The anticipation is over! The Headies Awards has dropped the highly-anticipated nominations list for its 17th edition, and it's clear that this year's ceremony is going to be a thrilling showdown. Returning to Nigeria after a two-year stint in the US, the award ceremony promises to celebrate the best of African music, with a slew of chart-topping hits and critically-acclaimed albums from 2023 to 2024 ucompeting in various categories. With eligibility limited to music released between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, on digital streaming platforms and physical media, the competition is fierce.
Rema is undoubtedly the man of the moment, with a staggering 9 nominations - the most of any artist this year! It's a testament to his incredible work ethic and dedication to his craft. A few of his notable nods include Artiste of the Year, Best Music Video for the sultry "Charm", and Producer of the Year for his work on "Hehehe". His album "Heis" is also in the running for Album of the Year, alongside other critically-acclaimed albums like Tems' "Born in the Wild", Ayra Starr's "The Year I Turned 21", Asake's "Work of Art", and Victony's "Stubborn". It's going to be a tough competition, but Rema's innovative sound and style makes him a strong contender.
Hot on Rema's heels are Ayra Starr and Odumodublvck, both with 8 nominations. Ayra Starr's soulful single "Last Heartbreak Song" earned her nods in three categories: Record of the Year, Best Female Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Song. Her vocal range and emotional delivery make her a standout in the industry. Odumodublvck's performance on "Blood on the Dance Floor" is a major highlight of his nominations, with his verse on that track being pure fire. Both artists have solidified their positions as ones to watch out for in the Nigerian music scene.
The competition is fierce across all categories, with the Afrobeat Album of the Year category featuring Victony's "Stubborn", Asake's "Work of Art", and Ayra Starr's "The Year I Turned 21". The Best Rap Single category is a lyrical showdown, with Ladipoe, Magnito, Jeriq, and Odumodublvck all bringing their A-game. The Best R&B Single category is a soulful serenade, with Simi, Tems, Ayra Starr, and Qing Madi, all competing for the win. Meanwhile, the Songwriter of the Year category celebrates the unsung heroes behind the hits, with Simisola Kosoko (Simi), Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi), Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona), Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian), and Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan) all in the running. With the competition this fierce, one thing is certain - the 17th Headies Awards is going to be a night to remember! The anticipation is building, and music lovers can't wait to see who will take home the coveted awards.
Read the full nomination list below
THE 17TH HEADIES NOMINEES FOR ARTISTE OF THE YEAR ARE:
• DAVIDO
• AYRA STARR
• ASAKE
• REMA
• TEMS
• BURNA BOY
THE 17TH HEADIES NOMINEES FOR BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE) ARE
• LOJAY – BILLIONS
• OMAH LAY - MOVING
• ANENDLESSOCEAN – GRATITUDE
• JOHNNY DRILLE - FOR YOU
• TIMI DAKOLO - KE NA KE SO
THE NOMINEES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR ARE
• 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)
THE NOMINEES FOR THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR ARE
• BORN IN THE WILD – TEMS
• HEIS – REMA
• THE YEAR I TURNED 21 - AYRA STARR
• STUBBORN – VICTONY
• WORK OF ART - ASAKE
THE NOMINEES FOR THE BEST RAP ALBUM ARE:
• SIDEH KAI – ILLBLISS
• EZIOKWU – ODUMODUBLVCK
• ALAYE TOH SE GOGO VOL. 1 – REMINISCE
• FAMILY TIME – ERIGGA
• SHINY OBJECT SYNDROME – MODENINE
THE NOMINEES FOR THE SONG OF THE YEAR ARE:
• SHOWA - KIZZ DANIEL
• COMMAS - AYRA STARR
• EGWU - CHIKE AND MOHBAD
• LONELY AT THE TOP – ASAKE
• OZEBA – REMA
• BIG BALLER - FLAVOUR
THE NOMINEES FOR THE BEST PERFORMER (LIVE) ARE
• REMA
• OMAH LAY
• FLAVOUR
• WIZARD CHAN
• BURNA BOY
• FEMI KUTI & THE POSITIVE FORCE
THE NOMINEES FOR THE DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR ARE
• AYRA STARR
• REMA
• SHALLIPOPI
• TEMS
• DAVIDO
• KIZZ DANIEL
• ASAKE
THE NOMINEES FOR THE AFROBEATS ALBUM OF THE YEAR ARE:
• STUBBORN – VICTONY
• WORK OF ART – ASAKE
• THE YEAR I TURNED 21 - AYRA STARR
• HEIS – REMA
• JIGGY FOREVER - YOUNG JONN
THE NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES NEXT RATED ARE:
• QING MADI
• SHALLIPOPI
• ODUMODUBLVCK
• AYO MAFF
• NASBOI
THE NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR ARE:
• INNOSS'B (DRC)
• GAZ MAWETE (DRC)
• EMMA’ A (GABON)
• EBOLOKO (GABON)
• SINGUILA. (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC)
• KOCEE (CAMEROON)
THE NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR ARE:
• TITOM (SOUTH AFRICA)
• YUPPE (SOUTH AFRICA)
• TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)
• KELLY KAY (MALAWI)
• PLUTONIO (MOZAMBIQUE)
• ZEE NXUMALO (SOUTH AFRICA)
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR ARE:
• MOHAMED RAMADAN (EGYPT)
• ELGRANDE TOTO (MOROCCO) •SOOLKING (ALGERIA)
• BALTI (TUNISIA)
• ABU (EYGPT)
THE NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR ARE:
• BIEN (KENYA)
• DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA)
• JUMA JUX (TANZANIA)
• BRUCE MELODIE (RWANDA)
• AZAWI (UGANDA)
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE ARE:
• 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
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES LYRICIST ON THE ROLL ARE:
• MOGADISHU - A-Q
• CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER - M.I ABAGA
• CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – BLAQBONEZ
• HALLELUJAH – LADIPOE
• EFELEME - ALPHA OJINI
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES 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. DAVIDO
BIG BALLER – FLAVOR
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES 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
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
ZERRY DL
TAVES
KAESTYLE
LLONA
BEST COLLABORATION (NOMINEES)
EMOTIONS - TIWA SAVAGE FEAT. ASA
BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR ODUMODUBLVCK, BLOODY CIVILIAN, AND WALE
CAST - SHALLIPOPI FT ODUMODUBLVCK
EGWU - CHIKE & MOHBAD
OLE - QING MADI & BNXN
TWE TWE REMIX – KIZZ DANIEL & DAVIDO
IDK – WIZKID FT. ZLATAN
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES 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)
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
AYRA STARR - LAST HEARTBREAK SONG
NINIOLA - LEVEL
SIMI – STRANGER
LIYA – I’M DONE
TOMORROW - YEMI ALADE
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES 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
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES BEST R&B SINGLE
QING MADI – VISION
JOHNNY DRILLE - FOR YOU
SIMI– STRANGER
TEMS – BURNING
AYRA STARR - LAST HEARTBREAK SONG FT. GIVEON
NOMINEES FOR THE 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)
NOMINEES FOR THE 17TH HEADIES PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
SARZ – HAPPINESS
LONDON – OZEBA
MAGICSTICKS – BASQUIAT
REMA/PRODUCER X/CUBEATZ/DEATZ/KLIMPERBOY – HEHEHE
DIBS - DIFFERENT PATTERN
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
TEMS - BURNING
DIFFERENT PATTERN - SEYI VIBEZ
HIGHER - BURNA BOY
LAST HEARTBREAK SONG - AYRA STARR & GIVEON
BILLIONS - SARZ FEATURING LOJAY