If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that African pop culture is at the verge of a new norm. From fashion runways that ignited global stakeholders, to talk-of-the-town celebrity weddings, to viral phrases, to Afrobeats global canonization via billboard charts, the year’s defining moments were about the recurring metrics of visibility, impact, and digital influence.
Here’s our roundup of the moments that shook pop culture in 2025.
Lagos Fashion Week 2025 ( Earthshot Prize)
Lagos Fashion Week started the year already commanding attention, but by October, it had proven that African fashion could combine style with substance. Designers like Orange Culture, Maki Oh, and Lisa Folawiyo staged shows across Victoria Island and Lekki, weaving heritage fabrics into modern silhouettes, while KAFTAN-led panels on circular fashion sparked debates on sustainability and ethical sourcing.
The real headline? LFW won the Earthshot Prize in the “Build a Waste-Free World” category, securing a £1 million grant for its pioneering work in sustainable African fashion. This wasn’t just recognition; it was a statement that Africa is leading the conversation on responsible fashion, turning runways into platforms for innovation, recycling, and clean production. With celebrities like Mo Abudu and Seyi Shay amplifying the buzz, Lagos Fashion Week 2025 proved it could set trends and global standards simultaneously.
Comic Con Africa 2025
If Lagos Fashion Week was elegance and innovation, the Comic Con Africa held in Johannesburg, South Africa, was pure energy and imagination. Over 70,000 attendees packed the Gallagher Convention Centre for three days of cosplay, panels, and game premieres. South African studio Pyro Mobile debuted Project Xolani, a Johannesburg-inspired RPG, while Kenyan illustrator Bukunmi Adewale led a discussion on Afrofuturism in African comics.
The convention showcased that Africa’s youth are claiming speculative storytelling as their own; fandoms no longer just follow culture; they produce it. Lines began forming hours before doors opened, and social media feeds exploded with photos of intricate costumes and live sketches. Comic Con Africa 2025 wasn’t a novelty; it was proof that African imagination has a global stage and the confidence to own it.
Priscilla Ojo & Jux Wedding
Celebrity weddings are a dime a dozen, but when Nigerian Influencer Priscilla Ojo and Tanzanian Musician Jux tied the knot, it crossed borders, cultures, and media feeds. The intimate ceremony tagged #JP25 took place in Dar es Salaam, followed by a Lagos reception that brought together Tiwa Savage, Falz, Diamond Platnumz, and other heavyweights. Every outfit became a headline: Priscilla’s dress by Sade Ososanya, Jux’s bespoke suit from Tobi Bakre’s atelier, and the guests’ style game made Instagram feeds for days.
The wedding mattered because it wasn’t just about two people saying “I do”; it became a pan-African lifestyle statement, demonstrating how celebrity events now merge fashion, influence, and digital storytelling.
Billboard’s “50 Greatest Afrobeats Songs of All Time”
When Billboard published its Afrobeats canon, debates exploded across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and the UK. Fela, 2Baba, Burna Boy, and Ayra Starr made the list, but omissions sparked critical discussions. The list was significant because it marked a formal, global attempt to canonize Afrobeats, prompting discussions about history, influence, and the politics of recognition, and cementing its influence and forcing the global conversation about legacy, eras, and diaspora impact.
“Achalugo” from Love in Every Word
Sometimes a movie leaves its mark not through its story, but through a single word. That word in 2025? “Achalugo.” The Omoni Oboli produced Nigerian film Love in Every Word gifted the internet a catchphrase that instantly became shorthand for humour and affection. TikTok, X, Instagram, and WhatsApp carried it far beyond cinema screens.
The beauty of Achalugo’s viral life was that it wasn’t manufactured. No marketing push made it a trend; audiences decided. And in that choice, African cinema once again proved it shapes language, memes, and culture as much as music or celebrity antics do.
My Father’s Shadow ( Akinola & Wale Davies)
If 2025 had a blazing triumph in film, it was My Father’s Shadow. Premiering at TIFF Africa in Johannesburg, the film starred Blessing Onwukwe and used cinematographer Kwaku Adusei’s meticulous eye to tell a story of family, memory, and reconciliation. Long takes, natural lighting, and restraint made it feel less like entertainment, more like craft in motion.
Winning Best Cinematography and Best Narrative Feature at the Cape Town International Film Festival, the film reminded audiences and creators alike that African cinema can compete on technical and emotional sophistication, not just commercial appeal.
Moliy’s Global Rise & Spotify Impact
Ghana’s Moliy is arguably the biggest African artist of 2025. The singer’s smash hit “Shake It To The Max (Remix)” landed on playlists like Today’s Top Hits and African Heat, drawing listeners from the US, UK, South Africa, and Canada. Beyond streams, the song’s music video has also amassed insane stats with over 200 million views on YouTube, making it arguably the best-performing African music video on the platform in 2025.
Moliy’s ascent was organic, driven by audience adoption, platform algorithms, and consistent short-form visual output, rather than celebrity features or controversy. The impact is clear: African artists can now dominate global charts and platforms while staying true to local roots, proving that digital-first strategies are reshaping the international music landscape.
African Creators Embrace Twitch
In 2025, Twitch stopped being a “foreign platform” and became a relatively new stage for African creativity. Nigerian skit maker-turned-streamer Carter Efe turned his channel into a chaotic variety show, mixing live comedy, celebrity interviews, and unexpected antics that had viewers glued to their screens. Meanwhile, Shank in Lagos built a loyal community around gaming and interactive music streams, experimenting with live remix sessions that blurred the line between DJ set and performance.
In South Africa, DropsBy Ponk brought professional-level production to his streams, combining gameplay, Q&A, and music drops that rivaled some of the platform’s international creators
From Lagos Fashion Week winning the Earthshot Prize to Moliy’s record-breaking YouTube views, from viral movie lines like “Achalugo” to Twitch becoming a new creative frontier, the year 2025 proved that African creativity is innovative, influential, and impossible to ignore.
