Full Nominee List for the 2025 Headies Award

February 13, 2025 15

The Headies Awards, one of the most prestigious music award events in Africa, has unveiled the full list of nominees for its highly anticipated 2025 edition. The award set to hold on April 5th is returning to Nigeria after two editions were held in the United States.

According to the Headies, only music materials including singles, videos, video live recordings, EPs & albums released & distributed on digital streaming platforms, physical music media (cassettes, CDs & vinyl) within the year in review (April 1, 2023 & July 31, 2024) were considered for nomination.

Here is the full list;

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically with the absence of an album in the year under review.

ZERRY DL
TAVES
KAESTYLES
LLONA

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the best recording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artiste or group in the year under review.

TEMS – BURNING
SEYI VIBEZ – DIFFERENT PATTERN
BURNA BOY – HIGHER
AYRA STARR ft. GIVEON- LAST HEARTBREAK SONG
SARZ ft. LOJAY – BILLIONS

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition) in the year under review.

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
A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

QING MADI – VISION
JOHNNY DRILLE – FOR YOU
SIMI – STRANGER
TEMS – BURNING
AYRA STARR – LAST HEARTBREAK SONG FT. GIVEON

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual or collection of people responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

SARZ – HAPPINESS
LONDON – OZEBA
MAGICSTICK – BASQUIAT
REMA/PRODUCER X/CUBEATZ/DEATZ/KILMBERBOY – HEHEHE
DIBS – DIFFERENT PATTERN

BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air and streaming platforms) recording of a rap song.

CAST FEAT ODUMODUBLVCK – SHALLIPOPPI
BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR FEAT BLOODY CIVILIAN & WALE – ODUMODUBLVCK
HALLELUJAH – LADIPOE, ROZZZ & MORRELO
CANADA – MAGNITO
IJE NWOKE – JERIQ

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single or album.

AYRA STARR – LAST HEARTBREAK SONG
NINIOLA – LEVEL
SIMI – STRANGER
LIYA – I’M DONE
TOMORROW – YEMI ALADE

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

LOJAY – BILLIONS
OMAH LAY – MOVING
ANENDLESSOCEAN – GRATITUDE
JOHNNY DRILLE – FOR YOU
TIMI DAKOLO – KE NA KE SO

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.

CHARM – REMA (REMA X PERLIKS X FOLARIN OLUDARE)
METAVERSE – OLAMIDE (JYDE AJALA)
LIKE ICE SPICE – BLAQBONEZ (PERLIKS & EMEKA SHINE SHINE)
OJAPIANO – KCEE (MATTMAX)
EGWU – CHIKE & MOHBAD (DIRECTOR PINK)
SHOWA – KIZZ DANIEL (TG OMORI)
NA MONEY – DAVIDO FT. CAVEMEN, ANGELIQUE KIDJO (DAMMY TWITCH)

BEST COLLABORATION
A voting category for the best R&B, pop, Hip-Hop, or Afrobeats collaborative track (including cameos).

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
A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.

SEYI VIBEZ – “DIFFERENT PATTERNS
AYO MAFF – DEALER (FT. FIREBOY DL)
SHALLIPOPI – CAST (FT. ODUMODUBLVCK)
ZHUS JDO – JOHNBULL
MOHBAD – ASK ABOUT ME

AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in the year under review (by single individual or group).

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. DAVIDOZ
BIG BALLER – FLAVOR

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
A non-voting category for the rapper with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album in the year under review.

MOGADISHU – A-Q
CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – M.I ABAGA
CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – BLAQBONEZ
HALLELUJAH – LADIPOE
EFELEME – ALPHA OJINI

BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE
A voting award category for the best inspirational single in the year under review (by an individual or group).

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

HEADIES’ VIEWERS’ CHOICE
A voting category to award the fans’ favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.

BIG BIG THINGS FT. KIZZ DANIEL AND SEYI VIBEZ – YOUNG JONN
OGECHI REMIX FT. DAVIDO – HYCE, BOYPEE, AND BROWN JOEL
EGWU – CHIKE & MOHBAD
SHOWA – KIZZ DANIEL
DIFFERENT PATTERN – SEYI VIBEZ
OZEBA – REMA
LOVE ME JEJE – TEMS
CAST FT. ODUMODUBLVCK – SHALLIPOPI
DEALER FT. FIREBOY DML – AYO MAFF
BIG BALLER – FLAVOUR

BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Western African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

BLACK SHERIF (GHANA)
KING PROMISE (GHANA)
HIMRA (IVORY COAST)
JOSEY (IVORY COAST)
TOOFAN (TOGO)

BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Eastern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

BIEN (KENYA)
DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA)
JUMA JUX (TANZANIA)
BRUCE MELODIE (RWANDA)
AZAWI (UGANDA)

BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Northern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

MOHAMED RAMADAN (EGYPT)
ELGRANDE TOTO (MOROCCO)
SOOLKING (ALGERIA)
BALTI (TUNISIA)
ABU (EYGPT)

BEST SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Southern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

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
A voting award category for an individual African artist or group (of Central African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

INNOSS’B (DRC)
GAZ MAWETE (DRC)
EMMA’A (GABON)
EBOLOKO (GABON)
SINGUILA. (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC)
KOCEE (CAMEROUN)

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for a non-African artist or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact on Afrobeats.

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)

BEST RAP ALBUM
A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artist or group in the year under review.

SIDEH KAI – ILLBLISS
EZIOKWU – ODUMODUBLVCK
ALAYE TOH SE GOGO VOL. 1 – REMINISCE
FAMILY TIME – ERIGGA
SHINY OBJECT SYNDROME – MODENINE
FULL TIME JOB – PHYNO

SOUNDTRACK OF THE YEAR
This is a non-voting category for a song written and composed originally for use in a motion picture or series.

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
This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with a single, EP or Album) in the year under review.

QING MADI
SHALLIPOPI
ODUMODUBLVCK
AYO MAFF
NASBOI

AFROBEATS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in the year under review (by single individual or group).

STUBBORN – VICTONY
WORK OF ART – ASAKE
THE YEAR I TURN 21 – AYRA STARR
HEIS – REMA
JIGGY FOREVER – YOUNG JONN

BEST PERFORMER (LIVE)
A non-voting category for the artist with the most outstanding live performance in front of an audience by singing, or playing a musical instrument. The live performance must have been recorded and officially released in video format – streaming, TV and physical media.

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)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION
A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.

KINGSLEY CHINWEIKE OKONKWO a.k.a KCEE

DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual Nigerian artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact digitally in the year under review.

AYRA STARR
REMA
SHALLIPOPI
TEMS
DAVIDO
KIZZ DANIEL
ASAKE

SONG OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

SHOWA – KIZZ DANIEL
COMMAS – AYRA STARR
EGWU – CHIKE AND MOHBAD
LONELY AT THE TOP – ASAKE
OZEBA – REMA
BIG BALLER – FLAVOUR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in the year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).