Lagos, Nigeria has been officially announced as the host city for the 2025 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), following a declaration by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of AFRIMA. The announcement was made during a landmark event at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday, May 13.
The unveiling of the AFRIMA 2025 calendar detailed key events leading up to the main awards ceremony, scheduled to take place from November 25–30 in Lagos. This year’s edition will be held under the theme “Unstoppable Africa,” celebrating the resilience and growth of African music on the global stage.
Angela Martins, Director for Social Development, Culture, and Sport at the AUC, highlighted Lagos’ proven ability to host large-scale cultural events, describing it as a dynamic hub for African music. The city boasts the infrastructure and hospitality needed to ensure a successful AFRIMA edition.
AFRIMA 2025 is projected to attract over 1,600 nominees, more than 60,000 visitors and delegates, 2,300 production crew members, and a global audience exceeding 400 million viewers across 84 countries. The live awards ceremony will be broadcast by 109 stations worldwide.
The call for entries will officially open on May 27 and close on August 8, 2025. Artists, producers, and music professionals across Africa and the diaspora are encouraged to submit their works via the official AFRIMA portal at www.afrima.org.
The #RoadToAFRIMA2025 tour will engage audiences across Africa and beyond, with stops in Morocco, Tanzania, Paris, Côte d’Ivoire, London, Delta State (Nigeria), and Namibia. The adjudication process will take place from August 12–19, with nominees announced on August 27. Public voting will begin on September 5 and close on November 28.
The AFRIMA Music Conference, held alongside the official announcement, featured discussions on music monetization, intellectual property, cross-border collaboration, and the impact of technology and artificial intelligence in expanding African music’s global reach.
The AFRIMA 2025 Awards Week will feature a range of exciting events, including the Diamond Showcase, Opening Soirée, Africa Music Business Summit, Music Icons’ Night, school visits, Host City Tour, Music Village Festival, Nominees & Industry Party, and the main Awards Ceremony.
