The platform has spoken, the trends have been set, and the culture has shifted. Now, it’s time to make it official. The 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa are back, and we’re here to honour the creators, artists, and trendsetters who have made our feeds this year. Taking place in Johannesburg on 6 December 2025, the unforgettable night promises to be a night filled with entertainment, creativity and inspiration with creators from across Sub-Saharan Africa.
This will be remembered as the year African creators rewrote the rulebook and refused to be predictable. From getting down to the inescapable groove of ‘Ngishutheni’, to taking notes from rural agri-creator Sinethemba Masinga (@ufarm_julia) or diving deep into African history with Valerie Keter (@valerie_keter), 2025 is the year niche went mainstream, community became currency, and creators thrived as tastemakers. The 2025 awards will celebrate creators across diverse fields such as food, entertainment, education, music and storytelling.
More than an award
The TikTok Awards are a cornerstone of our commitment to support, inspire, and celebrate the people who power the continent’s creative economy.
“Our annual awards are a moment for reflection and celebration where we build deeper relationships with the people who power the continent. At its core the TikTok awards celebrate the vibrant community who continue to inspire creativity, build community and spread joy on the platform while turning their passions into prosperous careers,” says Boniswa Sidwaba, our Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Your voice, your icons
Now, it’s your chance to tell us who should take home the top honours. Voting is officially open!
Vote from: Today until midnight on 14 November 2025.
- How: Click here to cast your vote
- Rules: You can cast one vote, per category, everyday
- Bonus: Following our official TikTok pages, sharing the voting page and posting using the official hashtag #TikTokAwardsSSA
Here are the creators who truly captured the spirit of 2025.
Creator of the year
@diaryofanortherncook (Sokoto, Nigeria)
@chefabbys (Accra, Ghana)
@fanstribehq (Lagos, Nigeria)
@shandorlarenty (Broederstroom, South Africa)
@englishwithclem (Nairobi, Kenya)
Storyteller of the year
@beloveolocha (Lagos, Nigeria)
@briannwana (Abuja, Nigeria)
@mikemortontalksfootball (Cape Town, South Africa)
@joygiverkitchen (Lagos, Nigeria)
Video of the year
@iamdavidmubiru (Kampala, Uganda)
@zerobrainer0 (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
@isaac.samz (Lagos, Nigeria)
Rising star of the year
@estherfrancisbackup (Lagos, Nigeria)
@_bafanamthembu (Johannesburg, South Africa)
@tunero_animations (Nairobi, Kenya)
Entertainment creator of the year
@beloveolocha (Lagos, Nigeria)
@ednafrancis_ (Lagos, Nigeria)
@finding.chance (Johannesburg, South Africa)
@ikegod.chielo (Abuja, Nigeria)
@jabu_macdonald (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Food creator of the year
@mpruedie1 (Midrand, South Africa)
@malumfoodie (Pretoria, South Africa)
@chefabbys (Accra, Ghana)
@georges_kitchen (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
@boyz_makekii (Nairobi, Kenya)
Education creator of the year
@michelle_expert (Randburg, South Africa)
@izziboye (Lagos, Nigeria)
@roy.kanyi (Nairobi, Kenya)
@englishwithclem (Nairobi, Kenya)
Social impact creator of the year
@olawalesmd (Lagos, Nigeria)
@valerie_keter (Nairobi, Kenya)
@anitasoina (Nairobi, Kenya)
@noositiwantiwa_ (Ibadan, Nigeria)
@ufarm_julia (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
Artist of the year
@theycallmeshallipopipp (Nigeria)
@itsjoshuabaraka (Uganda)
@moliymusic (Ghana)
@realjazzwrld (South Africa)
Sports Creator of the year
@boxtoboxregista (Nairobi, Kenya)
@zozasportscast (Nairobi, Kenya)
@mikemortontalksfootball (Cape Town South Africa)
@steph_talks_football (Cape Town South Africa)
@ademolavictortv (Lagos, Nigeria)
New era, new icons
This year’s theme, new era, new icons, is a statement of fact. These awards honour innovators who have redefined influence, driving community solutions, tackling education, and sparking vital conversations on social change.
About TikTok Awards
The TikTok Awards are our annual celebration of the most impactful and inspiring creators across Sub-Saharan Africa. This year’s event will highlight the extraordinary ways our creators have engaged, inspired, and connected communities on and off TikTok. Join us as we celebrate creativity and community at the TikTok Awards. Stay tuned for updates, and don’t forget to cast your vote for your favourites!
