Afrobeat stars Davido, Tems, Rema, and emerging artist Zerry DL were among the top winners at the 17th Headies Awards, held in Lagos on Sunday night. The prestigious event honored outstanding achievements in Nigerian and African music across 31 categories.
The awards made a grand return to Nigeria after two years of being held in Atlanta, USA. This year’s edition is the first of two ceremonies planned for 2025, with the 18th Headies Awards scheduled for December.
Major Wins
- Rema won Afrobeats Album of the Year for HEIS.
- Tems took home Best Recording of the Year for Burning.
- Davido clinched Digital Artiste of the Year.
- Zerry DL, brother of breakout star Shallipopi, was named Rookie of the Year.
- Odumodublvck emerged as the Next Rated Artist, beating Shallipopi, Qing Madi, and Ayo Maff.
Special Recognition Awards
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was honored for his contributions to the music and creative industries. Other recipients included Alex Okosi and Amaju Pinnick.
New Categories
This year introduced two new awards:
- Soundtrack of the Year, won by A Tribe Called Judah (Funke Akindele, Abbey Wonder).
- Best Performer (Live).
Full List of Winners & Nominees
Rookie of the Year
- Winner: Zerry DL
- Nominees: Taves, Kaestyle, Llona
Best Recording of the Year
- Winner: Burning – Tems
- Nominees: Different Patterns – Seyi Vibez, Higher – Burna Boy, Last Heartbreak Song – Ayra Starr & Giveon, Billions – Sarz & Lojay
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
- Winner: Billions – Lojay
- Nominees: Moving – Omah Lay, Gratitude – Anendlessocean, For You – Johnny Drille, Ke Na Ke So – Timi Dakolo
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
- Winner: I’m Done – Liya
- Nominees: Last Heartbreak Song – Ayra Starr, Level – Niniola, Stranger – Simi, Tomorrow – Yemi Alade
Next Rated
- Winner: Odumodublvck
- Nominees: Qing Madi, Shallipopi, Ayo Maff
Song of the Year
- Winner: Lonely at the Top – Asake
- Nominees: Egwu – Chike & Mohbad, OZEBA – Rema, Showa – Kizz Daniel, Commas – Ayra Starr
Afrobeats Single of the Year
- Winner: Big Baller – Flavour
- Nominees: Big Big Things – Young Jonn (feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez), Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel, Egwu – Chike (feat. Mohbad), Remember – Asake, Ogechi Remix – Hyce, Boypee, & Brown Joel (feat. Davido)
Producer of the Year
- Winner: OZEBA – London
- Nominees: Happiness – Sarz, Basquiat – Magicsticks, HEHEHE – Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz & Klimperboy, Different Patterns – Dibs
Afrobeats Album of the Year
- Winner: HEIS – Rema
- Nominees: Stubborn – Victony, Work of Art – Asake, The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr, Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn
Music Video of the Year
- Winner: EGWU – Director Pink
- Nominees: Charm – Rema (Perliks & Folarin Oludare), Metaverse – Jyde Ajala, Like Ice Spice – Perliks & Emeka Shine Shine, Ojapiano – Mattmax, Showa – TG Omori, Na Money – Dammy Twitch
Soundtrack of the Year
- Winner: A Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack – TCJ & Abbey Wonder
- Nominees: Eledumare – Teledalase (Aníkúlápó: 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)
Special Recognition Award Recipients
- Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
- Alex Okosi
- Amaju Pinnick
Humanitarian Award Recipients
- Temitola Adekunle Johnson
- Michelle Mukoro (King Mitchy)
Songwriter of the Year
- Winner: Vision – Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi)
- Nominees: Stranger – Simisola Kosoko (Simi), Can’t Breathe – Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona), Family Meeting – Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian), Stages of Life – Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan)
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice
- Winner: Egwu – Chike & Mohbad
- Nominees: Big Baller – Flavour, Big Big Things – Young Jonn (feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez), Ogechi Remix – Hyce, Boypee, & Brown Joel (feat. Davido), Showa – Kizz Daniel, Different Pattern – Seyi Vibez, OZEBA – Rema, Love Me Jeje – Tems, Cast – Shallipopi (feat. Odumodublvck), Dealer – Ayo Maff (feat. Fireboy DML)
Best Rap Single
- Winner: Cast – Shallipopi & Odumodublvck
- Nominees: Blood on the Dance Floor – Bloody Civilian, Wale, & Odumodublvck, Hallelujah – Ladipoe, Rozzz, & Morello, Canada – Magnito, Ije Nwoke – Jeriq
Best Street-Hop Artiste
- Winner: Mohbad – Ask About Me
- Nominees: Zhus Jdo – Johnbull, Seyi Vibez – Different Patterns, Ayo Maff – Dealer (feat. Fireboy DML), Shallipopi – Cast (feat. Odumodublvck)
Digital Artiste of the Year
- Winner: Davido
- Nominees: Ayra Starr, Rema, Shallipopi, Tems, Kizz Daniel, Asake
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
- Winner: Innoss’B (DRC)
- Nominees: Gaz Mawete (DRC), Emma’A (Gabon), Ebokolo (Gabon), Singuila (Central African Republic), Koceé (Cameroon)
Best East African Artiste of the Year
- Winner: Juma Jux (Tanzania)
- Nominees: Bien (Kenya), Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Bruce Melody (Rwanda), Azawi (Uganda)
Special Recognition
- KCee
The star-studded event was attended by top industry figures, including Don Jazzy, Nancy Isime, Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan (BamBam), Cubana Chief Priest, and White Money, among others.
