The Headies Academy has revealed the nominations list for the 17th edition.
The award which is returning to Nigeria after two editions in the United States is set to a highly competitive one as some of the biggest hits and acclaimed albums released between 2023 and 2024 have been nominated in multiple categories.
According to the Headies, only music materials including singles, videos, video live recordings, EPs & albums released & distributed on digital streaming platforms, & physical music media (cassettes, CDs & vinyl) within the year in review (April 1, 2023, & July 31, 2024) were considered for nomination.
Only music materials including singles, videos, video live recordings, EPs & albums released & distributed on digital streaming platforms, & physical music media (cassettes, CDs & vinyl) within the year in review (April 1, 2023 & July 31,2024) were considered for nomination. pic.twitter.com/VYlG6d99Ci
— IG: the_headies (@The_Headies) February 12, 2025
Rising stars Taves, Zerrydl, Kaestyle, and Llona have been shortlisted for the Rookie of the Year prize. The winner will be taking the baton from rapper OdumoduBlvck who won the award at the 16th Headies.
See the full nominations list below.
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
TEMS – BURNING
SEYI VIBEZ - DIFFERENT PATTERN
BURNA BOY - HIGHER
AYRA STARR & GIVEON - LAST HEARTBREAK SONG
SARZ FEATURING LOJAY - BILLIONS
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
SARZ – HAPPINESS
LONDON – OZEBA
MAGICSTICKS – BASQUIAT
REMA/PRODUCER X/CUBEATZ/DEATZ/KLIMPERBOY – HEHEHE
DIBS - DIFFERENT PATTERN
SONGWRITER OF THE 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 R&B SINGLE
QING MADI – VISION
JOHNNY DRILLE - FOR YOU
SIMI – STRANGER
TEMS – BURNING
AYRA STARR - LAST HEARTBREAK SONG FT. GIVEON
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
LLONA
KAESTYLE
TAVES
ZERRYDL
BEST RAP SINGLE
CAST - ODUMODUBLVCK FEAT SHALLIPOPI
BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR - ODUMODUBLVCK FEAT BLOODY CIVILIAN & WALE –
HALLELUJAH - LADIPOE, ROZZZ & MORRELO
CANADA - MAGNITO
IJE NWOKE - JERIQ
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
AYRA STARR - LAST HEARTBREAK SONG
NINIOLA - LEVEL
SIMI – STRANGER
LIYA – I’M DONE
TOMORROW - YEMI ALADE
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
CHARM - (REMA X PERLIKS X FOLARIN OLUDARE)
METAVERSE - (JYDE AJALA)
LIKE ICE SPICE - (PERLIKS & EMEKA SHINE SHINE)
OJAPIANO - (MATTMAX)
EGWU - (DIRECTOR PINK)
SHOWA - (TG OMORI)
NA MONEY – (DAMMY TWITCH)
BEST COLLABORATION
EMOTIONS - TIWA SAVAGE FEAT. ASA
BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR - ODUMODUBLVCK, BLOODY CIVILIAN, AND WALE
CAST - SHALLIPOPI FT ODUMODUBLVCK
EGWU - CHIKE & MOHBAD
OLE - QING MADI & BNXN
TWE TWE REMIX – KIZZ DANIEL & DAVIDO
IDK – WIZKID FT. ZLATAN
BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE
SEYI VIBEZ – “DIFFERENT PATTERNS”
AYO MAFF – DEALER (FT. FIREBOY DML)
SHALLIPOPI – CAST (FT. ODUMODUBLVCK)
ZHUS JDO – JOHNBULL
MOHBAD – ASK ABOUT ME
AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR
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
MOGADISHU - A-Q
CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER - M.I ABAGA
CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – BLAQBONEZ
HALLELUJAH – LADIPOE
EFELEME - ALPHA OJINI
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE ARE
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
VIEWERS CHOICE AWARDS
BIG BIG THINGS - YOUNG JONN FT. KIZZ DANIEL AND SEYI VIBEZ
OGECHI REMIX - HYCE, BOYPEE, AND BROWN JOEL FT. DAVIDO
EGWU - CHIKE & MOHBAD
OZEBA - REMA
DIFFERENT PATTERN - SEYI VIBEZ
SHOWA - KIZZ DANIEL
LOVE ME JEJE - TEMS
CAST - SHALLIPOPI FT. ODUMODUBLVCK
DEALER - FLAVOUR FT. FIREBOY
BIG BALLER - FLAVOUR
BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
BLACK SHERIF (GHANA)
KING PROMISE (GHANA)
HIMRA (IVORY COAST)
JOSEY (IVORY COAST)
TOOFAN (TOGO)
BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
BIEN (KENYA)
DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA)
JUMA JUX (TANZANIA)
BRUCE MELODIE (RWANDA)
AZAWI (UGANDA)
BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
MOHAMED RAMADAN (EGYPT)
ELGRANDE TOTO (MOROCCO)
SOOLKING (ALGERIA)
BALTI (TUNISIA)
ABU (EYGPT)
BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
TITOM (SOUTH AFRICA)
YUPPE (SOUTH AFRICA)
TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)
KELLY KAY (MALAWI)
PLUTONIO (MOZAMBIQUE)
ZEE NXUMALO (SOUTH AFRICA)
BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
• INNOSS'B (DRC)
• GAZ MAWETE (DRC)
• EMMA’ A (GABON)
• EBOLOKO (GABON)
• SINGUILA. (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC)
• KOCEE (CAMEROON)
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
AFROBEATS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
• STUBBORN – VICTONY
• WORK OF ART – ASAKE
• THE YEAR I TURNED 21 - AYRA STARR
• HEIS – REMA
• JIGGY FOREVER - YOUNG JONN
DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
• AYRA STARR
• REMA
• SHALLIPOPI
• TEMS
• DAVIDO
• KIZZ DANIEL
• ASAKE
BEST PERFORMER (LIVE) ARE
• REMA
• OMAH LAY
• FLAVOUR
• WIZARD CHAN
• BURNA BOY
• FEMI KUTI & 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