Afrobeats to the World: Nigerian Artists Make Waves at BET Awards 2025

The 2025 BET Awards, held on June 9th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, was a night of high-energy performances, tearful wins, and powerful cultural moments. While American rap icon Kendrick Lamar swept with five trophies, it was the Nigerian presence—both triumphant and controversial—that left global audiences talking. Here’s a deep dive into Nigeria’s BET Awards moment—from historic wins to eyebrow-raising snubs.

Ayra Starr Makes History: Best International Act 22-year-old.

Afrobeats star Ayra Starr clinched her first BET Award after four consecutive nominations, taking home the Best International Act trophy. She beat out heavyweights like Rema, Tyla (South Africa), and Uncle Waffles (Eswatini) in what fans are calling a long-overdue win. Her acceptance speech lit up the room: “This is for every young girl in Lagos dreaming bigger than the world tells her to.” This win solidifies Starr not just as a Nigerian powerhouse but as a global voice redefining Afrobeats and female artistry.

Behind the Scenes: Nigerian Talent Still Shining.

While Ayra Starr took the stage, other Nigerian talents contributed in major ways: Burna Boy earned a Best Male Hip Hop Artist nomination, an unusual category for the Afro-fusion artist, showing his genre-bending range. Maverick City Music, featuring Nigerian-American vocalists, shared the Best Gospel/Inspirational Award with Kirk Franklin and GloRilla for “Rain Down on Me.”

The Snubs That Sparked Conversations

Rema: Overlooked Yet Again Despite his chart-topping single “Calm Down” and international collaborations (including Selena Gomez), Rema lost to Ayra Starr. Many fans argue that his commercial success and cultural impact deserved BET recognition this year.

Tems: Twice Nominated, Twice Ignored With two nominations in the BET Her category (“Burning” and “Hold On”), Tems lost out to Summer Walker. Critics suggest her blend of soul, R&B, and African rhythm might be “too alternative” for mainstream American voters—an issue that continues to plague nuanced African artists.

Shallipopi: Viral But Invisible Nominated for Best New International Act, street-hop trailblazer Shallipopi lost to South Africa’s duo TxC. The decision shocked fans, especially considering Shallipopi’s viral dominance in Nigeria’s digital space.

Why the Snubs? A Look Behind

The Curtain Industry analysts believe two major factors are influencing these outcomes: Voter Fatigue: With Afrobeats’ global boom, some voters may be gravitating toward fresher regional sounds like Amapiano and Afro-house from Southern Africa. Category Overlap: Nigerian artists compete across R&B, hip-hop, and international categories, often splitting votes and losing in more specialized categories.

What’s Next for Nigeria at the BET Awards?

2026 could be a pivotal year for Nigerian talent, with several power moves already in motion:

• New Gen Rising: Artists like Bloody Civilian (Oscar-shortlisted for “Blackbiird”) and Shallipopi are early bets for Best New International Act.

• Major Album Drops: Ayra Starr’s “The Year I Turned 23” and Burna Boy’s upcoming LP could dominate next year’s nomination slate.

• Big U.S. Collaborations: Expect more strategic collabs—think Rema x Drake—to increase their visibility in overlapping categories.

• Category Expansion Pressure: As Afrobeats matures, BET may face calls to introduce genre-specific categories, mirroring the Grammy’s Global Music division.

Final Take: A Win Wrapped in a Wake-Up Call

Ayra Starr’s win was a landmark, but the broader picture reflects both progress and persistent blind spots. The Nigerian music wave isn’t just rising—it’s reshaping global soundscapes. But without structural recognition – expanded categories, more nuanced judging panels – BET risks lagging behind the culture it seeks to honor.

As Ayra Starr put it after the show:

“We’re not just ‘international’—we’re the heartbeat.”

And that heartbeat? It’s Afrobeats. It’s Nigerian. And it’s just getting louder.