix Series Devil May Cry)
Best Alternative
Lola Young – Messy
Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
Sombr – Back to Friends
The Marías – Back to Me
MGK and Jelly Roll – Lonely Road
Imagine Dragons – Wake Up
Best Latin
Shakira – Soltera
Karol G – Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido
Rauw Alejandro and Romeo Santos – Khé
Bad Bunny – Baile Inolvidable
J Balvin – Rio
Peso Pluma – La Patrulla
Best K-Pop
Jimin – Who
Jennie – Like Jennie
Rosé – Toxic Till the End
Jisoo – Earthquake
Lisa ft. Doja Cat and Raye – Born Again
Aespa – Whiplash
Stray Kids – Chk Chk Boom
Best Country
Chris Stapleton – Think I’m in Love With You
Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – I’m Gonna Love You
Jelly Roll – Liar
Lainey Wilson – 4x4xU
Megan Moroney – Am I Okay
Morgan Wallen – Smile
Best Album
Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Lady Gaga – Mayhem
Morgan Wallen – I’m the Problem
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Best Long Form Video
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos (Short Film)
Damiano David – Funny Little Stories
Mac Miller – Balloonerism
Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Best Direction
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Charli xcx – Guess featuring Billie Eilish
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Rosé and Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Best Art Direction
Charli xcx – Guess featuring Billie Eilish
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Lorde – Man Of The Year
Miley Cyrus – End of the World
Rosé and Bruno Mars – Apt.
Best Cinematography
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Miley Cyrus – Easy Lover
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Best Editing
Charli xcx – Guess featuring Billie Eilish
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)
Best Choreography
Doechii – Anxiety
FKA Twigs – Eusexua
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Tyla – Push 2 Start
Zara Larsson – Pretty Ugly
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Rosé and Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
