The 17th edition of The Headies Awards is set to be a thrilling celebration of African music, and the nominees’ list has just been unveiled! This year, Odumodublvck, Qing Madi, and Ayra Starr are among the frontrunners, each securing multiple nominations.
The award organizers announced on Wednesday via X (formerly Twitter) that only songs, music videos, and projects released between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, were considered for nominations.
Odumodublvck Leads with 6 Nominations!
Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck emerged as one of the most nominated artists, bagging six nods, including Best Rap Single and Best Collaboration. Not far behind, Ayra Starr, Qing Madi, and Shallipopi scored three nominations each, proving their dominance in the Afrobeats scene.
Posthumous Honors for Mohbad
Late singer Mohbad received three posthumous nominations in Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Collaboration, and Best Street-Hop Artiste, a touching recognition of his impact on Nigerian music.
Rookie of the Year Spotlights Rising Stars
The Rookie of the Year category shines a light on fresh talents, with Zerry DL, Taves, Kaestyles, and Llona competing for the prestigious award.
Full List of Headies 2025 Nominees
Best Recording of the Year
• Tems – Burning
• Seyi Vibez – Different Pattern
• Burna Boy – Higher
• Ayra Starr & Giveon – Last Heartbreak Song
• Sarz & Lojay – Billions
Best Collaboration
• Emotions – Tiwa Savage ft Asa
• Blood on the Dance Floor – Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian & Wale
• Cast – Shallipopi ft Odumodublvck
• Egwu – Chike ft Mohbad
• Ole – Qing Madi ft Bnxn
• Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel ft Davido
• IDK – Wizkid ft Zlatan
Best Street-Hop Artiste
• Seyi Vibez – Different Patterns
• Ayo Maff – Dealer ft Fireboy
• Shallipopi – Cast ft Odumodublvck
• Zhus Jdo – Johnbull
• Mohbad – Ask About Me
Afrobeats Single of the Year
• Big Big Things – Young John ft Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
• Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel ft Davido
• Egwu – Chike ft Mohbad
• Remember – Asake
• Ogechi Remix – Hyce, Boypee & Brown Joel ft Davido
• Big Baller – Flavour
Producer of the Year
• Sarz – Happiness
• London – Ozeba
• Magicsticks – Basquiat
• Rema/Producer X/Cubeats/Deatz/Klimperboy – Hehehe
• Dibs – Different Pattern
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
• Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
• Niniola – Level
• Simi – Stranger
• Liya – I’m Done
• Yemi Alade – Tomorrow
Best Rap Single
• Cast – Odumodublvck & Shallipopi
• Blood on the Dance Floor – Bloody Civilian, Wale & Odumodublvck
• Hallelujah – Ladipoe, Rozzz & Morello
• Canada – Magnito
• Ije Nwoke – Jeriq
Rookie of the Year
• Zerry DL
• Taves
• Kaestyles
• Llona
Best R&B Single
• Qing Madi – Vision
• Johnny Drille – For You
• Simi – Stranger
• Tems – Burning
• Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song ft Giveon
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)
Music Video of the Year
• Charm – Rema (Directed by Oerlinks & Folarin Oludare)
• Metaverse – Jyde Ajala
• Like Ice Spice – Perlinks & Emeka Shine Shine
• Ojapiano – Mattmax
• Egwu – Director Pink
• Showa – TG Omori
• Na Money – Dammy Twitch
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
• 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
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 (Egypt)
Best Rap Album
• Sideh Kai – Illbliss
• Eziokwu – Odumodublvck
• Alaye Toh Se Gogo VOL. 1 – Reminisce
• Family Time – Erigga
• Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine
• Full Time Job – Phyno
The Headies 2025: What’s Next?
The 17th edition of The Headies will take place on April 5, 2025, celebrating the best of Nigerian and African music. Meanwhile, the 18th edition is already scheduled for December 2025, with the exact date yet to be announced.
With an exciting lineup of nominees and fierce competition, who do you think will take home the biggest awards? Drop your predictions in the comments!
