The African Union Commission and the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards have officially announced Lagos, Nigeria, as the host city for the 2025 edition of the prestigious music awards.
The announcement was made during a ceremony at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Themed ‘Unstoppable Africa’, the event is scheduled to run from November 25 to 30, 2025, with a series of pre-event activities leading up to the awards night.
Angela Martins, director for social development, culture and sport at the AUC, commended Lagos for its track record in organizing international events. “The city truly reflects the spirit of African music full of rhythm, creativity, and vibrant energy,” she said. “Lagos has the right mix of modern facilities, good hospitality, strong media presence, and security and transport systems that make it ideal for hosting a major global event.”
The 2025 edition of AFRIMA is projected to feature more than 1,600 nominees, attract over 60,000 visitors and delegates, and involve a production team of around 2,300 members. The global reach of the event is also expected to expand significantly, with an estimated 400 million viewers tuning in via 109 television stations across 84 countries.
Submissions for entry will open on May 27 and close on August 8, 2025. Organisers have called on artistes, producers, songwriters, and music professionals from across Africa and the diaspora to submit their works during the window.
The 2025 AFRIMA calendar will also include the #RoadToAFRIMA2025 tour, starting in Morocco and making stops in Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, Paris, London, and Delta State, Nigeria, before concluding in Namibia from October 31 to November 1.
Key events include the adjudication phase from August 12 to 19, the announcement of nominees on August 27, and the commencement of public voting from September 5 to November 28. The awards week will be packed with high-profile activities such as the Diamond Showcase, Africa Music Business Summit, Music Icons’ Night, school outreach programs, a music festival, and the grand awards ceremony on Sunday, November 30.
