The Headies Awards, Nigeria’s most popular music awards show, has unveiled its nominees for the 17th edition.

 

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This year’s event, returning to Nigeria after two years in the US, promises to be a spectacular celebration of musical talent, made even bigger by the announcement of two Headies ceremonies in 2025. The 17th edition, originally postponed, will take place on April 5th, while the 18th edition is slated for December.

Leading the nominations are Ayra Starr, Tems, and Rema, each recognized in multiple categories. The Artiste of the Year category features heavyweights such as Davido, Ayra Starr, Asake, Rema, Tems, and Burna Boy. In the Next Rated category, promising newcomers Qing Madi, Shallipopi, OdumoduBlvck, Ayo Maff, and Nasboi are vying for the spotlight.

See the full list of nominees for the Headies Awards 2025 below. 

Best North African Artist of the Year

MOHAMED RAMADAN

ELGRANDE TOTO

SOOLKING

BALTI

ABU

Best East African Artiste of the Year

Bien

Diamond Platnumz

Juma Jux

Bruce Melodie

Azawi

Best West African Artiste of the Year

Black Sherif

King Promise

Himra

Josey

Toofan

Viewers’ Choice

Young Jonn, Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez — Big Big Things

Hyce, Boypee, Brown Joel & Davido — Ogechi remix

Chike & Mohbad — Egwu

Kizz Daniel — Showa

Seyi Vibez — Different Pattern

Rema — OZEBA

Tems — Love me Jeje

Shallipopi & Odumodublvck — Cast

Ayo Maff & Fireboy DML — Dealer

Flavour — Big Baller

Best Inspirational Single

Anendlessocean — Gratitude

Dunsin Oyekan & Lawrence Oyor — Worthy of My Praise

Limoblaze & Naomi Raine — Good God

2Gaise Baba & Tope Alabi — Particularly

Mercy Chinwo — You Do This One

Rookie of the Year

Zerrydl

Taves

Kaestyle

Llona

Best Recording Of The Year

Tems — Burning

Seyi Vibez — Different Pattern

Burna Boy — Higher

Ayra Starr & Giveon — Last Heartbreak Song

Sarz & Lojay — Billions

Producer of the Year

Sarz — Happiness

London — OZEBA

Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Klimperboy — HEHEHE

Magicsticks — Basquiat

Dibs — Different Pattern

Best R&B Single

Qing Madi — Vision

Johnny Drille — For You

Ayra Starr & Giveon — Last Heartbreak Song

Tems — Burning

Simi — Stranger

Songwriter of the Year

Simi — Stranger

Qing Madi — Vision

Llona — Can’t Breathe

Bloody Civilian — Family Meeting

Wizard Chan — Stages of Life

Best Rap Single

Shallipopi & Odumodublvck — Cast

Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian & Wale — Blood on the Dance Floor

Ladipoe Ft Rozzz & Morrell — Hallelujah

Magnito — Canada

JERIQ — Ije Nwoke

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

Ayra Starr — Last Heartbreak Song

Niniola — Level

Simi — Stranger

Liya — I’m Done

Yemi Alade — Tomorrow

Music Video Of the Year

Rema — Charm

Olamide — Metaverse

Blaqbonez — Like Ice Spice

Kcee — Ojapiano

Chike & Mohbad — Egwu

Kizz Daniel — Showa

Davido, The Cavemen & Angelique Kidjo — Na Money

Best Street Hop Artiste

Seyi Vibez — Different Patterns

Ayo Maff & Fireboy DML — Dealer

Shallipopi & Odumodublvck — Cast

Zhus JDO — Johnbull

Mohbad — Ask About Me

Best Collaboration

Tiwa Savage & Asa — Emotions

Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian & Wale — Blood on the Dance Floor

Shallipopi & Odumodublvck — Cast

Chike & Mohbad — Egwu

Qing Madi & Bnxn — Ole

Kizz Daniel & Davido — Twe Twe remix

Wizkid & Zlatan — IDK

Lyricist on the Roll

A-Q — Mogadishu

M.I Abaga — Chocolate City Cypher

Blaqbonez — Chocolate City Cypher

Ladipoe — Hallelujah

Alpha Ojini — Efeleme

Afrobeats Single of the Year

Young Jonn, Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez — Big Big Things

Kizz Daniel & Davido — Twe Twe Remix Chike & Mohbad — Egwu

Asake — Remember

Hyce, Boypee & Brown Joel Ft Davido — Ogechi remix

Flavour — Big Baller

Afrobeats Album of the Year

Stubborn – Victony

Work of Art – Asake

The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr

HEIS – Rema

Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn

Best Rap Album

Sideh Kai – Illbliss

Eziokwu – Odumodublvck

Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 –Reminisce

Family Time – Erigga

Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine

Headies Next Rated

Qing Madi

Shallipopi

Odumodublvck

Ayo Maff

Nasboi

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 and The Positive Force

Song of the Year

Showa – Kizz Daniel

Commas – Ayra Starr

Egwu – Chike and Mohbad

Lonely at the Top – Asake

Ozeba – Rema

Big Baller – Flavour

International Artiste of the Year

Wale – Blood on the Dance Floor(Odumodublvck)

Skepta – Tony Montana (Ft. Portable)

Chris Brown – Hmmm (Ft. Davido)

Travis Scott – Active (Asake)

Chloe Bailey – Vision Remix (Qing Madi)

Album of the Year

Born in the Wild – Tems

HEIS – Rema

The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr

Stubborn – Victony

Work of Art – Asake