The Headies Academy has unveiled the nominations list for the 17th edition of the prestigious award, marking a return to Nigeria after two consecutive editions in the United States.
In the highly anticipated Rookie of the Year category, rising stars Taves, Zerrydl, Kaestyle, and Llona have been nominated, vying for the title previously won by rapper OdumoduBlvck at the 16th Headies.
This year’s edition is set to be fiercely competitive, with some of the biggest hits and critically acclaimed albums from 2023 and 2024 receiving multiple nominations.
According to the Headies, only music materials—including singles, videos, live recordings, Eps, and albums—released and distributed on digital streaming platforms or physical formats (cassettes, CDs, and vinyl) within the eligibility period (April 1, 2023 – July 31, 2024) were considered for nomination.
Mohbad, Odumodu Blvck, Ayra Starr Lead 2025 Headies Nomination List:
Here is the full nominations list for the 17th Headies Awards
Felix King
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 – SHALLIPOPI FEAT ODUMODUBLVCK
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 – FLAVOUR
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 – AYO MAFF 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
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)
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
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
LOJAY – BILLIONS
OMAH LAY – MOVING
ANENDLESSOCEAN – GRATITUDE
JOHNNY DRILLE – FOR YOU
TIMI DAKOLO – KE NA KE SO
ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
DAVIDO
AYRA STARR
ASAKE
REMA
TEMS
BURNA BOY
SOUNDTRACK OF THE YEAR
ELEDUMARE (ANIKULAPO: RISE OF THE SPECTRE)
LOSE TO GAIN (KALINE: BREATHE OF LIFE)
KILL BORO (WIZARD CHAN: KILL BORO)
ORISA (BERIOLA: ORISA)
EMOTIONS (TIWA SAVAGE & ASA: WATER & GARRI)
A TRIBE CALLED JUDAH (ABBEY WONDER & TCJ: A TRIBE CALLED JUDAH)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
KINGSLEY KCEE OKONKWO
