Published on February 26th, 2025 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

Celebrating Afrobeats Superstars: The 17th Headies Awards Nominees Full List Revealed

The highly anticipated 17th Headies Awards Nominees Full List has been revealed and the greatest artists representing Afrobeats, African music and the sounds of South, East, Central, North, and West Africa as well as America and The United Kingdom. The awards show has music lovers and fans worldwide on the edge of their seats as their favorite artists contend for the trophy that only one artist in each category will take home – the “gold” plated Headie.

Hailed as the most prestigious awards show on the continent of Africa, The Headies will host its 17th edition of the awards show in Lagos, Nigeria after bringing its platform to America [Atlanta, GA] in 2022 and 2023. The mission was accomplished as the powerful awards show played its part, having a strong hand in bridging the gap throughout the Pan African diaspora – standing as a beacon of inspiration while celebrating, honoring, and recognizing talent globally.

Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper Rema is nominated for “Afrobeat Album of The Year,” “Headies Viewer Choice,” “Album of The Year,” “Song of The Year,” “Artist of The Year,” “Digital Artist of The Year,” and “Best Performance” while Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr is nominated for “Best R&B Performance,” “Best Vocal Performance (Female),” “Afrobeat Album of The year,” “Album of The Year,” “Song of The Year,” “Artist of The Year,” and “Digital Artist of The Year” – they are both among leading nominees with 7 nominations.

Other noteworthy nominations go to Odumodublvck with 8 nominations, Tems with 6, Davido with 5, and Burna Boy with 3.

Staying true to its mission to honor, recognize, and celebrate Afrobeats and African music globally, this year, “Blood On The Dance Floor” by Wale and Odumodublvck, “Tony Montana” by Skepta, “Hmmm” by Chris Brown feat. Davido, “Active” by Travis Scott feat. Asake, and “Vision Remix” by Chloe Bailey are among the songs/nominees for “International Artist of the Year.”

BELOW IS THE FULL LIST OF 17TH HEADIES NOMINEES:

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.

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

KAESTYLE

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

DIFFERENT PATTERN – SEYI VIBEZ*

HIGHER – BURNA BOY

LAST HEARTBREAK SONG – AYRA STARR & GIVEON

BILLIONS – SARZ FEATURING LOJAY

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 a song should be a 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. DAVIDO

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) – JANUARY 9TH

KING PROMISE (GHANA) – TERMINATOR

HIMRA (IVORY COAST) – COULIBALY & DIABATÉ

JOSEY (IVORY COAST) – VENEZ BOUGER

TOOFAN (TOGO) – TONE

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) – WAHALA

DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA) – MAPOZ

JUMA JUX (TANZANIA) – ENJOY

BRUCE MELODIE (RWANDA) – WHEN SHE’S AROUND

AZAWI (UGANDA) – MASAVU

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) – ARABI

ELGRANDE TOTO (MOROCCO) – MAGHRIBI

SOOLKING (ALGERIA) – TIKI TAKA

BALTI (TUNISIA) – DIMA MECHI

ABU (EYGPT) – HOLLELA

BEST SOUTHERN 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) -TSHWALA BAM

YUPPE (SOUTH AFRICA) – TSHWALA BAM

TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA) – WATER

KELLY KAY (MALAWI) – BANA PWANYA

PLUTONIO (MOZAMBIQUE) – ACORDAR

ZEE NXUMALO (SOUTH AFRICA) – THULA MABOTA

BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

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

INNOSS’B (DRC) – SETE

GAZ MAWETE (DRC) – DENDISA

EMMA’A (GABON) – BISO MIBALE

EBOLOKO (GABON) – SATANANA

SINGUILA. (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC) – SIN SAISON

KOCEE (CAMEROUN) – CREDIT ALERT

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for a non-African artiste 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 artiste 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

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 for voting 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 digital impact 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).

BORN IN THE WILD – TEMS

HEIS – REMA

THE YEAR I TURNED 21 – AYRA STARR

STUBBORN – VICTONY

WORK OF ART – ASAKE

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

This category is a voting category for the most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review

DAVIDO

AYRA STARR

ASAKE

REMA

TEMS

BURNA BOY

The 17th Headies Awards Show will be live streamed on YouTube (U.S.) and Hip TV (Africa), among other platforms. For more information about the Headies, visit TheHeadies.com.

SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE ON TWITTER

Tags: Awards Show, Happenings, The Headies

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.