Nigeria’s Ayra Starr is the lone African winner at 2025 BET Awards

Despite a strong showing from African artists across numerous categories, Starr’s win was the only triumph for the continent. The competition featured heavyweights such as Rema (Nigeria), Tyla (South Africa), and Uncle Waffles (eSwatini), who were all nominated in the same international category.

Elsewhere, the hopes of African fans were dashed as nominees such as South Africa’s Dlala Thukzin, Maglera Doe Boy, TxC and Nigeria’s Shallipopi missed out in the Best New International Act category, which went to Brazil’s Ajuliacosta.

Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, nominated for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, was defeated by Kendrick Lamar. Meanwhile, in Best Male Hip Hop Artist, American artists dominated, solidifying Lamar’s win.

Even the Best New Artist category saw African hopeful Ayra Starr overtaken by American Leon Thomas.

Kendrick Lamar was the evening’s most successful artist, seizing multiple awards including Album of the Year, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year (‘Not Like Us’), and Video Director of the Year with Dave Free .

Below is the full list of winners:

Best R&B/Pop Artist

• ⁠SZA
• Ayra Starr
• ⁠Ari Lennox
• ⁠Coco Jones
• ⁠Kehlani
• Muni Long
• Summer Walker
• Victoria Monét

Best International Act

• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
• ⁠Bashy (United Kingdom)
• ⁠Black Sherif (Ghana)
• ⁠Ezra Collective (United Kingdom)
• Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
• ⁠Mc Luanna (Brazil)
• ⁠Rema (Nigeria)
• ⁠Sdm (France)
• ⁠Tyla (South Africa)
• Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)

Best New International Act

• ⁠Ajuliacosta (Brazil)
• Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
• ⁠Amabbi (Brazil)
• ⁠Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
• ⁠Dr Yaro (France)
• ⁠kwn (United Kingdom)
• ⁠Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
• Merveille (France)
• Odeal (United Kingdom)
• ⁠Shallipopi (Nigeria)
• ⁠TxC (South Africa)

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

• Kendrick Lamar
• Burna Boy
• ⁠BigXthaPlug
• ⁠Bossman Dlow
• Drake
• ⁠Future
• ⁠Key Glock
• ⁠Lil Wayne
• Tyler, the Creator

Album of the Year

• GNX – Kendrick Lamar
• $Ome $Exy $Ongs 4 U – Drake & PartyNextDoor
• 11:11 Deluxe – Chris Brown
• Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii
• Cowboy Carter – Beyoncé
• Glorious – GloRilla
• Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
• We Don’t Trust You – Future & Metro Boomin

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

• Chris Brown
• Bruno Mars
• Drake
• Fridayy
• Leon Thomas
• Teddy Swims
• The Weeknd
• Usher

Best Group

• Future & Metro Boomin
• 41
• Common & Pete Rock
• Drake & PartyNextDoor
• FLO
• Jacquees & Dej Loaf
• Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
• Maverick City Music

Best Collaboration

• ‘Luther’ – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
•  ‘30 For 30’ – SZA ft. Kendrick Lamar
• ‘Alter Ego’ – Doechii ft. JT
• ‘Are You Even Real’ – Teddy Swims ft. Givēon
• ‘Beckham’ – Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, Kj Swervo
• ‘Bless’ – Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
• ‘Like That’ – Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
• ‘Sticky’ – Tyler, the Creator ft. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
• ‘Timeless’ – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

• Doechii
• Cardi B
• Doja Cat
• GloRilla
• Latto
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Nicki Minaj
• Rapsody
• Sexyy Red

Video of the Year

• ‘Not Like Us’ – Kendrick Lamar
•  ‘3AM in ToKEYo’ – Key Glock
• ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ – Shaboozey
• ‘After Hours’ – Kehlani
• ‘Denial Is A River’ – Doechii
• ‘Family Matters’ – Drake
• ‘Timeless’ – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti
• ‘Type Shit’ – Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti

Video Director of the Year

• Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
• Anderson .Paak
• B Pace Productions & Jacquees
• Benny Boom
• Cactus Jack
• Cole Bennett
• Dave Meyers
• Foggieraw
• Tyler, the Creator

Best New Artist

• Leon Thomas
• 41
• Ayra Starr
• BigXthaPlug
• Bossman Dlow
• Dee Billz
• October London
• Shaboozey
• Teddy Swims

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

• ‘Rain Down on Me’ – GloRilla ft. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
•  ‘A God (There Is)’ – Common & Pete Rock ft. Jennifer Hudson
• ‘Amen’ – Pastor Mike Jr.
• ‘Better Days’ – Fridayy
• ‘Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)’ – Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence
• ‘Constant’ – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
• ‘Deserve To Win’ – Tamela Mann
• ‘Faith’ – Rapsody

Viewer’s Choice Award

• ‘Residuals’ – Chris Brown
• ‘Denial Is A River’ – Doechii
• ‘Nokia’ – Drake
• ‘Like That’ – Future & Metro Boomin ft. Kendrick Lamar
• ‘TGIF’ – GloRilla
• ‘Not Like Us’ – Kendrick Lamar
• ‘Luther’ – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
• ‘Brokey’ – Latto

BET Her

• ‘Heart of a Woman’ – Summer Walker
•  ‘Beautiful People’ – Mary J. Blige
• ‘Blackbiird’ – Beyoncé ft. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
• ‘Bloom’ – Doechii
• ‘Burning’ – Tems
• ‘Defying Gravity’ – Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
• ‘Hold On’ – Tems
• ‘In My Bag’ – FLO & GloRilla

Best Movie

• Luther: Never Too Much
• Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
• Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
• Mufasa: The Lion King
• One Of Them Days
• Rebel Ridge
• The Piano Lesson
• The Six Triple Eight

Best Actor

• Denzel Washington
• Aaron Pierre
• Aldis Hodge
• Anthony Mackie
• Colman Domingo
• Jamie Foxx
• Joey Bada$$
• Kevin Hart
• Sterling K. Brown
• Will Smith

Best Actress

• Cynthia Erivo
• Andra Day
• Angela Bassett
• Coco Jones
• Keke Palmer
• Kerry Washington
• Quinta Brunson
• Viola Davis
• Zendaya

YoungStars Award

• Blue Ivy Carter
• Akira Akbar
• Graceyn ‘Gracie’ Hollingsworth
• Heiress Harris
• Melody Hurd
• Thaddeus J. Mixson
• Tyrik Johnson
• Vanvan

Sportswoman of the Year Award

• Angel Reese
• A’ja Wilson
• Claressa Shields
• Coco Gauff
• Dawn Staley
• Flau’jae Johnson
• Juju Watkins
• Sha’Carri Richardson
• Simone Biles

Sportsman of the Year Award

• Jalen Hurts
• Aaron Judge
• Anthony Edwards
• Deion Sanders
• Jayson Tatum
• LeBron James
• Saquon Barkley
• Stephen Curry