The 5th Edition of Trendupp Awards, Africa’s pioneer awards for Influencers and Content Creators, was a dazzling ceremony that celebrated the creative brilliance shaping Africa’s digital future, on Sunday, July 13th, at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
This year’s edition, themed “Still Explosive,” marked a significant milestone – five years of rewarding audacity, consistency, and creativity in the ever-evolving digital space. The awards honoured 17 outstanding winners across categories including content, collaboration, comedy, tech, advocacy, and the highly coveted Force of Influence titles.
Returning as host, media personality and content queen KieKie led the night from unforgettable red carpet moments, electric performances, to heartfelt speeches that captured the spirit of Africa’s vibrant creator economy.
Speaking on the impact of this year’s awards, Tiwalola “TJ” Olanubi, Founder/CEO of Trendupp Africa, shared: “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 consistency and engagement through every creative content. This isn’t the future of influence, this is the now.”
Over 300,000 public nominations were submitted across the 17 award categories. Following the nomination phase, a jury made up of respected industry leading voices, including Sam Onyemelukwe, Iyabo Ojo, Denrele Edun, Azuka Ogujiuba, Ameyaw Debrah, TheVisualAdvocate (Ayotunde Ishola) and Kelechi Amadi-Obi, carefully evaluated 104 finalists based on three key criteria: Creativity, Engagement, and Consistency.
Meet The Winners for Trendupp Awards 2025:
The Force of Comedy Skits: Influencers and Content Creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in the comedy niche between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Folagade Banks
The Force of Food Content: Influencers and Content Creators who have been able to infuse creativity in their content thus commanding engagement in the food niche between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @OpeyemiFamakin
The Force of Lifestyle Content (Endowed by Tramango): Influencers and content creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in lifestyle niches such as beauty, travel and fashion between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Liquorose
The Force of Online Sensation: Individuals that have found a way to break through the noise and commanded attention in the social media space between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @JayOnAir
The Force of Instagram: Influencers and Content creators with the most engaging content & virality power on Instagram between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @TomikeAdeoye
The Force of Social Good: Influencers and content creators who clamoured/spoke up for the social good of the community/country between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @KingMitchy
The Force of Tech Content: Influencers and content creators who have found a way to use content in communicating technological leaps and information in easily digestible and laudable ways between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @ValourReviews
The Force of TikTok: Influencers and Content creators that commanded the highest engagement & virality power on TikTok between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Crispdal
The Force of X (Twitter): Influencers and Content Creators that dominated the Twitter platform with meaningful/impactful conversations and threads between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Pooja
The Force of Virality: Influencer or Content creator who mastered the art of making lasting impressions, with content that commands a high number of reposts, likes, shares and talkability between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Peller089 X @Jadrolita
The Force of Collaboration (Endowed BY DottsMediaHouse): Brands that strategically identify and leverage impactful partnerships with content creators/Influencers between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Bet9ja
The Force of YouTube: Influencers and Content creators that commanded the highest engagement & virality power on YouTube between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Nons_Miraj
Emerging Force (Endowed by Sycamore): Content creators and Influencers who are rated as the next big deal in social media between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @SamuelBanks21
Force of the Pod: Influencers and Content creators who use podcasts as a medium of education, engagement, sensation and impact between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Isbae_U (Curiousity Made Me Ask Podcast)
The Force of Influence (Nigeria): Influencer and Content creator who commanded the highest influence in the Nigerian social media space between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @VeekeeJames
The Force of Influence (Regional): Influencers and Content creators who commanded regional influence in other African countries (asides Nigeria) between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @KhosiTwala
Trendupp Awards is an initiative of Trendupp Africa, a platform where creatives receive support and build direct relationships with their fans across Africa. This fifth edition is presented by Trendupp Africa in association with DottsMediaHouse (Africa’s foremost media agency for leading brands across Africa). The award is proudly supported by Pepsi, Sycamore, Tramango, MTVBase, Africa Magic, POPCentral TV, CoolFM, Brand Communicator, Trace TV, Ameyaw Debrah, TheCable, MediaRoomHub, BlackDrum TV and Legit NG.
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