Afropop artist NathanJae has been honoured with the Afropop Discovery of the Year Award at the 2025 Yessiey Awards, recognising him as one of the standout new voices in African pop music this year.
The certificate, signed by Oluwaseun Olaegbe, Head of Event at Yessiey Awards, credits NathanJae with “outstanding creativity and contributions to the music industry”.
NathanJae’s rise has been anchored in consistent output and grassroots visibility rather than a single breakout single.
Live performance has been central to his growth. NathanJae has taken the stage at community and club events across Lagos Nigeria and even Manchester, a sign of the credibility he has earned among promoters and peers in a short space of time.
That combination of consistent releases, high-energy live shows, and an expanding grassroots fanbase is precisely the profile the Afropop Discovery of the Year category is designed to spotlight: an artist who has moved from emerging talent to a name audiences and industry figures are actively watching.
The Yessiey Awards, formerly known as the Yessiey Magazine Awards, is an annual accolade presented by Yessiey Magazine to honour individuals who have made exemplary contributions across writing, acting, humanitarian work, art, music, dance, literature, theatre, visual arts, entrepreneurship, and journalism. The award takes its name from the magazine’s slogan, “YES! Stay Informed.”
Now in its latest edition, the Yessiey Awards follow an entry and public voting process, with nominees put forward before winners are determined by public vote. Since being rebranded in 2022, the awards have recognised figures across sport, music, business, and media, with past honourees including footballers Victor Osimhen and Achraf Hakimi, singers Davido, Tyla, and Burna Boy, boxer Anthony Joshua, and businessman Aliko Dangote — placing NathanJae’s win within a roster that spans some of Africa’s and the diaspora’s most recognised names.
With a Yessiey Award now behind him, attention turns to whether NathanJae can convert recognition into a wider platform. For an artist still building his catalogue, the Afropop Discovery of the Year title offers both validation and a marker to build the next chapter of his career around.
