Nigerian artist Shallipopi
Nigerian Afrobeats star, Crown Uzama—better known to millions as Shallipopi—has clinched TikTok’s 2025 Artiste of the Year, marking another major milestone in his fast-rising career.
TikTok announced the win in a statement released in Lagos, noting that Shallipopi’s chart-topping hit “Laho” didn’t just dominate playlists—it set off viral waves that reshaped the platform’s creative landscape across Africa.
According to TikTok, the track became “a cultural reset,” igniting challenges and trends that spread far beyond Nigeria and left a defining imprint on millions of For You pages.
But Shallipopi’s victory was part of an even bigger story: Nigeria owned the night at the TikTok Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa, held in Johannesburg under the theme “New Era, New Icons.” Nigerian creators claimed six of the ten available awards, the highest for any country—a clear signal of the country’s surging influence in global digital culture.
The full list of Nigerian winners includes:
Brian Nwana (@briannwana) – Storyteller of the Year
Belove Olocha (@beloveolocha) – Entertainment Creator of the Year
Raja’atu Ibrahim (@diaryofanortherncook) – Creator of the Year
Izzi Boye (@izziboye) – Education Creator of the Year
Degoke Ogunbiyi (@noositiwantiwa_) – Social Impact Creator of the Year
TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Boniswa Sidwaba, said the sweep reflects Nigeria’s unmatched creative energy.
“With Nigerian creators securing six of the 10 awards, we are honoured to celebrate their impact, especially as these victories were voted for by the TikTok community, who continue to champion the stories shaping culture,” she said.
Sidwaba added that Nigerian creators—from chefs and storytellers to tech educators and social advocates—are using short-form video to push local culture into global conversations.
For the creators, the moment was more than an award—it was recognition of their power to shape narratives about Nigeria and Africa.
“Every single creator is a storyteller,” said Brian Nwana. “We all tell stories that help drive the local communities, our cities and our countries, and when we do that we change the perception that the world has about us.”
Audiences across Africa can relive the celebration, including Shallipopi’s acceptance speech, when TikTok streams the ceremony live on Dec. 11 at 19:00 WAT.
Nigeria didn’t just show up at the TikTok Awards—it rewrote the script.
