The Headies, have officially announced their nominees for the 17th edition, celebrating the best of Nigerian and African music over the past year. Leading the nominations is Rema, who secured seven nods, close behind him are Ayra Starr and Asake, each earning six nominations. The announcement, made on the official Headies social media accounts, highlights the diversity and talent that define African music today.
FULL NOMINEE LIST:
Best Recording of the Year
- Burning – Tems
- Different Pattern – Seyi Vibez
- Higher – Burna Boy
- Last Heartbreak Song – Ayra Starr & Givēon
- Billions – Sarz featuring Lojay
Producer of the Year
- Happiness – Sarz
- Ozeba – London
- Basquiat – Magicsticks
- Hehehe – Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Klimperboy
- Different Pattern – Dibs
Songwriter of the Year
- Stranger – Simisola Kosoko (Simi)
- Vision – Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi)
- Can’t Breathe – Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona)
- Family Meeting – Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian)
- Stages of Life – Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan)
Best R&B Single
- Vision – Qing Madi
- For You – Johnny Drille
- Stranger – Simi
- Burning – Tems
- Last Heartbreak Song – Ayra Starr featuring Givēon
Best Rap Single
- Shallipopi – Cast featuring Odumodublvck
- Blood on the Dance Floor – Odumodublvck featuring Bloody Civilian & Wale
- Hallelujah – Ladipoe, Rozzz & Morrelo
- Canada – Magnito
- Ije Nwoke – Jeriq
Best Vocal Performance
- Last Heartbreak Song – Ayra Starr
- Level – Niniola
- Stranger – Simi
- I’m Done – Liya
- Tomorrow – Yemi Alade
Music Video of the Year
- Charm – Rema (Perliks & Folarin Oludare)
- Metaverse – Jyde Ajala
- Like Ice Spice – Perliks & Emeka Shine Shine
- Ojapiano – Mattmax
- Egwu – Director Pink
- Showa – TG Omori
- Na Money – Dammy Twitch
Best Collaboration
- Emotions – Tiwa Savage featuring Asa
- Blood on the Dance Floor – Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian, and Wale
- Cast – Shallipopi featuring Odumodublvck
- Egwu – Chike & Mohbad
- Ole – Qing Madi & BNXN
- Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel & Davido
- IDK – Wizkid featuring Zlatan
Rookie of the Year
- Zerry DL
- Taves
- Kaestyle
- Llona
Street-Hop Artiste
- Different Pattern – Seyi Vibez
- Dealer – Ayo Maff featuring Fireboy DML
- Cast – Shallipopi featuring Odumodublvck
- Johnbull – Zhus Jdo
- Ask About Me – Mohbad
Afrobeats Single of the Year
- Big Big Things – Young Jonn featuring Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
- Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel & Davido
- Egwu – Chike featuring Mohbad
- Remember – Asake
- Ogechi Remix – Hyce, Boypee & Brown Joel featuring Davido
- Big Baller – Flavour
Lyricist on the Roll
- Mogadishu – A-Q
- Chocolate City Cypher – M.I Abaga
- Chocolate City Cypher – Blaqbonez
- Hallelujah – Ladipoe
- Efeleme – Alpha Ojini
Best Inspirational Single
- Gratitude – Anendlessocean
- Worthy of My Praise – Dunsin Oyekan featuring Lawrence Oyor
- Good God 2 – Limoblaze featuring Naomi Raine
- Particularly – Gaise Baba featuring Tope Alabi
- You Do This One – Mercy Chinwo
Viewers’ Choice
- Big Big Things – Young Jonn featuring Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
- Ogechi Remix – Hyce, Boyspye & Brown Joel featuring Davido
- Egwu – Chike & Mohbad
- Showa – Kizz Daniel
- Different Pattern – Seyi Vibez
- Ozeba – Rema
- Love Me Jeje – Tems
- Cast – Shallipopi featuring Odumodublvck
- Dealer – Ayo Maff featuring Fireboy DML
- Big Baller – Flavour
Best West African Artiste
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- King Promise (Ghana)
- Himra (Ivory Coast)
- Josey (Ivory Coast)
- Toofan (Togo)
Best East African Artiste
- Bien (Kenya)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Juma Jux (Tanzania)
- Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
- Azawi (Uganda)
Best North African Artiste
- Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
- ElGrande Toto (Morocco)
- Soolking (Algeria)
- Balti (Tunisia)
- Abu (Egypt)
Best Southern African Artiste
- Titom (South Africa)
- Yuppe (South Africa)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Kelly Kay (Malawi)
- Plutonio (Mozambique)
- Zee Nxumalo (South Africa)
Best Central African Artiste
- Innoss’B (DRC)
- Gaz Mawete (DRC)
- Emma’ A (Gabon)
- Eboloko (Gabon)
- Singuila (Central African Republic)
- Kocee (Cameroon)
Best Rap Album
- Sideh Kai – Illbliss
- Eziokwu – Odumodublvck
- Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 – Reminisce
- Family Time – Erigga
- Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine
Next Rated
- Qing Madi
- Shallipopi
- Odumodublvck
- Ayo Maff
- Nasboi
Afrobeats Album of the Year
- Stubborn – Victony
- Work of Art – Asake
- The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
- HEIS – Rema
- Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn
Digital Artiste of the Year
- Ayra Starr
- Rema
- Shallipopi
- Tems
- Davido
- Kizz Daniel
- Asake
Best Performer (Live)
- Rema
- Omah Lay
- Flavour
- Wizard Chan
- Burna Boy
- Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
Song of the Year
- Showa – Kizz Daniel
- Commas – Ayra Starr
- Egwu – Chike & Mohbad
- Lonely at the Top – Asake
- Ozeba – Rema
- Big Baller – Flavour
Album of the Year
- Work of Art – Asake
- Born in the Wild – Tems
- HEIS – Rema
- The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
- Stubborn – Victony
International Artiste of the Year
- Blood on the Dance Floor (Odumodublvck) – Wale
- Tony Montana (ft. Portable) – Skepta
- Hmmm (ft. Davido) – Chris Brown
- Active (ft. Asake) – Travis Scott
- Vision Remix (Qing Madi) – Chloe Bailey
Soundtrack of the Year:
- Eledumare – Teledalese (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
- Lose to Gain – Kaline (Breath of Life)
- Kill Boro – Native Filmworks & Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)
- Orisa – Beriola (Orisa)
- Emotions – Tiwa Savage & Asa (Water and Garri)
- Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack – TCJ & Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah)
Best Vocal Performance (Male):
- Billions – Lojay
- Moving – Omah Lay
- Gratitude – Anendlessocean
- For You – Johnny Drille
- Ke Na Ke So – Timi Dakolo
Artiste of the Year:
- Davido
- Ayra Starr
- Asake
- Rema
- Tems
- Burna Boy
The 17th Headies Awards ceremony is scheduled for April 5, 2025 at Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, Nigeria. It will be a night of celebration and recognition for all of Africa’s musical talents. Fans are encouraged to participate by voting for their favorite artists and tracks through the official Headies website and social media platforms.
