It’s the biggest Afrobeats award again! The Headies Academy has unveiled the nominations for its most anticipated 17th edition, and it's shaping up to be a battle of the titans! After two, somewhat controversial, editions in the United States, the prestigious awards are returning home to Nigeria, promising a spectacular celebration of the very best in Afrobeats.
While it is not without criticisms again, it seems like some serious competition, as the hottest hits and most critically acclaimed albums and singles from 2023 to 2024 have landed nominations across a multitude of categories.
The Headies have confirmed that only music released and distributed on digital streaming platforms and physical formats (think cassettes, CDs, and vinyl) between April 1st, 2023 and July 31st, 2024, made the cut.
Also, we're expecting a double dose of Headies excitement coming our way in 2025. The postponed 17th edition will finally take center stage on April 5th and just a few months later, the 18th edition will light up the year-end festivities in December.
So, whether you're passionately championing your favourite artist or simply eager to explore the nominees who are shaping the sound of Afrobeats, here's the full nomination list below:
Rookie of the Year
Zerry DL
taves
Kaestyle
Llona
Next Rated
Qing Madi
Shallipopi
OdumoduBlvck
Ayo Maff
Nasboi
Best Recording of the Year
“Burning” — Tems
“Different Patterns” — Seyi Vibez
“Higher” — Burna Boy
“Last Heartbreak Song” — Ayra Starr & Giveon
“Billions” — Sarz featuring Lojay
Producer of the Year
“Happiness” — Sarz
“OZEBA” — London
“Basquiat” — Magicsticks
“HEHEHE” — Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz and Klimperboy
“Different Patterns” — Dibs
Songwriter of the Year
“Stranger” — Simisola Kosoko (Simi)
“Vision” — Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi)
“Can’t Breathe” — Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona)
“Family Meeting” — Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian)
“Stages of Life” — Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan)
Best R&B Single
“Vision” — Qing Madi
“For You” — Johnny Drille
“Stranger” — Simi
“Burning” — Tems
“Last Heartbreak Song” — Ayra Starr featuring Giveon
Best Rap Single
“Cast” — Shallipopi featuring OdumoduBlvck
“Blood On the Dance Floor” — OdumoduBlvck featuring Bloody Civilian and Wale
“Hallelujah” — Ladipoe featuring Rozzz and Morello
“Canada” — Magnito
“Ije Nwoke” — Jeriq
Best Rap Album
Sideh Kai – Illbliss
Eziokwu – ODUMODUBLVCK
Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 – Reminisce
Family Time – Erigga
Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine
Lyricist on the Roll
“Efeleme” – Alpha Ojini
“Mogadishu” – A-Q
“Chocolate City Cypher” – M.I Abaga
“Chocolate City Cypher” – Blaqbonez
“Hallelujah” – Ladipoe
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
“Last Song Heartbreak” — Ayra Starr
“Level” — Niniola
“Stranger” — Simi
“I’m Done” — Liya
“Tomorrow” — Yemi Alade
Music Video of the Year
“Charm” – Rema, Perliks and Folarin Oludare
“Metaverse” — Jyde Ajala
“Like Ice Spice” — Perliks and Emeka Shine Shine
“Ojapiano” — Mattmax
“EGWU” — Director Pink
“Showa” — TG Omori
“Na Money” — Dammy Twitch
Best Collaboration
“Emotions” — Tiwa Savage featuring Asa
“Blood On the Dance Floor” — OdumoduBlvck featuring Bloody Civilian & Wale
“Cast” — Shallipopi featuring OdumoduBlvck
“Egwu” — Chike featuring Mohbad
“Ole” — Qing Madi featuring BNXM
“Twe Twe (Remix)” — Kizz Daniel featuring Davido
“IDK” — Wizkid featuring Zlatan
Best Street-Hop Artiste
“Different Patterns” – Seyi Vibez
“Dealer” – Ayo Maff (ft. Fireboy DML)
“Cast” – Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)
“Johnbull” – Zhus Jdo
“Ask About Me” – Mohbad
Afrobeats Single of the Year
“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)
“Big Baller” – Flavour
Best Inspirational Single
“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
Song of the Year
“Showa”– Kizz Daniel
“Commas”– Ayra Starr
“Egwu” –Chike and Mohbad
“Lonely At The Top” – Asake
“Ozeba” – Rema
“Big Baller” – Flavour
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice
“Big Baller” – Flavour
“Big Big Things” – Young Jonn (ft. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
“Ogechi Remix” – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (ft. Davido)
“Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad
“Showa” – Kizz Daniel
“Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez
“OZEBA” – Rema
“Love Me Jeje” – Tems
“Cast” – Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)
“Dealer” – Ayo Maff (ft. Fireboy DML)
Best West African Artiste of the Year
Black Sherif (Ghana)
King Promise (Ghana)
Himra (Ivory Coast)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Toofan (Togo)
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 East African Artiste of the Year
Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Juma Jux (Tanzania)
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Azawi (Uganda)
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 North African Artiste of the Year
Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
Elgrande Toto (Morocco)
Soolking (Algeria)
Balti (Tunisia)
Abu (Egypt)
Digital Artiste of the Year
Ayra Starr
Rema
Shallipopi
Tems
Davido
Kizz Daniel
Asake
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)
Afrobeats Album of the Year
Stubborn – Victony
Work of Art – Asake
The Year I Turned 21 - Ayra Starr
HEIS – Rema
Jiggy Forever - Young Jonn
Posted by Abdulazeez A Shomade | Published on 2025-02-13 02:05:50