The 2025 MTV Video Music Award nominations, announced August 5, have placed African stars firmly in the spotlight. Seven artists from across the continent received nods in the Best Afrobeats category, with Nigerian talent dominating the field.
Asake and Travis Scott’s collaborative hit “Active,” Burna Boy’s “TaTaTa” with Travis Scott, Rema’s emotional “Baby (Is It a Crime),” Tems and Asake’s “Get It Right,” and Wizkid and Brent Faiyaz’s “Piece of My Heart” are among the standout nominees.
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Ghanaian artist Moliy also earned a nomination for her viral remix “Shake It to the Max (Fly),” featuring Jamaican acts Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea.
South African pop sensation Tyla rounds out the category with “Push 2 Start,” a song that earned her not only a nod for Best Afrobeats but also a nomination for Best Choreography.
Tyla, who made history last year as the first South African to win a VMA, took home the inaugural Best Afrobeats trophy for “Water.”
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Burna Boy and Asake are the most nominated African artists this year, with two mentions each. Burna Boy’s second nomination comes in the Video for Good category for his track “Higher.”
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr also received recognition with a nomination for MTV PUSH Performance of the Year, thanks to her stirring live version of “Last Heartbreak Song.”
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Globally, this year’s VMAs are stacked with heavyweights. Lady Gaga leads with 12 nominations, including Artist of the Year and Best Album for “Mayhem.” Bruno Mars follows closely with 11 nods, Kendrick Lamar has 10, and Sabrina Carpenter comes in with eight, boosted by the success of “Espresso.”
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are also jointly nominated for Song of the Year with their collaboration “Die With A Smile,” which appears across multiple categories including Best Collaboration, Best Pop and Video of the Year. Both artists, now 39, continue to shape the global pop narrative.
The 2025 edition introduces two new categories, Best Country and Best Pop Artist, reflecting the show’s evolving reach. International genres continue to thrive, with Best Afrobeats, Best Latin and Best K-Pop firmly on the roster.
While neither Beyoncé nor Taylor Swift released new music videos this past year, they remain up for Artist of the Year, a category that honors overall impact rather than a specific visual.
This year’s list also celebrates 33 first-time nominees. They range from rising stars like Alex Warren, Role Model and Sombr to legacy artists stepping into new genres.
Blackpink’s Rose received eight solo nominations, her first outside the group. Fellow members Jennie and Jisoo also appear as solo nominees, alongside BTS’ Jimin and Måneskin’s Damiano David.
Other artists earning their first-ever nods include Mac Miller, Brent Faiyaz, Leon Thomas, Freddie Gibbs, Jordan Adetunji, Lay Bankz, Megan Moroney, and Zach Hood.
The 2025 MTV VMAs will air live from UBS Arena in New York on September 7.