Shallipopi Shines as Nigerian Creators Sweep TikTok Awards
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, has been named TikTok’s 2025 Artiste of the Year. The announcement was made in a statement by TikTok and shared with news outlets on Monday in Lagos.
The TikTok Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, carried the theme “New Era, New Icons.” Shallipopi’s hit single, Laho, dominated charts and sparked viral trends across the continent. TikTok described the song as a “cultural reset” that resonated widely on users’ For You Feeds and inspired viral challenges beyond Nigeria.
Nigeria had a standout night at the awards, with its creators winning six of the 10 honors presented. Other Nigerian winners included Brian Nwana (@briannwana) as Storyteller of the Year; Belove Olocha (@beloveolocha) as Entertainment Creator of the Year; Raja’atu Ibrahim (@diaryofanortherncook) as Creator of the Year; Izzi Boye (@izziboye) as Education Creator of the Year; and Degoke Ogunbiyi (@noositiwantiwa_) as Social Impact Creator of the Year.
TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Boniswa Sidwaba, praised Nigeria’s creative ecosystem. She said the country’s dominance at the awards reflects the impact of its creators, whose victories were voted for by the TikTok community.
“With Nigerian creators securing six of the 10 awards, we are honoured to celebrate their impact. These creators are using short-form video to share local culture with a global audience,” Sidwaba said.
The awards showcased how Nigerian creators are influencing global conversations on African identity through music, language, cuisine, and community storytelling. Recipients expressed gratitude to TikTok for giving them a platform to share Nigeria’s culture worldwide.
Brian Nwana said, “Every single creator is a storyteller. We all tell stories that help drive our communities, our cities, and our countries, and when we do that, we change the perception the world has about us.”
Audiences across Africa can watch the ceremony, including Shallipopi’s acceptance moment, on TikTok Live on December 11 at 19:00 WAT.
