The annual Headies Awards event is finally returning to Lagos, Nigeria, after being held in Atlanta for two years.
This will mark the return of the Headies Awards to Africa after holding its last two ceremonies in Atlanta.
This pan-African music award celebrates the greatest in Afrobeats, Afropop, African music, and more, featuring sounds from South, East, Central, North, and West Africa.
It was established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria; it was originally called the Hip Hop World Awards to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.
The Headies Awards is set for April 5 in Lagos, Nigeria, and will be live-streamed on YouTube (U.S.) and Hip TV (Nigeria).
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The 17th annual awards ceremony has announced its nominees, and this year Davido, Ayra Starr, Asake, Rema, Tems, and Burna Boy are among the nominees competing for the coveted Artist of the Year title.
However, Odumodublvck is the top nominee with eight total, followed by Rema and Ayra Starr, each of whom received seven. Tems, Shallipopi, and Kizz Daniel all have six.
The 2025 Headies Awards has a whole event scheduled for the week, including the Headies Stakeholder Brunch, the Official Nominees Party, the U.S. Consulate Reception, and the Afrobeats Conference.
For the full list of nominees for the 2025 Headies Awards, take a look below.
Artist of the Year
Davido
Ayra Starr
Asake
Rema
Tems
Burna Boy
Song of the Year
“Showa”—Kizz Daniel
“Commas”—Ayra Starr
Egwu”—Chike and Mohbad
“Lonely at the Top” – Asake
“Ozeba”—Rema
“Big Baller” – Flavour
Album of the Year
Born in the Wild—Tems
Heis—Rema
The Year I Turned 21—Ayra Starr
Stubborn—Victony
Work of Art—Asake
Rookie of the Year
Zerry Dl
Taves
Kaestyle
Llona
“Tems—“Burning”
Seyi “Vibez—“Different Pattern”
Burna “Boy—“Higher”
Ayra Starr & Giveon—“Last Heartbreak Song”
Sarz featuring “Lojay—“Billions”
Best Vocal Performance (female)
Ayra Starr—“Last Heartbreak Song”
Niniola—“Level”
Simi—“Stranger”
Liya—“I’m Done.”
Yemi Alade-“Tomorrow”
Best Vocal Performance (male)
Lojay—“Billions
Omah Lay—“Moving”
Anendlessocean —“Gratitude”
Johnny Drille—“For you”
Timi Dakolo – “Ke Na Ke So”
Best collaboration
“Emotions”—Tiwa”avage Feat. Asa
“Blood on the Dance Floor”
Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian, and Wale
“Cast”—Shallipopieat. Odumodublvck
“Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
“Ole” – Qing Madi and Bnxn
“Twe Twe” Remix – Kizz Daniel and Davido
“IDK” – Wizkid feat. Zlatan
International Artist of the Year
Wale – “Blood on the Dance Floor” (Odumodublvck)
Skepta – “Tony Montana” (feat. Portable)
Chris Brown – “Hmmm” (feat. Davido)
Travis Scott – “Active” (Asake)
Chloe Bailey – “Vision” remix (Qing Madi)
Music Video of the Year
“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 feat. Cavemen, Angelique Kidjo (Dammy Twitch)
Efeleme – Alpha Ojini
Best Inspirational Single
“Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
“Worthy of My Praise” – Dunsin Oyekan feat. Lawrence Oyor
“Good God 2” – Limoblaze feat. Naomi Raine
“Particularly” – Gaise Baba feat. Tope Alabi
“You Do This One” – Mercy Chinwo
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice
“Big Big Things” feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez – Young Jonn
“Ogechi” remix feat. Davido – Hyce, Boypee, And Brown Joel
“Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad
“Showa” – Kizz Daniel
“Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez
“Ozeba” – Rema
“Love Me Jeje” – Tems
“Cast” feat. OdOdumodublvck—Shallipopi
“Dealer” feat. Fireboy Dml – Ayo Maff
“Big Baller” – Flavour
Best West African Artist of the Year
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 Artist of the Year
Bien (Kenya) – “Wahala”
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – “Mapoz”
Juma Jux (Tanzania) – “Enjoy”
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – “When She’s Around”
Azawi (Uganda) – “Masavu”
Best North African Artist of the Year
Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt) – “Arabi”
Elgrande Toto (Morocco) – “Maghribi”
Soolking (Algeria) – “Tiki Taka”
Balti (Tunisia) – “Dima Mechi”
Abu (Egypt) – “Hollela”
Best Southern African Artist of the Year
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 Artist of the Year
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
Sideh Kai – Illbliss
Eziokwu – Odumodublvck
Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 – Reminisce
Family Time – Erigga
Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine
Soundtrack of the year
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)
Next rated
Qing Madi
Shallipopi
Odumodublvck
Ayo Maff
Nasboi
Afrobeats album of the year
Stubborn – Victony
Work of Art – Asake
The Year I Turn 21 – Ayra Starr
Heis – Rema
Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn
Best performer (live)
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)
Digital Artist of the Year
Ayra Starr
Rema
Shallipopi
Tems
Davido
Kizz Daniel
Asake
Special recognition
Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo, a.k.a. Kcee
