Nigerian Creators Shine as Shallipopi Leads Big Wins at 2025 TikTok Awards

Nigeria’s digital talent pool recorded a major milestone as Afrobeats sensation Crown Uzama, widely known as Shallipopi, emerged as the standout winner at the 2025 TikTok Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa. The ceremony, held in Johannesburg, celebrated the region’s most influential voices on the platform.

Shallipopi’s recognition as Artiste of the Year capped a breakthrough season marked by the runaway success of his track Laho, a song that sparked massive challenges, dance trends and cross-border engagement throughout the year. The track’s wave of influence reinforced his position as one of the continent’s most dominant cultural drivers.

Nigeria’s creators delivered a commanding performance, securing six of the ten awards presented on the night. Their sweep underscored the country’s sustained leadership in short-form digital content, from music and education to food, comedy and social impact.

Among the standout honourees were Brian Nwana, celebrated for his compelling digital narratives; Belove Olocha, recognised for his entertainment-driven content; and Raja’atu Ibrahim, whose culinary storytelling has attracted millions of followers globally.

Educational creator Izzi Boye and social impact advocate Degoke Ogunbiyi also earned top accolades, highlighting the depth and range of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Their wins reflected a shift toward content that blends creativity with problem-solving and community empowerment.

TikTok representatives described Nigeria’s dominance as a clear signal of the country’s growing cultural footprint, noting that the winners were selected through community voting, an indication of the creators’ strong connection with audiences across Africa.

The company also praised Nigerian creators for driving global conversations around African identity through food, music, language and lifestyle content, ultimately shaping perceptions of the continent in the digital age.

African audiences will have a chance to relive the ceremony, including Shallipopi’s highlight moment, during a TikTok Live broadcast scheduled for December 11 at 19:00 WAT.