Nigerian music star Crown Uzama, widely 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, South Africa.
The annual awards celebrate creators who shape online culture and drive major trends, and this year, TikTok declared 2025 the era of Plutomania. The platform noted that Shallipopi’s viral sounds, energetic style, and loyal fan base fondly called Plutomanians dominated TikTok throughout the year.
His hit tracks, especially the massively viral ‘Laho’, became some of the most-used sounds on the platform, inspiring countless challenges, dance trends, and user-generated content across the continent. TikTok said Shallipopi’s influence went beyond entertainment, actively steering online culture and sparking huge engagement among young audiences.
The 2025 ceremony gathered top creators from across Sub-Saharan Africa, honouring standout talent in music, comedy, beauty, lifestyle, sports and community impact. Organisers highlighted the growing role of creators in shaping cultural conversations both online and offline.
Shallipopi’s big win reinforces the global rise of Nigerian music and reflects TikTok’s growing power as a launchpad for African artists, particularly Gen Z and young millennials.
