The nominees have been announced for the 2025 Headies Awards. The 17th annual event is set to take place this spring in Lagos, Nigeria, returning to Africa after two years in Atlanta. With the award show, this year’s event will feature an unprecedented line-up of events in a week-long celebration of the industry’s growth and artistic ingenuity.
The Headies Awards celebrates the greatest in Afrobeats, Afro pop, African music, and more, featuring sounds from South, East, Central, North, and West Africa. Established in 2006, by the Hip Hop World magazine of Nigeria, it was originally called the Hip Hop World Awards, to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.
“We are so excited about this year’s Headies Awards. Our stellar lineup features dynamic artists from around the globe who have impacted their audience and the industry,” detailed Ayo Animashaun, Executive Producer and Founder of The Headies in a statement. “We are also thankful for our partners who have helped to bring this to life.
Chloe Bailey at the “Mufasa: The Lion King” premiere at Dolby Theatre on December 09, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Wale, Skepta, Chris Brown, Travis Scott, and Chloe Bailey are all nominated for International Artist Of The Year for their global collaborations. Davido, Ayra Starr, Asake, Rema, Tems, and Burna Boy will compete for the coveted Artist Of The Year title.
Additionally, Odumodublvck is the top nominee with eight total, followed by Rema and Ayra Starr each of whom received seven. Tems, Shallipopi and Kizz Daniel all have six.
The Headies Awards will be livestreamed on YouTube (U.S.) and Hip TV (Nigeria) on April 5, 2025. Events scheduled for the week include The Headies Stakeholder Brunch, Official Nominees Party, U.S. Consulate Reception, and the Afrobeats Conference. View the full list of nominees for the 2025 Headies Awards below.
Artiste of the year
Davido
Ayra Starr
Asake
Rema
Tems
Burna Boy
Song of the year
“Showa” – Kizz Daniel
“Commas” – Ayra Starr
“Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
“Lonely at the Top” – Asake
“Ozeba” – Rema
“Big Baller” – Flavour
Album of the year
Born in the Wild – Tems
Heis – Rema
The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
Stubborn – Victony
Work of Art – Asake
Rookie of the year
Zerry Dl
Taves
Kaestyle
Llona
Best recording of the year
Tems – “Burning”
Seyi Vibez – “Different Pattern”
Burna Boy – “Higher”
Ayra Starr & Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”
Sarz featuring Lojay – “Billions”
Best vocal performance (female)
Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song”
Niniola – “Level”
Simi – “Stranger”
Liya – “I’m Done”
Tomorrow – “Yemi Alade”
Best vocal performance (male)
Lojay – “Billions”
Omah Lay – “Moving”
Anendlessocean – “Gratitude”
Johnny Drille – “For You”
Timi Dakolo – “Ke Na Ke So”
Best collaboration
“Emotions” – Tiwa Savage Feat. Asa
“Blood on the Dance Floor” Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian and Wale
“Cast” – Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck
“Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
“Ole” – Qing Madi and Bnxn
“Twe Twe” Remix – Kizz Daniel and Davido
“IDK” – Wizkid feat. Zlatan
International artiste of the year
Wale – “Blood on the Dance Floor” (Odumodublvck)
Skepta – “Tony Montana” (feat. Portable)
Chris Brown – “Hmmm” (feat. Davido)
Travis Scott – “Active” (Asake)
Chloe Bailey – “Vision” remix (Qing Madi)
Music video of the year
“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 feat. Cavemen, Angelique Kidjo (Dammy Twitch)
Best collaboration
“Emotions” – Tiwa Savage Feat. Asa
“Blood on the Dance Floor” Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian and Wale
“Cast” – Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck
“Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
“Ole” – Qing Madi and Bnxn
“Twe Twe” Remix – Kizz Daniel and Davido
“IDK” – Wizkid feat. Zlatan
International artiste of the year
Wale – “Blood on the Dance Floor” (Odumodublvck)
Skepta – “Tony Montana” (feat. Portable)
Chris Brown – “Hmmm” (feat. Davido)
Travis Scott – “Active” (Asake)
Chloe Bailey – “Vision” remix (Qing Madi)
Music video of the year
“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 feat. Cavemen, Angelique Kidjo (Dammy Twitch)
Efeleme – Alpha Ojini
Best inspirational single
“Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
“Worthy of My Praise” – Dunsin Oyekan feat. Lawrence Oyor
“Good God 2” – Limoblaze feat. Naomi Raine
“Particularly” – Gaise Baba feat. Tope Alabi
“You Do This One” – Mercy Chinwo
Headies’ viewers’ choice
“Big Big Things” feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez – Young Jonn
“Ogechi” remix feat. Davido – Hyce, Boypee, And Brown Joel
“Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad
“Showa” – Kizz Daniel
“Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez
“Ozeba” – Rema
“Love Me Jeje” – Tems
“Cast” feat. Odumodublvck – Shallipopi
“Dealer” feat. Fireboy Dml – Ayo Maff
“Big Baller” – Flavour
Best West African artiste of the year
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
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
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
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
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”
Best rap album
Sideh Kai – Illbliss
Eziokwu – Odumodublvck
Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 – Reminisce
Family Time – Erigga
Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine
Soundtrack of the year
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
Qing Madi
Shallipopi
Odumodublvck
Ayo Maff
Nasboi
Afrobeats album of the year
Stubborn – Victony
Work of Art – Asake
The Year I Turn 21 – Ayra Starr
Heis – Rema
Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn
Best performer (live)
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)
Digital artiste of the year
Ayra Starr
Rema
Shallipopi
Tems
Davido
Kizz Daniel
Asake
Special recognition
Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo A.K.A Kcee
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