The Headies Academy has rolled out the full list of nominees for the 16th edition of the Headies Awards. Burna Boy tops the list with ten nominations. Asake trails closely behind the African Giant with eight nominations, an unsurprising fact considering his groundbreaking entry into the music industry. Among the various categories is one dedicated to the special recognition of an individual for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry. This category has been made exclusive to the late Nigerian superstar, Sound Sultan.

See the full list here:

Best Male Artist

Overall most successful male artist (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.

Asake

Rema

Kizz Daniel

Ruger

Omah Lay

Burna Boy

Best Female Artist

Overall most successful female artist (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.

Tems

Simi

Ayra Starr

Tiwa Savage

Next Rated

This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with a single, EP or album) in the year under review.

Young Jonn

Seyi Vibez

Asake

Victony

Spyro

African Artist of the Year

A voting award category for an individual African artist with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the international music scene within the year under review.

Rema (Nigeria)

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Marwa Loud (Morocco)

Black Sherif (Ghana)

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Lyricist On the Roll

A non-voting category for the rapper with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album in the year under review.

Ladipoe – “Clowns”

Vector – “Clowns”

Payper Corleone – “Fly Talk Only”

Alpha Ojini – “Vigilante Bop”

A-Q – “Family First”

TEC (SDC) – “Live Life”

Digital Artist of the Year 

A voting award category for an individual Nigerian artist or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact digitally in the year under review.

Burna Boy

Ayra Starr

Rema

Omah Lay

Kizz Daniel

International Artist of the Year 

A voting award category for a non-African artist or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact on Afrobeats

Drake

Future

Selena Gomez

Don Toliver

Ed Sheeran

Best Recording of the Year 

A non-voting category for the best recording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artist or group in the year under review.

“Alone” — Burna Boy 

“Soweto” — Victony & Tempoe

“I’m A Mess” — Omah Lay

“KU LO SA” — Oxlade 

“Stand Strong” — Davido FT. Sunday Service Choir 

“No Woman, No Cry” — Tems

Headies Viewers’ Choice

A voting category to award the fans’ favorite artist with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.

Ruger – “Asiwaju”

Victony & Tempoe – “Soweto” 

Fireboy DML & Asake – “Bandana” 

AYRA STAR – “Rush”

Asake – “Terminator” 

Mavins – “Overloading (Overdose)”

Crayon – “Ijo (Laba Laba)”

Oxlade – “KU LO SA” 

Kizz Daniel & Tekno – “Buga”

Pheelz & Davido – “Electricity”

Best Southern African Artist of the Year 

A voting award category for an individual African artist or group (of Southern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

AKA (South Africa)

Nasty C (South Africa)

Costa Titch (South Africa)

Uncle Waffles (South Africa)

Focalistic (South Africa)

DJ Tarico (Mozambique)

Best North African Artist of the Year

A voting award category for an individual African artist or group (of Northern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

Marwa Loud – Morocco

Wegz – Egypt

El Grande Toto – Morocco

Soolking – Algeria

Best East African Artist of the Year 

A voting award category for an individual African artist or group (of Eastern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

Zuchu

Diamond Platnumz

Rayvanny

Eddy Kenzo

Hewan Gebreworld

Best West African Artist of the Year 

A voting award category for an individual African artist or group (of Western African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

Gyakie (Ghana) 

Black Sherif (Ghana) 

The Therapist (Liberia)

Camidoh (Ghana) 

Best Central African Artist of the Year

Fally Ipupa – Democratic Republic Of Congo

Gaz Mawete – Democratic Republic Of Congo

Matias Damasio – Angola

Emma’a – Gabon

Libianca – Cameroon

International Artist Recognition

Sean ‘Love’ Combs

Hall of Fame

Youssou N’dour

Special Recognition

Sound Sultan

Afrobeats Single of the Year

A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in year under review (by single individual or group).

“Last Last” – Burna Boy 

“Rush” – Ayra Starr

“BUGA” – Kizz Daniel & Tekno 

“FINESSE” – Pheelz FT BNXN 

“Who’s Your Guy?” – Spyro 

“Asiwaju” – Ruger

Best Street-hop Artist

A voting category for the artist whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artist and popular on the street.

Rexxie Ft. Naira Marley & Skiibii – “Abracadabra”

Seyi Vibez – “Chance (Na Ham)”

Asake – “Joha”

Zlatan Ft. Young Jonn – “Astalavista”

Poco Lee & Hotkid– “Otilo”

Mohbad– “Peace”

Best Collaboration

A voting category for the best R&B, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

Asake Ft. Burna Boy – “Sungba Remix”

Bnxn Ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – “Gwagwalada”

Pheelz ft. BNXN – “FINESSE”

Spyro ft. Tiwa Savage– “Who’s Your Guy Remix”

Pheelz ft. Davido – “Electricity”

Wande Coal Ft. Olamide – “Kpe Paso”

Best Music Video

A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.

“Back in Uni” – Perliks

“PBUY” – TG Omori

“Spell (Remix)” – Director Pink

“Common Person” – Director K

“Bandana” – TG Omori

“Calm Down (Remix)” – Director K

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

A non-voting category for the single male artist with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

“KU LO SA” – Oxlade

“My Only Baby” – Ric Hassani

“Love Don’t Cost a Dime” – Magixx

“Spell Remix” – Chike

“Reckless” – Praiz

“Kpe Paso” – Wande Coal

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

A non-voting category for the single female artist with the most outstanding vocal performances on a single or album.

“Loyal” – Simi

“In Between” – Waje

“Memories” – Niniola

“Adua Remix” – Liya

“Red Wine” – Preye Itams

“Just 4 U” – Dami Oniru

Producer  of the Year

An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

Magicstickz – (Sungba Remix)

Pheelz – (Electricity)

Andrevibez & London – (Calm Down)

Tempoe – (Soweto)

Kel-P – (Kpe Paso)

Rexxie – (Abracadabra)

Songwriter of the Year

A non-voting category for the writer of a song that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition, in the year under review.

“Loyal” Simi

“I’m a Mess” Omah Lay

“Lift Me Up” Tems

“Alone” Burna Boy

“In My Mind” BNXN fka Buju

“Earth Song” Wizard Chan

Best R&B Single

“For My Hand” – Bruna Boy ft Ed Sheeran

“Mmadu” – CKay

“Just 4 u” – Dami Oniru

“Red Wine” – Preye

“Hard to Find” – Chike ft Flavour

“Loyal” – Simi ft Fave

Best Rap Single

“Hustle” – Reminisce ft BNXN

“Big Energy” – Ladi Poe

“Back in Uni” – Blaq Bonez

“Bando Diaries” – Psycho YP ft Odumodublvck

“Declan Rice” – Odumodublvck

“My Bro” – Jeriq the Hussla ft Phyno

Best Alternative Song

A voting category for the artist whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular music trends.

“Earth Song” – Wizard Chan

“Final Champion” – Cruel Santino

“The Traveller” – Basket Mouth and The Cavemen

“In a Loop” – BOJ ft Mellissa

“Game Changer” – Flavour

“Tinko Tinko” – Obongjayar

Best R&B Album

Home – Johnny Drille

The Brother’s Keeper – Chike

Reckless – Praiz

Waje 2.0 – Waje

Matter of Time – Dami Oniru

To Be Honest – Simi

Best Alternative Album

Horoscopes – Basketmouth

Gbagada Express – BOJ

Some Nights I Dream Of Doors – Obongjayar

Subaru Boys: Final Heaven – Cruel Santino

Heart Of The Heavenly Undeniable – Omadina

Native World – Native Sound System

Album of the Year 

Love, Damini – Burna Boy

Mr. Money With The Vibe – Asake

Rave & Roses – Rema

Boy Alone – Omah Lay

Outlaw – Victony

Timeless – Davido