Nigerian music act, Ahmed Ololade, aka Asake, alongside fellow artiste, Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, have been nominated for the 2025 Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards.
The duo was nominated in the Best International Act category, with United States-based artistes, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar, according to the 2025 shortlist which was released on Wednesday.
More so, seven Nigerian artistes were nominated in the Best African Music Act category, including Odumodublvck, Rema and Shallipopi, among others.
South African singer Tyla, who emerged as the Best New Artist at the BET Awards 2024, got nominations in both categories.
A British Nigerian, Jordan Adetunji, bagged two nominations – Best Newcomer and Song Of The Year.
Established in 1996, the MOBO Awards recognise Black music and culture while encouraging the evolution of a wide range of genres, from Afrobeats and hip hop to R&B, soul, grime, drill, EDM, jazz, and more.
See the full list of nominations below:
Best international act
- Asake
- Ayra Starr
- Beyonce
- Glorilla
- Kendrick Lamar
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
- Tems
- Tyla
Best African music act
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Bnxn & Ruger (Nigeria)
- King Promise (Ghana)
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- Tems (Nigeria)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
Best male act
- Bashy
- Central Cee
- D-Block Europe
- Ghetts
- Nemzzz
- Sampha
Best female act
- Cleo Sol
- Darkoo
- Jorja Smith
- Little Simz
- Nia Archives
- Raye
Album of the year
- Bashy – Being Poor Is Expensive
- Cleo Sol – Gold
- Ghetts – On Purpose, With Purpose
- Jorja Smith – Falling Or Flying
- Sampha – Lahai
- Skrapz – Reflection
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Song of the Year
- Central Cee Feat. Lil Baby – Band4band
- Chase & Status, Stormzy – Backbone
- Darkoo Feat. Dess Dior – Favourite Girl
- Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
- Leostaytrill – Pink Lemonade
- Odeal – Soh-Soh
Best newcomer
- Chy Cartier
- Elmiene
- Fimiguerrero
- Flowerovlove
- Jordan Adetunji
- Len
- Leostaytrill
- Myles Smith
- Odeal
- Pozer
Video of the year
- Meekz – Mini Me’s
- Mnelia – My Man
- Raye – Genesis
- Sampha – Only
- Skepta – Gas Me Up (Diligent)
- Unknown T Feat. Loyle Carner – Hocus Pocus
Best R&B/soul act
- Cleo Sol
- Elmiene
- Flo
- Jaz Karis
- Jorja Smith
- Nippa
- Odeal
- Sasha Keable
- Shae Universe
- Sinead Harnett
Best grime act
- Chip
- D Double E
- Duppy
- Kruz Leone
- Manga Saint Hilare
- Scorcher
Best hip-hop act
- Bashy
- Cristale
- Headie One
- Nines
- Potter Payper
- Skrapz
Best drill act
- 163Margs
- Central Cee
- Headie One
- Kairo Keyz
- K-Trap
- Pozer
Best performance in a TV show/film
- Angela Wynter As Yolande Trueman In Eastenders
- Caroline Chikezie As Noma In Power Book Ii: Ghost
- Diane Parish As Denise Fox In Eastenders
- Dionne Brown As Queenie In Queenie
- Ghetts As Krazy In Supacell
- Jacob Anderson As Louis In Interview With The Vampire
- Jasmine Jobson As Jaq In Top Boy
- Josh Tedeku As Tazer In Supacell
- Kingsley Ben-Adir As Bob Marley In Bob Marley: One Love
- Tosin Cole As Michael In Supacell
Best media personality
- 90’s Baby Show
- AJ Odudu
- Chuckie Online
- Craig Mitch
- Henrie Kwushue
- Madame Joyce
- Micah Richards
- Specs Gonzalez
- The Receipts Podcast
- Zeze Millz
Best Caribbean music act
- Popcaan
- Shenseea
- Skillibeng
- Spice
- Valiant
- Yg Marley
Best Jazz act
- Amy Gadiaga
- Blue Lab Beats
- Ego Ella May
- Ezra Collective
- Kokoroko
- Yussef Dayes
Best Alternative Music act
- Alt Blk Era
- Bob Vylan
- Hak Baker
- Kid Bookie
- Native James
- Spider
Best Electronic/Dance act
- Eliza Rose
- Nia Archives
- Pinkpantheress
- Salute
- Shygirl
- Tsha
Best Producer
- Ceebeaats
- Inflo
- Juls
- M1OnTheBeat
- P2J
- Sammy Soso
Best Gospel act
- Annatoria
- Imrhan
- Limoblaze
- Reblah
- Still Shadey
- Volney Morgan & New Ye
