The 2025 Headies Awards nominees have just been announced, and the 17th annual event is set to take place this spring in Lagos, Nigeria. This year marks the return of the prestigious awards show to Africa after two years in Atlanta. The event will feature a week-long celebration showcasing the incredible growth of the music industry and the creative talents of artists from all over the continent.
The Headies Awards were first established in 2006 by Nigeria’s Hip Hop World Magazine, originally called the Hip Hop World Awards. It was created to honor excellence in the Nigerian music industry, and over time, it has expanded to include various genres like Afrobeats, Afro pop, and more, representing the diverse sounds of South, East, Central, North, and West Africa.
“We’re thrilled about this year’s Headies,” said Ayo Animashaun, the Executive Producer and Founder of the Headies. “We have an amazing lineup of talented artists who have made a huge impact on their fans and the music scene, and we’re grateful to our partners who helped make this event happen.”
Some big names have earned nominations this year, including Wale, Skepta, Chris Brown, Travis Scott, and Chlöe Bailey, who are all up for International Artist of the Year due to their global collaborations. For Artist of the Year, the competition is fierce with top contenders like Davido, Ayra Starr, Asake, Rema, Tems, and Burna Boy. Of course nobody can forget global trending new artist Tyla, for Best Southern African Artist of the Year.
Odumodublvck leads the pack with eight nominations, while Rema and Ayra Starr each received seven. Tems, Shallipopi, and Kizz Daniel follow with six nominations.
The Headies Awards will be livestreamed on YouTube (U.S.) and Hip TV (Nigeria) on April 5, 2025. Throughout the week leading up to the ceremony, there will also be events like the Headies Stakeholder Brunch, the Official Nominees Party, the U.S. Consulate Reception, and the Afrobeats Conference.
In addition to the main awards, several international artists have been nominated for their collaborations with African musicians. Travis Scott, Wale, and Chris Brown all earned spots for their work with African artists. Wale’s nomination comes from his feature on ODUMODUBLVCK’s track “Blood on the Dance Floor,” while Travis Scott is recognized for his work on Asake’s “Active,” and Chris Brown is nominated for his song “Hmmm,” which features Davido. Chlöe Bailey and Skepta also received nods for their collaborations with Qing Madi and Portable, respectively.
The Headies Awards are sure to be an exciting event, and fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the ceremony on April 5th.
Categories and nominees for the 2025 Headies Awards:
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | Davido, Ayra Starr, Asake, Rema, Tems, Burna Boy |
| Song of the Year | “Showa” – Kizz Daniel, “Commas” – Ayra Starr, “Egwu” – Chike & 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 |
| Best Recording of the Year | Tems – “Burning”, Seyi Vibez – “Different Pattern”, Burna Boy – “Higher”, Ayra Starr & Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”, Sarz feat. 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 Savage feat. Asa, “Blood on the Dance Floor” – Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian & Wale, “Cast” – Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck, “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad, “Ole” – Qing Madi feat. Bnxn, “Twe Twe” Remix – Kizz Daniel & 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), Chlöe Bailey – “Vision” remix (Qing Madi) |
| Music Video of the Year | “Charm” – Rema, “Metaverse” – Olamide, “Like Ice Spice” – Blaqbonez, “Ojapiano” – Kcee, “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad, “Showa” – Kizz Daniel, “Na Money” – Davido feat. Cavemen & Angelique Kidjo |
| 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) |
| Producer of the Year | Sarz – “Happiness”, London – “Ozeba”, Magicstick – “Basquiat”, Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Kilmberboy – “Hehehe”, Dibs – “Different Pattern” |
| Best R&B Single | Qing Madi – “Vision”, Johnny Drille – “For You”, Simi – “Stranger”, Tems – “Burning”, Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song” feat. Giveon |
| Best Rap Single | “Cast” feat. Odumodublvck – Shallipopi, “Blood on the Dance Floor” feat. Bloody Civilian & Wale – Odumodublvck, “Hallelujah” – Ladipoe, Rozzz & Morrelo, “Canada” – Magnito, “Ije Nwoke” – Jeriq |
| Best Street-Hop Artist | Seyi Vibez – “Different Patterns”, Ayo Maff – “Dealer” feat. Fireboy DML, Shallipopi – “Cast” feat. Odumodublvck, Zhus Jdo – “Johnbull”, Mohbad – “Ask About Me” |
| Afrobeats Single of the Year | “Big Big Things” – Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez, “Twe Twe Remix” – Kizz Daniel, “Egwu” feat. Mohbad – Chike, “Remember” – Asake, “Ogechi” Remix – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel feat. 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 | “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 & Seyi Vibez – Young Jonn, “Ogechi” Remix feat. Davido – Hyce, Boypee, & Brown Joel, “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad, “Showa” – Kizz Daniel, “Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez, “Ozeba” – Rema, “Love Me Jeje” – Tems, “Cast” feat. Odumodublvck – 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 |
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