Davido, Tems, Rema, and Zerry DL were among the standout artists at the 17th edition of the Headies Awards, which took place in Lagos on Sunday.
Nigeria’s premier music awards show returned to the country after being held in Atlanta, USA, for the past two years.
This event is the first of two Headies ceremonies scheduled for 2025, with the 18th edition planned for December to make up for the event’s absence in 2024.
The highly anticipated night celebrated musical talent from Nigeria and across Africa in 31 different categories.
Rema won the Afrobeats Album of the Year award for his project “HEIS,” while Tems received the Best Recording of the Year honor for her soulful track “Burning.”
Davido was recognized as the Digital Artiste of the Year, further cementing his influence in the digital music sphere. Zerry DL, the brother of rising star Shallipopi, was named Rookie of the Year, marking a significant achievement in his growing career.
A major highlight was Odumodublvck winning the coveted Next Rated Artist award, beating out strong contenders like Shallipopi, Qing Madi, and Ayo Maff.
Returning to Nigeria, the 17th Headies Awards featured 31 competitive categories, including Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Recording of the Year, along with several special awards.
The star-studded event was attended by key figures from the entertainment and political worlds, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was honoured with a prestigious Special Recognition Award for his contributions to the music and creative industries. Other Special Recognition recipients were Alex Okosi and Amaju Pinnick.
This edition of the Headies also introduced two new categories: “Soundtrack of the Year” and “Best Performer (Live),” expanding the range of honors for artistic contributions to the industry.
Filmmaker Funke Akindele’s successful 2023 movie, “A Tribe Called Judah,” won the inaugural “Soundtrack of the Year” award.
The award ceremony was also attended by numerous high-profile guests, including Tanzanian singer Juma Jux and his wife Priscilla, actress Nancy Isime, Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan (BamBam), Cubana Chief Priest, Big Brother Naija 2021 winner White Money, and many more.
Other notable attendees included Mavins Records’ boss Don Jazzy and Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso.
Themed “Back to Base” and “Apologetically African,” the edition celebrated achievements in African music within the eligibility period of April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024.
Full List of Winners:
Rookie of the Year
(WINNER: Zerry DL)
– Taves
– Kaestyle
– Llona
Best Recording of the Year
(WINNER: “Burning” – Tems)
– “Different Patterns” – Seyi Vibez
– “Higher” – Burna Boy
– “Last Heartbreak Song” – Ayra Starr and Giveon
– “Billions” – Sarz and Lojay
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
(WINNER: “Billions” – Lojay)
– “Moving” – Omah Lay
– “Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
– “For You” – Johnny Drille
– “Ke Na Ke So” – Timi Dakolo
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
(WINNER: “I’m Done” – Liya)
– “Last Heartbreak Song” – Ayra Starr
– “Level” – Niniola
– “Stranger” – Simi
– “Tomorrow” – Yemi Alade
Next Rated
(WINNER: Odumodublvck)
– Qing Madi
– Shallipopi
– Ayo Maff
Song of the Year
(WINNER: “Lonely at the Top” – Asake)
– “Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
– “OZEBA” – Rema
– “Showa” – Kizz Daniel
– “Commas” – Ayra Starr
Afrobeats Single of the Year
(WINNER: “Big Baller” – Flavour)
– “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)
Producer of the Year
(WINNER: “OZEBA” – London)
– “Happiness” – Sarz
– “Basquiat” – Magicsticks
– “HEHEHE” – Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz and Klimperboy
– “Different Patterns” – Dibs
Afrobeats Album of the Year
(WINNER: HEIS – Rema)
– 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)
– “Charm” – Rema (directed by Perliks and Folarin Oludare)
– “Metaverse” – Jyde Ajala
– “Like Ice Spice” – Perliks and Emeka Shine Shine
– “Ojapiano” – Mattmax
– “Showa” – TG Omori
– “Na Money” – Dammy Twitch
Soundtrack of the Year
(WINNER: “Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack” – TCJ and Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack))
– “Eledumare” – Teledalase (Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre)
– “Lose to Gain” – Kaline (Breath of Life)
– “Kill Boro” – Native Filmworks and Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)
– “Orisa” – Beriola (Orisa)
– “Emotions” – Tiwa Savage and 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))
– “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)
– “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)
Best Rap Single
(WINNER: “Cast” – Shallipopi and Odumodublvck)
– “Blood on the Dance Floor” – Bloody Civilian, Wale, and Odumodublvck
– “Hallelujah” – Ladipoe, Rozzz, and Morello
– “Canada” – Magnito
– “Ije Nwoke” – Jeriq
Best Street-Hop Artiste
(WINNER: Mohbad – “Ask About Me”)
– Zhus Jdo – “Johnbull”
– Seyi Vibez – “Different Patterns”
– Ayo Maff – “Dealer” (feat. Fireboy DML)
– Shallipopi – “Cast” (feat. Odumodublvck)
Digital Artiste of the Year
(WINNER: Davido)
– Ayra Starr
– Rema
– Shallipopi
– Tems
– Kizz Daniel
– Asake
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
(WINNER: Innoss’B (DRC))
– 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))
– Bien (Kenya)
– Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
– Bruce Melody (Rwanda)
– Azawi (Uganda)
Special Recognition
– KCee
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