At Sunday’s 17th edition of the Headies Awards, which took place in Lagos, Afrobeat and pop artists Davido, Tems, Rema, and Zerry DL shined.
After two years of being held in Atlanta, United States, the biggest music award ceremony in Nigeria made a grand comeback.
The 18th Headies Awards are scheduled for December to make up for the event’s demise in 2024, making this edition the first of two ceremonies planned for 2025.
In 31 categories, the highly anticipated night recognized musical talent from Nigeria and Africa.
Rema’s HEIS project won Album of the Year for Afrobeats, while Tems won The Year’s Best Recording for her soulful Burning.
Davido’s nomination for Digital Artist of the Year confirms his standing as a leader in the field of digital music.
Zerry DL, the younger brother of breakout artist Shallipopi, won the title of rookie of the year, a remarkable accomplishment for his upward-competitive career.
Odumodublvck won the coveted Next Rated Artist award, outperforming strong rivals like Shallipopi, Qing Madi, and Ayo Maff, one of the biggest highlights and most anticipated categories.
The 17th Headies Awards, which were presented in addition to numerous special awards, included Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, and The Year’s Best Recording.
Celebrities from the entertainment and politics attended the glittering gala, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who received a prestigious Special Recognition Award for his contributions to the music and creative industries.
Alex Okosi and Amaju Pinnick were other recipients of Special Recognition.
The range of awards given to artists who have made artistic contributions to the industry has expanded with the addition of “The Year’s Soundtrack” and “Best Performer (Live)” in this 17th edition of the Headies.
A Tribe Called Judah, a film that broke records in 2023, won the first “The Year’s Soundtrack” award.
A number of famous people attended the ceremony, including White Money, the winner of Big Brother Naija 2021, and Tanzanian singer Juma Jux and his wife Priscilla, actress Nancy Isime, Cubana Chief Priest, and many others.
Don Jazzy, the boss of Mavins Records, and Gbenga Omotoso, the commissioner for information for Lagos State, were other notable guests.
The edition celebrated African musical accomplishments within the deadlines of April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, with the titles “Back to Base” and “Apologetically African.”
Also read: Coppola, the director of “The Godfather,” receives a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Winners’ Complete List:
Rookie of the Year
Zerry DL is the winner.
– Taves
– Kaestyle
– Llona
The Year’s Best Recording
(WINNER: “Burning” – Tems)
Seyi Vibez, author of “Different Patterns,”
Burna Boy has a “Higher” nickname.
Ayra Starr and Giveon are the stars of “Last Heartbreak Song.”
Sarz and Lojay, “Billions,”
Male Vocal Performance of Best Qualities
(WINNER: “Billions” – Lojay)
Omah Lay’s “Moving”
Anendlessocean – “Gratitude”
Johnny Drille, “For You”
Timi Dakolo and “Ke Na Ke So”
Best Female Vocal Performance
(WINNER: “I’m Done” – Liya)
Ayra Starr sings “Last Heartbreak Song.”
Niniola has “Level” and is
– Simi “Stranger”
Yemi Alade, author of “Tomorrow”
Next Rated
Odumodublvck, the winner
– Qing Madi
– Shallipopi
– Ayo Maff
Song of the Year
(WINNER: Asake vs. “Lonely at the Top”)
Chike and Mohbad are both known as “Egwu” and
– “OZEBA” Rema
– Kizz Daniel, “Showa”
Ayra Starr and “Commas”
Afrobeats Single of the Year
(WINNER: “Big Baller” – Flavour)
Young Jonn (feat.) – “Big Big Things” Seyi Vibez and Kizz Daniel
– Kizz Daniel in “Twe Twe Remix”
– “Egwu” – Chike (feat. (Mohbad)
Asake – “Remember” –
– Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (feat. ; Davido
Producer of the Year
(WINNER: “OZEBA” – London)
Sarz, “Happiness,”
Magicsticks, “Basquiat”
Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz, and Klimperboy are the stars of “HEHEHEHE.”
– Dibs, “Different Patterns”
Album of the Year for Afrobeats
(WINNER: Rema & HEIS)
Stubborn Victony
– Asake – Work of Art
Ayra Starr and The Year I Turned 21
Young Jonn and Jiggy Forever
Music Video of the Year
(WINNER: Director Pink of “EGWU”)
– “Charm” Rema (co-directed by Perliks and Folarin Oludare)
Jyde Ajala, the author of “Metaverse,”
Perliks and Emeka Shine Shine Shine Shine
– Mattmax – “Ojapiano”
TG Omori’s “Showa”
– Dammy Twitch – “Na Money”
The Year’s Soundtrack
(WINNER: TCJ and Abbey Wonder’s “Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack”)
– “Eledumare” – Teledalase (Anklápó: Rise of the Spectre)
Kaline (Breath of Life) – “Lose to Gain”
Native Filmworks and Wizard Chan (Kill Boro) are responsible for “Kill Boro.”
– “Orisa” – Beriola (Orisa)
Tiwa Savage and Asa (Water and Garri) both play “Emotions” in the anime.
Recipients of the Special Recognition Award
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
– Alex Okosi
– Amaju Pinnick
Recipients of the Humanitarian Award
– Johnson, Temitola Adekunle
– Michelle Mukoro (King Mitchy)
Songwriter of the Year
(WINNER: “Vision” by Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi))
– Simi “Stranger”sola Kosoko (Simi)
Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona) and “Can’t Breathe”
Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian) is the star of “Family Meeting.”
– Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan) in “Stages of Life”
Headies’ viewers’ choice
(WINNER: “Egwu” – Chike &, Mohbad)
– “Big Baller” – Flavour
Young Jonn (feat.) – “Big Big Things” Seyi Vibez and Kizz Daniel
– Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (feat. ; Davido
– Kizz Daniel, “Showa”
Seyi Vibez, author of “Different Pattern,”
– “OZEBA” Rema
Tems and “Love Me Jeje”
– “Cast” – Shallipopi (feat. odumodublvck
– “Dealer” – Ayo Maff (feat. DML for Fireboy
Best rap single
(WINNER: Shallipopi and Odumodublvck of “Cast”)
Bloody Civilian, Wale, and Odumodublvck are the stars of “Blood on the Dance Floor.”
– Ladipoe, Rozzz, and Morello perform “Hallelujah.”
– Magnito – “Canada”
– Jeriq – “Ije Nwoke”
Best Street-Hop Artist
(WINNER: Mohbad, “Ask About Me”)
– Zhus Jdo – “Johnbull”
– Seyi Vibez – “Different Patterns”
– Ayo Maff – “Dealer” (feat. DML for Fireboy
– Shallipopi – “Cast” (feat. odumodublvck
Digital Artist of the Year
(WINNER: Davido)
Ayra Starr
Rema
– Shallipopi
– Tems
– Kizz Daniel
– Asake
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
(WINNER: Innoss’B (DRC))
– Gaz Mawete (DRC)
– Emma’A (Gabon)
– Gagabon Ebokolo
– Central African Republic of Singuila
– Koceé (Cameroon)
Best East African Artist of the Year
(WINNER: Juma Jux (Tanzania))
Bien (Kenya)
– Tanzanian Diamond Platnumz
– Rwandan filmmaker Bruce Melody
– Ugandan Azawi
