Nigerian singer Crown Uzama, better known as Shallipopi, has been crowned Artist of the Year at the 2025 TikTok Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa, held on Friday, December 5, in Johannesburg.
The annual ceremony celebrates creators whose content shapes conversations and sparks trends across the region. TikTok said this year’s awards recognized individuals who have used the platform to connect audiences, build communities, and influence culture both online and offline.
Shallipopi, popularly called “Pluto Presido,” has been one of Africa’s breakout stars in 2025. His songs dominated TikTok, powering viral challenges and a wave of youthful fan engagement he describes as “Plutomania.” Tracks from the Laho hit-maker became some of the most-used sounds on the app, boosting his rise as a leading digital-first musician.
TikTok noted that his music did more than entertain — it reshaped online culture, energized young users, and highlighted how African artists increasingly gain visibility on the platform before breaking into mainstream charts.
“2025 was the year of ‘Plutomania’,” the platform said, crediting the singer and his fan base, the “plutomanians,” for driving some of the year’s most recognisable trends.
The Artist of the Year award, one of the night’s most prestigious honours, celebrates musicians whose work has had a significant cultural impact on the platform. Organisers said the 2025 edition focused on originality and the power of creators to influence entertainment across the continent.
Creators from across Sub-Saharan Africa — including musicians, dancers, comedians, and digital storytellers — attended the event, which highlighted TikTok’s growing role in shaping music consumption among Gen Z and millennials. Viral TikTok challenges continue to translate into streaming success for many African artists.
Shallipopi’s win marks another major milestone in his fast-rising career and reinforces the growing global influence of Nigerian musicians on digital platforms.
