17th Headies Awards: Nominees & Everything You Need To Know

Roommates, award season is far from over! The 17th Headies Awards is bringing it all to the table on April 5! From excellence and innovation to some of the most unforgettable moments in African (Nigerian) Music history and culture to the table!

The Headies Awards continue to give wings to dreams, honor legends, and nurture emerging talent. Having fulfilled its powerful contribution in bridging the gap by holding its past two awards shows on American soil, the 17th Headies is back to base in Lagos, Nigeria at the Eko Convention Centre. Also, related events will be happening ALL come showtime week to celebrate the industry’s growth and powerhouse talents!

The Full Headies Awards List:

Odumodublvck leads the nominations with eight. Additionally, Tems has been nominated six times, and Burna Boy secured three nominations.

FYI, here are the qualifications for a nomination. The music materials should’ve been released, sold, and streamed between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024. What kind of materials? That includes singles, videos, video live recordings, EPs, and albums. Additionally, physical music media (cassettes, CDs, and vinyl) also had to be released within the same dates.

While the show is back in Lagos, the Headies Awards is still recognizing art across the globe! The ‘International Artist of the Year’ category is giving flowers to:

‘Blood On The Dance Floor’ by Wale and Odumodublvck,’

‘Tony Montana’ by Skepta

‘Hmmm’ by Chris Brown feat. Davido

‘Active’ by Travis Scott feat. Asake

‘Vision Remix’ by Chloe Bailey

Rema, Arya Starr & Davido each have seven nominations. Rema’s nominations are ‘Afrobeat Album of the Year,’ ‘Headies Viewer Choice,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘Artist of the Year,’ ‘Digital Artist of the Year,’ and ‘Best Performance.’

Ayra Starr’s nominations: ‘Best R&B Performance,’ ‘Best Vocal Performance (Female),’ ‘Afrobeat Album of The Year,’ ‘Album of The Year,’ ‘Song of The Year,’ ‘Artist of The Year,’ and ‘ Digital Artist of The Year.’

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

You know that artist that had a successful year, but didn’t release an album within the eligible period? This category is for them!

ZERRY DL
TAVES
KAESTYLE
LLONA

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Additionally, the non-voting category is for an artiste or group for the best recording that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence: songwriting, production, and rendition.

TEMS ‘BURNING’
SEYI VIBEZ ‘DIFFERENT PATTERN’
BURNA BOY ‘HIGHER’
AYRA STARR & GIVEON ‘LAST HEARTBREAK SONG’
SARZ FT. LOJAY ‘BILLIONS’

BEST R&B SINGLE

A category for the best R&B single by a single individual or group.

QING MADI – ‘VISION’
JOHNNY DRILLE – ‘FOR YOU’
SIMI – ‘STRANGER’
TEMS – ‘BURNING’
AYRA STARR – ‘LAST HEARTBREAK SONG FT. GIVEON’

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

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

SARZ – HAPPINESS
LONDON – OZEBA
MAGICSTICK – BASQUIAT
REMA/PRODUCER X/CUBEATZ/DEATZ/KILMBERBOY – HEHEHE
DIBS – DIFFERENT PATTERN

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the writer of a song. It must meet the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, and rendition) in the review year.

SIMISOLA KOSOKO – STRANGER (SIMI)

CHIMAMANDA PEARL CHUKWUMA – VISION (QING MADI)

MICHAEL AJUMA ATTAH – CAN’T BREATHE (LLONA)

EMOSEH KHAMOFU – FAMILY MEETING (BLOODY CIVILIAN)

FUAYEFIKA MAXWELL – STAGES OF LIFE (WIZARD CHAN)

BEST RAP SINGLE

A voting category for a single (released on-air and streaming platforms) recording of a rap song.

CAST FEAT ODUMODUBLVCK – ‘SHALLIPOPPI’

ODUMODUBLVCK FEAT BLOODY CIVILIAN & WALE ‘BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR’

LADIPOE, ROZZZ & MORRELO ‘HALLELUJAH’

MAGNITO ‘CANADA’

IJE NWOKE – ‘JERIQ’

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

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

AYRA STARR – ‘LAST HEARTBREAK SONG’
NINIOLA – ‘LEVEL’
SIMI – ‘STRANGER’
LIYA – ‘I’M DONE’
YEMI ALADE ‘TOMORROW’

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

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

LOJAY – ‘BILLIONS’
OMAH LAY – ‘MOVING’
ANENDLESSOCEAN – ‘GRATITUDE’
JOHNNY DRILLE – ‘FOR YOU’
TIMI DAKOLO – ‘KE NA KE SO’

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

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.

CHARM – REMA (REMA X PERLIKS X FOLARIN OLUDARE)
METAVERSE – OLAMIDE (JYDE AJALA)
LIKE ICE SPICE – BLAQBONEZ (PERLIKS & EMEKA SHINE SHINE)
OJAPIANO – KCEE (MATTMAX)
EGWU – CHIKE & MOHBAD (DIRECTOR PINK)
SHOWA – KIZZ DANIEL (TG OMORI)
NA MONEY – DAVIDO FT. CAVEMEN, ANGELIQUE KIDJO (DAMMY TWITCH)

BEST COLLABORATION

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

EMOTIONS – TIWA SAVAGE FEAT. ASA
BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR ODUMODUBLVCK, BLOODY CIVILIAN, AND WALE CAST – SHALLIPOPI FT ODUMODUBLVCK
EGWU – CHIKE AND MOHBAD
OLE – QING MADI AND BNXN
TWE TWE REMIX – KIZZ DANIEL AND DAVIDO
IDK – WIZKID FT. ZLATAN

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

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

SEYI VIBEZ – ‘DIFFERENT PATTERNS’
AYO MAFF – DEALER (FT. FIREBOY DL)
SHALLIPOPI – CAST (FT. ODUMODUBLVCK)
ZHUS JDO – JOHNBULL
MOHBAD – ASK ABOUT ME

AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR

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

BIG BIG THINGS – YOUNG JONN FT. KIZZ DANIEL AND SEYI VIBEZ
TWE TWE REMIX – KIZZ DANIEL
EGWU FEAT. MOHBAD – CHIKE
REMEMBER – ASAKE
OGECHI REMIX – HYCE, BOYPEE, AND BROWN JOEL FT. DAVIDO
BIG BALLER – FLAVOR

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.

MOGADISHU – A-Q
CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – M.I ABAGA
CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – BLAQBONEZ
HALLELUJAH – LADIPOE
EFELEME – ALPHA OJINI

BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE

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

GRATITUDE – ANENDLESSOCEAN
WORTHY OF MY PRAISE – DUNSIN OYEKAN FT. LAWRENCE OYOR
GOOD GOD 2 – LIMOBLAZE FT. NAOMI RAINE
PARTICULARLY – GAISE BABA FT. TOPE ALABI
YOU DO THIS ONE – MERCY CHINWO

BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

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

BLACK SHERIF (GHANA) – JANUARY 9TH
KING PROMISE (GHANA) – TERMINATOR
HIMRA (IVORY COAST) – COULIBALY & DIABATÉ
JOSEY (IVORY COAST) – VENEZ BOUGER
TOOFAN (TOGO) – TONE

BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

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

BIEN (KENYA) – WAHALA
DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA) – MAPOZ
JUMA JUX (TANZANIA) – ENJOY
BRUCE MELODIE (RWANDA) – WHEN SHE’S AROUND
AZAWI (UGANDA) – MASAVU

BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

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

MOHAMED RAMADAN (EGYPT) – ARABI
ELGRANDE TOTO (MOROCCO) – MAGHRIBI
SOOLKING (ALGERIA) – TIKI TAKA
BALTI (TUNISIA) – DIMA MECHI
ABU (EYGPT) – HOLLELA

BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

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

TITOM (SOUTH AFRICA) -TSHWALA BAM
YUPPE (SOUTH AFRICA) – TSHWALA BAM
TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA) – WATER
KELLY KAY (MALAWI) – BANA PWANYA
PLUTONIO (MOZAMBIQUE) – ACORDAR
ZEE NXUMALO (SOUTH AFRICA) – THULA MABOTA

BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

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

INNOSS’B (DRC) – SETE
GAZ MAWETE (DRC) – DENDISA
EMMA’A (GABON) – BISO MIBALE
EBOLOKO (GABON) – SATANANA
SINGUILA. (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC) – SIN SAISON
KOCEE (CAMEROUN) – CREDIT ALERT

BEST RAP ALBUM

A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in the year under review.

SIDEH KAI – ILLBLISS
EZIOKWU – ODUMODUBLVCK
ALAYE TOH SE GOGO VOL. 1 – REMINISCE
FAMILY TIME – ERIGGA
SHINY OBJECT SYNDROME – MODENINE

SOUNDTRACK OF THE YEAR

This is a non-voting category for a song written and composed originally for use in a motion picture or series.

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)

SONG OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

SHOWA – KIZZ DANIEL
COMMAS – AYRA STARR
EGWU – CHIKE AND MOHBAD
LONELY AT THE TOP – ASAKE
OZEBA – REMA
BIG BALLER – FLAVOUR

NEXT RATED

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

QING MADI
SHALLIPOPI
ODUMODUBLVCK
AYO MAFF
NASBOI

AFROBEATS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

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

STUBBORN – VICTONY
WORK OF ART – ASAKE
THE YEAR I TURN 21 – AYRA STARR
HEIS – REMA
JIGGY FOREVER – YOUNG JONN

BEST PERFORMER (LIVE)

A non-voting category for the artist with the most outstanding live performance in front of an audience by singing, or playing a musical instrument. The live performance must have been recorded and officially released in video format – streaming, TV, and physical media.

REMA – RAVAGE UPRISING: REMA LIVE FROM THE O2, LONDON
OMAH LAY – LIVE AT L’OLYMPIA PARIS
FLAVOUR – CELEBRATING YOU 2023
WIZARD CHAN – LIVE IN CONCERT PORT HARCOURT
BURNA BOY – AFRICAN GIANT LIVE FROM LONDON
FEMI KUTI & THE POSITIVE FORCE – NUITS DE FOURVIÈRE (ARTE CONCERT)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.

KINGSLEY CHINWEIKE OKONKWO a.k.a KCEE

DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

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

AYRA STARR
REMA
SHALLIPOPI
TEMS
DAVIDO
KIZZ DANIEL
ASAKE

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in the year under review that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition, and impact).

BORN IN THE WILD – TEMS
HEIS – REMA
THE YEAR I TURNED 21 – AYRA STARR
STUBBORN – VICTONY
WORK OF ART – ASAKE

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

This category is a voting category for the most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review.

DAVIDO
AYRA STARR
ASAKE
REMA
TEMS
BURNA BOY

#10

HEADIES’ VIEWERS’ CHOICE
A voting category to award the fans’ favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.
BIG BIG THINGS FT. KIZZ DANIEL AND SEYI VIBEZ – YOUNG JONN
OGECHI REMIX FT. DAVIDO – HYCE, BOYPEE, AND BROWN JOEL
EGWU – CHIKE & MOHBAD
SHOWA – KIZZ DANIEL
DIFFERENT PATTERN – SEYI VIBEZ
OZEBA – REMA
LOVE ME JEJE – TEMS
CAST FT. ODUMODUBLVCK – SHALLIPOPI
DEALER FT. FIREBOY DML – AYO MAFF
BIG BALLER – FLAVOUR
The Headies Awards is an unparalleled platform known for acknowledging the boundless talents of the African continent and abroad. Nominees hail from South, East, Central, North, and West Africa, as well as America and the United Kingdom.
It will be live-streamed on YouTube (U.S.) and Hip TV (Africa), among other platforms. For more information about the headies, visit TheHeadies.com.