African artists have steadily climbed the ranks at the American Music Awards (AMAs), culminating in a dedicated Afrobeats category introduced in 2022 and expanded in 2025 to include Nigeria’s Wizkid, Tems, Rema, Asake and for the first time a South African nominee, Tyla, reflecting the AMAs’ pause on tokenism. Critics praised the genre’s mainstream recognition while warning against narrow representation; social-media commentators and pan-African voices urged broader inclusion. Though the AMAs issued no formal response, their 2025 lineup itself signaled a shift toward diversity. Below, we merge the history, critical discourse, and practical voting guide into one comprehensive feature.
Spotlight on the 2025 Afrobeats Contenders
The 51st AMAs air live May 26, 2025 at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT on CBS and stream on Paramount+ Hosted by Jennifer Lopez, this year’s Favorite Afrobeats Artist nominees are:
- Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Tems (Nigeria)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Tyla (South Africa) the first non Nigerian soloist and dual nominee in Favorite Female R&B Artist, marking true pan-African expansion
Voting closes May 15, 2025. Fans may cast up to 25 votes per category via the AMA/Billboard websites and Instagram (with bonus-vote days announced on AMA social channels).
Recap: The Inaugural 2022 Afrobeats Category
Responding to Afrobeats’ U.S. chart surge, the AMAs introduced Favorite Afrobeats Artist in November 2022. Nominees were:
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Wizkid (Nigeria)
- CKay (Nigeria)
- Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
- Tems (Nigeria)
Tems led all artists with four total nods (including two for Future & Drake’s “Wait For U” and one for “Essence” with Wizkid).
Remembering African Trailblazers
Before Afrobeats had its own category, African talent broke through in R&B and Pop/Rock:
- Akon (Senegal/USA): 2007 nominations for Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Male, and Favorite Soul/R&B Male winning Favorite Soul/R&B Male.
- Sade (Nigeria/UK): 2010 nods for Favorite Soul/R&B Female and Favorite Soul/R&B Album (Soldier of Love).
These early honors paved the way for today’s robust representation .
Critic Concerns & Organizational “Fix”
Narrow National Representation
While critics lauded the Afrobeats category’s creation, many objected to its inaugural all-Nigerian slate:
“Afrobeats has broken boundaries… but should an all-Nigerian representation be the typical?” @itzbasito
“Introducing an Afrobeats category speaks volumes… if you want to do it, do it well.” Motolani Alake (@OneMotolani)
Organizational Response
- No formal press statement has been issued to address representation critiques; the official nomination release detailed only categories and nominees, without commentary on diversity concerns .
- Concrete change in 2025: the inclusion of South Africa’s Tyla alongside four Nigerians signals an implicit correction toward pan-African balance .
Why It Matters & What’s Next
“Afrobeats has redefined global music flows; its elevation at the AMAs is both overdue and emblematic of music’s borderless future.” Weekend Beats, The Guardian
- 2022 Debut: Officially recognized Afrobeats’ U.S. breakthrough, spotlighting Nigerian excellence.
- 2025 Return: After a two-year AMAs hiatus, the renewed ceremony embraces broader African talent, a sign the organization is listening.
