AFRIMA 2025: Axel Merryl nominated up against the giants of West African music
Beninese comedian Axel Merryl is among the nominees for the 2025 All Africa Music Awards in the Best Male Artist in West Africa category. At 29, he becomes the only Beninese contender for this continental prize thanks to his hit “Titulaire” – and will face West African music heavyweights at the ceremony scheduled for November 25–30, 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Axel Merryl
Axel Merryl, 29, first made a name for himself as a YouTuber and comedian before moving into music. He has just landed a prestigious nomination at AFRIMA 2025 in the “Best Male Artiste in Western Africa” (Best Male Artist in West Africa) category.
This nod follows the success of his song Titulaire, recorded as a duet with Senegalese singer Mia Guissé and artist Bass Thioung. Released in late 2024, this afro-pop track quickly went viral, racking up millions of views online and propelling Axel Merryl to the forefront of the regional music scene.
The 2025 All Africa Music Awards will take place from November 25 to 30 in Lagos (Nigeria). The Beninese artist will carry his country’s colors against nine other finalists in his category, including Nigerian superstars Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Asake, and Rema, Ghanaian rapper Black Sherif, Ivorian Didi B, Cape Verdean Djodje, and Senegalese VJ. Competition will be tough for Axel Merryl, who’s up against some of the hottest artists in West Africa right now.
A comedian turned singer
Discovered online, Axel Merryl—real name Axel Merryl Sofonnou—first made his mark in comedy. Starting in 2013, he posted sketches online portraying everyday situations with an offbeat tone, which earned him viral success and the title of “ambassador of Beninese humor.”
His comedy videos racking up millions of views, he now brings together a large community of fans; his YouTube channel has more than 1.3 million subscribers, and he has millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram.
Buoyed by this popularity, Axel Merryl gradually broadened his artistic palette to embrace a music career. In 2021, he surprised everyone with a debut single titled Kimi, whose video surpassed 1 million views in just 18 hours on YouTube.