• The 17th edition of the Headies Awards, Nigeria’s biggest music award event, was held on Sunday in Lagos to celebrate African musicians. There were performances from rising acts like Qing Madi and Shallipopi. Davido took home the Digital Artiste of the Year award. Tems won Best Recording of the Year, and LoJay snagged the Best Vocal Performance (Male) award.

    The event stretched into 3 am on Monday morning, leading to some awards not being announced.

    However, this is the complete list of the winners of the 17th Headies Awards that have been announced.

    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

    Artiste of the Year

    Davido — Winner

    Ayra Starr
    Asake
    Tems
    Rema
    Burna Boy

    Next Rated Award

    Odumodublvck  — Winner

    Qing Madi
    Shallipopi
    Ayo Maff
    Nasboi

    Rookie of the Year

    Zerry DL — Winner

    taves 
    Kaestyle
    Llona

    Album of the Year

    HEIS – Rema — Winner

    Stubborn – Victony
    Work of Art – Asake
    The Year I turned 21 – Ayra Starr
    Born In the Wild – Tems

    Song of the Year

    “Lonely At The Top – Asake  — Winner

    “Showa” – Kizz Daniel
    “Commas” – Ayra Starr
    “Egwu” – Chike ft. Mohbad
    “Ozeba” – Rema
    “Big Baller” – Flavour

    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)

    Best Collaboration

    “Egwu” – Chike (ft. Mohbad)  — Winner

    “Emotions” – Tiwa Savage (ft. Asa)
    “Blood On the Dance Floor” – OdumoduBlvck (ft. Bloody Civilian and Wale)
    “Cast” – Shallipopi (ft. OdumoduBlvck)
    “Ole” – Qing Madi (ft. BNXN)
    “Twe Twe (Remix)” – Kizz Daniel (ft. Davido)
    “IDK” – Wizkid (ft. Zlatan)

    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

    International Artiste of the Year

    Travis Scott – “Active” (Asake) — Winner

    Wale – “Blood On The dance Floor” (OdumoduBlvck)
    Skepta – “Tony Montana” (ft. Portable)
    Chris Brown – “Hmm” (ft. Davido)
    Chloe Bailey – “Vision (Remix)” (Qing Madi)

    Best Street-hop Artiste

    “Ask About Me” – Mohbad — Winner

    “Different Patterns” – Seyi Vibez
    “Dealer” – Ayo Maff (ft. Fireboy DML)
    “Cast” – Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)
    “Johnbull” – Zhus Jdo

    Afrobeats Single of the Year

    “Big Baller” – Flavour — Winner

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

    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

    Best Rap Single

    “Cast” – Shallipopi (ft. OdumoduBlvck) — Winner

    “Blood On the Dance Floor” – OdumoduBlvck (ft. Bloody Civilian and Wale)
    “Hallelujah” – Ladipoe (ft. Rozzz and Morello)
    “Canada” – Magnito
    “Ije Nwoke” – Jeriq

    Best Rap Album

    Family Time – Erigga — Winner

    Sideh Kai – iLLBliss
    Eziokwu – OdumoduBlvck
    Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 – Reminisce
    Shine Object Syndrome – Modenine

    Producer of the Year

    “OZEBA” – London  — Winner

    “Happiness” – Sarz
    “Basquiat” – Magicsticks 
    “HEHEHE” – Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz and Klimperboy
    “Different Patterns” – Dibs

    Digital Artiste of the Year

    Davido — Winner

    Ayra Starr
    Shallipopi
    Rema
    Tems
    Kizz Daniel
    Asake

    Best Performer (LIVE)

    Burna Boy — Winner

    Rema
    Omah Lay
    Flavour
    Wizard Chan
    Femi Kuti & The Positive Force

    Viewers’ Choice

    “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad — Winner

    “Big Baller” – Flavour
    “Big Big Things” – Young Jonn (ft. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
    “Ogechi Remix” – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (ft. Davido)
    “Showa” – Kizz Daniel
    “Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez
    “OZEBA” – Rema
    “Love Me Jeje” – Tems
    “Cast” – Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)
    “Dealer” – Ayo Maff (ft. Fireboy DML)

    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 Inspirational Single

    “You Do This One” – Mercy Chinwo — Winner

    “Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
    “Worthy of My Praise” – Dunsin Oyekan ft. Lawrence Oyor
    “Good God” – Limoblaze ft. Naomi Raine
    “Particularly” – 2Gaise Baba ft. Tope Alabi

    Best Southern African Artiste of the Year

    TitoM (South Africa) — Winner

    Yuppe (South Africa)
    Tyla (South Africa)
    Kelly Kay (Malawi)
    Plutonio (Mozambique)
    Zee Nxumalo (South Africa)

    Best North African Artiste of the Year

    Soolking (Algeria) — Winner

    Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
    ElGrandeToto (Morocco)
    Balti (Tunisia)
    Abu (Egypt)

    Best East African Artiste of the Year

    Juma Jux (Tanzania) — Winner

    Bien (Kenya)
    Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
    Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
    Azawi (Uganda)

    Best West African Artiste of the Year

    Himra (Ivory Coast) — Winner

    Black Sherif (Ghana)
    King Promise (Ghana)
    Josey (Ivory Coast)
    Toofan (Togo)

    Best Central African Artiste of the Year

    Innoss’B (DRC) — Winner

    Gaz Mawete (DRC)
    Emma’ a (Gabon)
    Eboloko (Gabon)
    Singuila (Central African Republic)
    Kocee (Cameroon)

    Special Recognition Award Recipients

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

    Humanitarian Award Recipients

    Temitola Adekunle Johnson
    Michelle Mukoro (King Mitchy)

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  • The 17th edition of the Headies Awards, Nigeria’s biggest music award event, will be held in Lagos on Sunday, April 27. The event will bring together music industry insiders to celebrate the best of Nigerian music.

    As we anticipate who will snag what award on Sunday, we asked 10 Nigerian music industry insiders, including record label executives, music journalists, and Afrobeats nerds, what their Headies predictions for some of the top categories are.

    Here’s what they had to say:

    Rookie of the Year

    Tomide Marv (Culture Writer, Zikoko)
    Predicted Winner: Llona

    Why: In the three years since Llona rebranded from TooClassiq, he has released a viral hit, a widely acclaimed debut album, built a cult following, and held a successful first headline concert. Less than a year after his Homeless album, he secured a feature with America’s Fridayy. He has had the most successful year and career so far out of everyone on the list.

    Nominees 
    Zerry DL 
    taves 
    Kaestyle
    Llona

    Next Rated

    Motolani Alake (Label & Marketing Manager/A&R Coordinator, Africa, Virgin Music)
    Predicted Winner: OdumoduBlvck

    Why: Dominance in all forms: multiple hits, a great album, a brand, and overseas relevance during the year in review.

    Nominees: 
    Qing Madi
    Shallipopi
    OdumoduBlvck
    Ayo Maff
    Nasboi

    Artiste of the Year

    Wale Oloworekende (Editor, Native Magazine)
    Predicted Winner: Rema

    Why: I think Rema was the most transformative act of 2024. His album, HEIS, showed that artists could break away with a distinctive sound and still be diverse. He was coming off the high and global success of “Calm Down,” and he could have easily played it safe, but instead, he took a different route. It would be well deserved.

    Nominees
    Davido
    Ayra Starr
    Asake
    Rema
    Tems

    Best Recording of the Year

    Jide Taiwo (Author of E File Fun Burna: The Incredible Stagecraft of Burna Boy)
    Predicted Winner: “Burning” by Tems

    Why: My first instinct is Tems — she’s on a legendary path. She’s blazing trails, so she’s the first person that comes to mind. But I also think we need a new kind of pop star. Tems doesn’t move like a pop star; she’s soulful, introspective. What we need is a pop star in the making of Beyoncé, and to me, that’s Ayra Starr.

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


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    ALSO READ: 17th Headies Awards: The Complete List of Nominees


    Producer of the Year

    Ibukun Ademoye (A&R Executive and Talent Manager)
    Predicted Winner: “Happiness” – Sarz

    Why: He has proven his longevity and versatility with “Happiness.” It is genre bending, and the fusion of sounds to appeal to markets across continents and cultures makes it versatile.

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

    Song of the Year 

    Steve Dede (Co-host, LooseTalk Podcast)
    Predicted Winner: “Ozeba” by Rema

    Why: It was a unifier — a Street-Hop/Mara song by a global superstar with fans around the world and across every demographic of Nigerian music listeners. From alté to diaspora to Ibile, everyone vibed to it.

    Nominees:
    “Commas” – Ayra Starr
    “Big Baller” – Flavour
    “Lonely At The Top” – Asake
    “OZEBA” – Rema
    “EGWU” – Chike (ft. Mohbad)
    “Showa” – Kizz Daniel

    Best Vocal Performance (Female)

    Melody Hassan (Radio Broadcaster, Max FM and PR/Comms Executive)
    Predicted Winner: “Stranger” by Simi

    Why: My prediction is that Simi’s “Stranger” will take it. This is such a strong category — all the women here are vocally solid. But based on the songs nominated, I’d give it to Simi. Her vocal range, the texture of her voice, and the way she insanely delivered on “Stranger”? Chef’s kiss. She’s that girl vocally, and this performance is a reminder of exactly why.

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

    Best Vocal Performance (Male)

    Abisola Alawode (Multimedia Lead, Big Cabal Media)
    Predicted Winner: “Gratitude” by Anendlessocean

    Why: This is a tough category because all the nominees deserve to win based on their exploits. But I think it’s between AEO, Johnny Drille, Lojay, and Timi Dakolo. Personally, I’d give it to AEO. His song ticks all the boxes for vocal performance, from his voice to the lyrics, the melody, and most importantly, its impact.

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

    Best Street-Hop Artiste

    Adeayo Adebiyi (Music Journalist, Pulse Nigeria)
    Predicted Winner: “Cast” by Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)

    Why: Shallipopi and Odumodublvck’s “Cast” will win because it is the biggest song, it has the most cultural impact and it’s the most popular, ubiquitous street-hop song of 2024.

    Nominees 
    “Different Patterns” – Seyi Vibez
    “Dealer” – Ayo Maff (ft. Fireboy DML)
    “Cast” – Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)
    “Johnbull” – Zhus Jdo
    “Ask About Me” – Mohbad

    Album of the Year

    Joey Akan (Founder/CEO, Afrobeats Intelligence)
    Predicted Winner: HEIS – Rema

    Why: It’s the best album sonically. And it also holds the most significance for the culture. It delivers in the experience department, and knocks the symbolism out of the park.

    Nominees
    Stubborn – Victony
    Work of Art – Asake
    The Year I turned 21 – Ayra Starr
    HEIS – Rema
    Born In the Wild – Tems


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    ALSO READ: The Headies: A History of Highs, Lows and Controversies

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