Seunfunmi Joshua
The 17th Headies Awards were held on Sunday night at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, marking a grand return to Nigerian soil after two years abroad. The event featured standout performances from emerging stars like Qing Madi and Shallipopi, while top honors went to Davido (Digital Artiste of the Year), Tems (Best Recording of the Year) and Odumodublvck, who clinched the night’s most coveted prize — (Next Rated).
As the clock ticked past 3 a.m., a few awards remained unannounced. Below is the full list of winners 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
Best R&B single
“Vision” – Qing Madi
“For You” – Johnny Drille
“Stranger” – Simi
“Burning” – Tems
“Last Heartbreak Song” – Ayra Starr (ft. Giveon)
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)
Ceremony Highlights
Produced by Livespot 360 and hosted by popular actress Nancy Isime, the 17th Headies Awards not only celebrated the best of African music but also marked a powerful homecoming for Nigeria’s biggest music night. As the industry continues to evolve, the Headies remains a vital platform for recognizing the voices shaping the future of African music.
