Africa plus magazine

The 17th Headies Awards returned to Lagos on April 5, marking a vibrant celebration of African music. The event featured electrifying performances from top artists like Rema, Ayra Starr, and Burna Boy, captivating audiences both in-person and via live streams on YouTube and Hip TV. The ceremony also paid tribute to the late Mohbad, whose posthumous nominations underscored his enduring impact on the Nigerian music scene. 

The red carpet was graced by a constellation of stars, including Tems, Kizz Daniel, and Shallipopi, adding glamour to the night. The awards ceremony was the culmination of the Headies Festival, a week-long series of events celebrating Afrobeats and hip-hop, which included the Headies Stakeholder Brunch and the Afrobeats Conference. 

In the awards segment, Odumodublvck led with eight nominations, while Rema and Ayra Starr each secured seven. Tems, Shallipopi, and Kizz Daniel followed closely with six nominations each.  The late Mohbad received three posthumous nominations, including Best Collaboration for “Egwu” with Chike and Best Street-Hop Artiste for “Ask About Me.”  The event also introduced new categories like Soundtrack of the Year and Best Performer (Live), reflecting the evolving landscape of the music industry. 

Below is the full list of winners:

Rookie of the Year

• Zerry DL — Winner
• Taves
• Kaestyle
• Llona

Soundtrack of the Year

• “Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack” – TCJ and Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack)— Winner
• “Eledumare” – Teledalase (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
• “Lose to Gain” – Kaline (Breathe of Life)
• “Kill Boro” – Native Filmworks and Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)
• “Orisa” – Beriola (Orisa)
• “Emotions” – Tiwa Savage and Asa (Water and Garri)

Best Recording of the Year

• “Burning” – Tems — Winner
• “Different Patterns” – Seyi Vibez
• “Higher” – Burna Boy
• “Last Heartbreak Song” – Ayra Starr and Giveon
• “Billions” – Sarz and Lojay

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

• “Billions” – Lojay — Winner
• “Moving” – Omah Lay
• “Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
• “For You” – Johnny Drille
• “Ke Na Ke So” – Timi Dakolo

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

• “I’m Done” – Liya — Winner
• “Last Song Heartbreak” – Ayra Starr
• “Level” – Niniola
• “Stranger” – Simi
• “Tomorrow” – Yemi Alade

Special Recognition Award Recipients

• Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos
• Alex Okosi
• Amaju Pinnick

Songwriter of the Year

• “Vision” – Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi) — Winner
• “Stranger” – Simisola Kosoko (Simi)
• “Can’t Breathe” – Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona)
• “Family Meeting” – Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian)
• “Stages of Life” – Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan)

Humanitarian Award Recipients

• Temitola Adekunle Johnson
• Michelle Mukoro (King Mitchy)

Producer of the Year

• “OZEBA” – London — Winner
• “Happiness” – Sarz
• “Basquiat” – Magicsticks
• “HEHEHE” – Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz and Klimperboy
• “Different Patterns” – Dibs

Afrobeats Album of the Year

• HEIS – Rema — Winner
• Stubborn – Victony
• Work of Art – Asake
• The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
• Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn

Music Video of the Year

• “EGWU” – Director Pink — Winner
• “Charm” – Rema, Perliks and Folarin Oludare
• “Metaverse” – Jyde Ajala
• “Like Ice Spice” – Perliks and Emeka Shine Shine
• “Ojapiano” – Mattmax
• “Showa” – TG Omori
• “Na Money” – Dammy Twitch

Afrobeats Single of the Year

• “Big Baller” – Flavour — Winner
• “Big Big Things” – Young Jonn (feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
• “Twe Twe Remix” – Kizz Daniel
• “Egwu” – Chike (feat. Mohbad)
• “Remember” – Asake
• “Ogechi Remix” – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (feat. Davido)

Headies’ Viewers’ Choice

• “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad — Winner
• “Big Baller” – Flavour
• “Big Big Things” – Young Jonn (feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
• “Ogechi Remix” – Hyce, Boypee, and 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)

Headies Next Rated

• Odumodublvck — Winner
• Qing Madi
• Shallipopi
• Ayo Maff
• Nasboi

Best Digital Artiste of the Year

• Davido — Winner
• Ayra Starr
• Rema
• Shallipopi
• Tems
• Kizz Daniel
• Asake

Best East African Artiste of the Year

• Juma Jux (Tanzania) — Winner
• Bien (Kenya)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
• Azawi (Uganda)