The Headies Academy has revealed the 2025 nominations list for the 17th edition. Tems, Burna Boy, Rema, Victony, Arya Starr, the late Mohbad, and Odumudublck all have multiple nominations.
The award will be returning to Nigeria after two years in the US, which was praised and criticised. According to the Headies, only music materials, including singles, videos, video live recordings, EPs, and albums released and distributed on digital streaming platforms and physical music media (cassettes, CDs, and vinyl) within the year in review (April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024), were considered for nomination.
Taves, Zerrydl, Kaestyle, and Llona have been shortlisted for the Rookie of the Year prize. The winner will take the baton from rapper OdumoduBlvck, who won the award at the 16th Headies.
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
Read also: Top 10 most rated Nigerian music albums of 2024
Rookie of the Year
Llona
Kaestyle
Taves
Zerrydl
Best Rap Single
Cast – Odumodublvck Feat Shallipopi
Blood on the Dance Floor – Odumodublvck Feat Bloody Civilian & Wale –
Hallelujah – Ladipoe, Rozzz, and 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 and Mohbad
Ole – Qing Madi and Bnxn
Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel and 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. David
Big Baller – Flavor
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 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 and Mohbad
Ozeba – Rema
Different Pattern – Seyi Vibez
Showa – Kizz Daniel
Love Me Jeje – Tems
Cast – Shallipopi Ft. Odumodublvck
Dealer – Flavour 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
Headies Next Rated
Qing Madi
Shallipopi
Odumodublvck
Ayo Maff
Nasboi
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 and 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
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