Trendupp Awards 2025 Celebrates Africa’s Leading Digital Creators in Lagos

Africa’s growing creator economy took center stage in Lagos as the Trendupp Awards returned for its landmark fifth edition. Held on Sunday, July 13th, 2025, at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, the ceremony honoured the influencers and content creators shaping the continent’s vibrant digital storytelling space.

Under the theme “Still Explosive,” the event marked five years of recognising the audacity, consistency, and creative ingenuity powering Africa’s online communities. From food content to tech storytelling, from advocacy to viral comedy, the awards spanned 17 distinct categories—each designed to spotlight the diverse and evolving landscape of African digital culture.

Organisers reported over 300,000 public nominations this year—a testament to the growing impact and visibility of creators across the continent. Following this open call, a jury of respected industry voices, including Sam Onyemelukwe, Iyabo Ojo, Denrele Edun, Azuka Ogujiuba, Ameyaw Debrah, TheVisualAdvocate (Ayotunde Ishola), and Kelechi Amadi-Obi, evaluated 104 finalists on creativity, engagement, and consistency to determine the eventual winners.


Returning to host the evening was media personality and content creator KieKie, whose charismatic presence helped steer the night’s proceedings—from lively red carpet moments to rousing performances and emotional acceptance speeches that underscored the cultural significance of the creator economy.

Tiwalola “TJ” Olanubi, Founder and CEO of Trendupp Africa, reflected on the evolution of the awards since its inception:

“What started five years ago as an audacious idea has now evolved into a Pan-African movement. ‘Still Explosive’ wasn’t just a theme, it’s the mantra. This year’s winners are not only influencers and content creators; they’re culture shapers. They’re shifting narratives, building communities, and moving the continent forward with every creative piece of content.”

Spotlight on the 2025 Winners

Meet the Winners of the Trendupp Awards 2025

The 2025 edition of the Trendupp Awards celebrated exceptional influencers and content creators across diverse niches, recognising those who achieved outstanding engagement and impact between March 2024 and March 2025. Here are this year’s winners:

  • The Force of Comedy Skits
    Honouring creators with the highest engagement and viral power in the comedy niche.
    Winner: @FolagadeBanks

  • The Force of Creative Art (Endowed by Trace)
    Celebrating those commanding top engagement in art forms such as painting, writing, video production, and dance.
    Winner: @HAUWA

  • The Force of Food Content
    Recognising creators who infused creativity into food content, driving strong audience engagement.
    Winner: @OpeyemiFamakin

  • The Force of Lifestyle Content (Endowed by Tramango)
    Awarded to those dominating lifestyle niches like beauty, travel, and fashion with exceptional engagement.
    Winner: @Liquorose

  • The Force of Online Sensation
    Honouring individuals who broke through the social media noise to command attention.
    Winner: @JayOnAir

  • The Force of Instagram
    Celebrating the most engaging and viral content creators on Instagram.
    Winner: @TomikeAdeoye

  • The Force of Social Good
    Recognising those who used their platforms to advocate for the social good of their communities or country.
    Winner: @KingMitchy

  • The Force of Tech Content
    Awarded to creators making technological information accessible and engaging through content.
    Winner: @ValourReviews

  • The Force of TikTok
    Honouring creators with the highest engagement and viral power on TikTok.
    Winner: @Crispdal

  • The Force of X (Twitter)
    Recognising those leading impactful conversations and threads on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
    Winner: @Pooja

  • The Force of Virality
    Celebrating creators whose content achieved high shares, likes, reposts, and talkability.
    Winners: @Peller089 and @Jadrolita

  • The Force of Collaboration (Endowed by DottsMediaHouse)
    Honouring brands that strategically leveraged impactful partnerships with creators.
    Winner: @Bet9ja

  • The Force of YouTube
    Recognising the most engaging and viral content creators on YouTube.
    Winner: @Nons_Miraj

  • Emerging Force (Endowed by Sycamore)
    Celebrating rising stars poised to become the next big deal in social media.
    Winner: @SamuelBanks21

  • Force of the Pod
    Honouring podcasters delivering education, engagement, and impact through their shows.
    Winner: @Isbae_U (Curiosity Made Me Ask Podcast)

  • The Force of Influence (Nigeria)
    Recognising the influencer with the highest overall impact in Nigeria’s social media space.
    Winner: @VeekeeJames

  • The Force of Influence (Regional)
    Celebrating creators with strong influence in other African countries outside Nigeria.
    Winner: @KhosiTwala

Each award category reflects a unique dimension of Africa’s social media and content landscape—from highly viral comedic skits to advocacy for social good, from platform-specific standouts on Instagram and TikTok to emerging talents poised to become the next big names.

Trendupp Africa, the initiative behind the awards, is a platform designed to support African creatives and help them build direct connections with their audiences. The fifth edition of the awards was presented in partnership with DottsMediaHouse, a leading African media agency known for strategic collaborations with major brands.

The event also drew significant support from brands and media partners including Pepsi, Sycamore, Tramango, MTVBase, Africa Magic, POPCentral TV, CoolFM, Brand Communicator, Trace TV, Ameyaw Debrah, TheCable, MediaRoomHub, BlackDrum TV, and Legit NG.

The Trendupp Awards 2025 ultimately served as both a celebration and a call to action, reaffirming the role of African creators in shaping the cultural, social, and even political narratives of the continent in the digital age.