Shallipopi Named TikTok 2025 Artiste of the Year as Nigerians Sweep Awards

Published on December 8, 2025

Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, has been named TikTok’s 2025 Artiste of the Year, leading a remarkable performance by Nigerian creators at the Sub-Saharan Africa TikTok Awards.

The announcement was made in a statement released by TikTok and shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

The awards ceremony, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, carried the theme “New Era, New Icons.”

Shallipopi’s hit track “Laho” dominated charts and inspired viral trends across the continent. TikTok described the song as a “cultural reset” that captured the attention of its For You feeds and powered challenges that extended well beyond Nigeria’s borders.

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Nigeria emerged as the night’s biggest winner, claiming six out of 10 awards, the highest for any country. Other Nigerian awardees included:

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 Nigeria’s dominance reflects the strength and creativity of its digital ecosystem.

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“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,” Sidwaba said.

She noted that Nigerian creators, from entertainers and food storytellers to educators and social advocates, are using short-form video to share local culture with a global audience.

The winners expressed gratitude to TikTok for giving them a platform to showcase Nigeria to the world. “Every creator is a storyteller. We all tell stories that drive our communities, cities, and countries. When we do that, we change the perception the world has about us,” said Brian Nwana, Storyteller of the Year.

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The ceremony, including Shallipopi’s acceptance moment, will be broadcast across Africa on TikTok Live on Dec. 11 at 19:00 WAT, NAN reports.

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