The African Union Commission, in partnership with the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), has officially announced Lagos, Nigeria, as the host city for the 2025 edition of the prestigious music awards.
The announcement was made at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by Angela Martins, Head of Culture at the AU.
The awards ceremony will take place from November 25 to 30, 2025, and will include several side events such as the popular Music Village Festival. The 2025 theme, “Unstoppable Africa,” highlights the continent’s creative energy, with Lagos selected as a symbol of the resilience and innovation driving Africa’s music industry.
“Music is not merely sound, it is a strategy. From Dar es Salaam to Accra and beyond, music flows like a river through our culture. It connects, heals, and moves us forward,” said Martins, reinforcing the AU’s continued support for AFRIMA as part of its Agenda 2063, which promotes culture as a driver of sustainable development.
The AFRIMA 2025 calendar will kick off with a call for entries on May 20, welcoming submissions from artists across Africa and the diaspora. Entries will span a wide range of genres and categories, celebrating musical excellence and cultural diversity.
AFRIMA President Mike Dada emphasised the awards’ role in unifying the continent. “AFRIMA is a rallying point for peace, job creation, and telling our own stories. It is a platform that reflects who we are and what we aspire to be,” he said.
In preparation for AFRIMA 2025, a series of events will be held in other African countries, including Morocco, Tanzania, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as international stops in London and Paris.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State had earlier confirmed the state’s readiness to host the continent and the world. During a courtesy visit from an AU and AFRIMA delegation in April, the governor described the awards as aligned with his administration’s vision to make the creative and tourism sectors central to Lagos’ development.
“Our administration is committed to supporting the creative industry. From music and film to fashion and photography, we are building a vibrant ecosystem,” said Sanwo-Olu. “We are proud to host AFRIMA 2025, and we look forward to working closely with the organising teams to deliver a world-class event.”
With Lagos preparing to take centre stage, AFRIMA 2025 is poised to spotlight Africa’s talent, amplify its cultural narratives, and foster deeper continental integration through music.
