The Headies 2025: Nominations for 17th Edition Revealed

Nigeria’s most prestigious music award show, The Headies, has officially announced the nominations for its highly anticipated 17th edition, set to take place on April 5, 2025. After a year-long hiatus, the awards will return to Lagos, Nigeria, following prior criticisms of being held in the United States.

This year’s list, released on Wednesday, features a diverse selection of both local and international artists recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Nigerian music scene in the past year.

Key Nominees for The Headies 2025

Hip-hop artist Tochukwu Ojogwu, better known as Odumodu Blvck, leads the nominations with an impressive total of five nods, dominating this year’s list.

A significant surprise entry in the nominations is the late Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad, who earned three posthumous nominations almost two years after his tragic passing in September 2023.

Ayra Starr, fresh off her 2022 win, secured three nominations, hoping to add another accolade to her growing career. Breakout star Crown Uzama, aka Shallipopi, also received three nominations, marking a standout year for the artist.

Rookie of the Year Nominees

The highly competitive Rookie of the Year category includes promising new talents like Taves, Zerrydl, Kaestyle, and Llona, all of whom earned nominations for their breakout performances in the past year.

Event Updates

Though The Headies is an annual event, the 2024 ceremony was postponed to February 2025, making this year’s edition even more anticipated. The organisers confirmed that the awards will return to Lagos, providing fans with an exciting night of celebration for the best in Nigerian music.

Stay tuned for the full list of nominees and more updates as we approach The Headies 2025!

See the full nominations list below:

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

TEMS – BURNING

SEYI VIBEZ – DIFFERENT PATTERN

BURNA BOY – HIGHER

AYRA STARR & GIVEON – LAST HEARTBREAK SONG

SARZ FEATURING LOJAY – BILLIONS

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

SARZ – HAPPINESS

LONDON – OZEBA

MAGICSTICKS – BASQUIAT

REMA/PRODUCER X/CUBEATZ/DEATZ/KLIMPERBOY – HEHEHE

DIBS – DIFFERENT PATTERN

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)

BEST R&B SINGLE

QING MADI – VISION

JOHNNY DRILLE – FOR YOU

SIMI – STRANGER

TEMS – BURNING

AYRA STARR – LAST HEARTBREAK SONG FT. GIVEON

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

LLONA

KAESTYLE

TAVES

ZERRYDL

BEST RAP SINGLE

CAST – ODUMODUBLVCK FEAT SHALLIPOPI

BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR – ODUMODUBLVCK FEAT BLOODY CIVILIAN & WALE –

HALLELUJAH – LADIPOE, ROZZZ & MORRELO

CANADA – MAGNITO

IJE NWOKE – JERIQ

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

AYRA STARR – LAST HEARTBREAK SONG

NINIOLA – LEVEL

SIMI – STRANGER

LIYA – I’M DONE

TOMORROW – YEMI ALADE

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)

BEST COLLABORATION

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

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

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

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

MOGADISHU – A-Q

CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – M.I ABAGA

CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – BLAQBONEZ

HALLELUJAH – LADIPOE

EFELEME – ALPHA OJINI

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

VIEWERS CHOICE AWARDS

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

BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

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

BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

BIEN (KENYA)

DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA)

JUMA JUX (TANZANIA)

BRUCE MELODIE (RWANDA)

AZAWI (UGANDA)

BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

MOHAMED RAMADAN (EGYPT)

ELGRANDE TOTO (MOROCCO)

SOOLKING (ALGERIA)

BALTI (TUNISIA)

ABU (EYGPT)

BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

TITOM (SOUTH AFRICA)

YUPPE (SOUTH AFRICA)

TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)

KELLY KAY (MALAWI)

PLUTONIO (MOZAMBIQUE)

ZEE NXUMALO (SOUTH AFRICA)