Burna Boy, Wizkid & Tems Earn Major 2025 MTV VMA Nods in New Category Spotlight

The global rise of Afrobeats reached a new milestone as the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards officially recognized the genre with a dedicated Best Afrobeats category, and Nigerian artists are leading the charge.

This year’s VMAs mark the first time that Afrobeats has been recognized with its own category, reflecting the genre’s explosive global growth. Once considered niche, Afrobeats is now a dominant cultural force, charting worldwide, selling out arenas, and influencing pop, R&B, and hip-hop at every turn.

This move by MTV follows a similar recognition by the Grammys, which introduced a Best African Music Performance category in 2024, further solidifying Afrobeats’ permanent place in mainstream music.

Heavyweights like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems, Asake, and Rema scored major nominations this year. Burna Boy emerged as the top-nominated Nigerian artist at the VMAs with three nominations, including Best Afrobeats for “TaTaTa” ft. Travis Scott, Video for Good with “Higher”, and Best Visual Effects for his role in The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow”

Fellow Nigerian megastar Wizkid picked up a Best Afrobeats nomination for his collaboration with Brent Faiyaz on “Piece Of My Heart,”. Tems shares a nomination with Asake for their track “Get It Right.”. Asake doubled his chances at the VMAs by scoring a second nomination for “Active,” another explosive collaboration with American rapper Travis Scott. Meanwhile, Rema earned his place on the list with the vibrant and bold “Baby (Is It A Crime)”.

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Saturday, September 7, from the UBS Arena in New York. The ceremony will be broadcast across MTV, CBS, and streamed via Paramount+. Fans can vote online in 19 gender-neutral categories until September 5.