Nigerian Afrobeats star Shallipopi has been named Artist of the Year at the 2025 TikTok Awards Sub‑Saharan Africa, held Saturday in Johannesburg under the theme “New Era, New Icons.”
The Edo-born performer topped a highly competitive field, capping a breakout year marked by viral hits and massive engagement on the platform.
His hit track “Laho” dominated feeds across the continent, sparking trends, viral challenges, and widespread engagement — a key factor behind his win.
Shallipopi thanked fans for their support, saying the win reflects the power of home-grown creativity and community.
Nigerian Creators Dominate Awards
Nigerian creators dominated the awards overall, taking home several major categories and reinforcing the country’s influence on the region’s digital entertainment culture.
Six of the ten major awards went to Nigerian creators.
Among the Nigerian winners are:
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Raja'atu Muhammed Ibrahim (@diaryofanortherncook) — Creator of the Year, recognised for her cinematic visual storytelling of Northern Nigerian cuisine.
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Brian Nwana (@briannwana) — Storyteller of the Year, celebrated for his food- and culture-driven content blending personal narratives with street interviews and engaging visuals.
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Belove Olocha (@beloveolocha) — Entertainment Creator of the Year, honoured for consistently entertaining audiences with relatable movie, lifestyle and entertainment content.
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Izzi Boye (@izziboye) — Education Creator of the Year, for making tech, digital tips and educational content accessible to many across the continent.
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Dejoke Ogunbiyi (@noositiwantiwa_) — Social Impact Creator of the Year, recognised for using her platform to address social issues and drive positive community conversations.
Together with Shallipopi’s win — and against a wider field of creators from other countries — these victories cemented Nigeria’s dominance at the awards.
Highlights from Across Africa
The awards also honoured creators from other African countries, reflecting the diversity and breadth of digital creativity across the continent.
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Fanuel John Masamaki (@zerobrainer0 — Tanzania) won Video of the Year for his signature style blending sports moments and creative visual storytelling.
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Tunero Animations (Kenya) was awarded Rising Star of the Year, spotlighting a new wave of animated storytelling from East Africa.
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Winners in other categories included creatives from South Africa and Ghana in food, entertainment and sports-creator categories — underlining the pan-African reach of the Awards.
The 2025 TikTok Awards demonstrated how short-form video, local stories, and continental collaboration are reshaping entertainment and culture in Africa.
For Nigeria, the sweep of six major awards reaffirms the country’s status as a powerhouse of digital creativity, whether in music, food and lifestyle content, education, activism, or storytelling.
