The highly anticipated 17th edition of the Headies Music Awards has officially unveiled its nominees, following the announcement on February 12, 2025. This year’s nominations span 30 categories, including fan favourites like Rookie of the Year, Next Rated, Best Street-Hop Artiste, and Album of the Year. Notably, a brand-new category, Soundtrack of the Year has been introduced, adding to the excitement.
Below is the full list of nominees:
Soundtrack of the Year
“Eledumare” - Anikulapo: Rise of the Sceptre (Teledalase)
“Lose to Gain” - Breathe of Life (Kaline)
“Kill Boro” - Kill Boro (Wizard Chan)
“Orisa” - Orisa (Beriola)
“Emotions” - Water & Garri (Tiwa Savage and Asa)
“TRIBE CALLED JUDAH SOUNDTRACK" - A Tribe Called Judah (Abbey Wonder & TCJ)
Next Rated Award
Qing Madi
Shallipopi
ODUMODUBLVCK
Ayo Maff
Nasboi
Rookie of the Year award
Zerrydl
Taves
Kaestyle
Llona
Best Rap Album
‘Sideh Kai’ - Illbliss
‘EZIOKWU’ - ODUMODUBLVCK
‘Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol.1’ - Reminisce
‘Family Time’ - Erigga
‘Shiny Object Syndrome’ - Modenine
Viewers' Choice
“Big Big Things” - Young Jonn, Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
“Ogechi (remix)” - Hyce, Boypee, Brown Joel & Davido
“Egwu” - Chike ft. Mohbad
“Showa” - Kizz Daniel
“Different Pattern” - Seyi Vibez
“OZEBA” - Rema
“Love Me JeJe” - Tems
“CAST” - Shallipopi & ODUMODUBLVCK
“Dealer” - Ayo Maff & Fireboy DML
“Big Baller” - Flavour
Best Recording Of The Year
“Burning” - Tems
“Different Pattern” - Seyi Vibez
“Higher” - Burna Boy
“Last Heartbreak Song” - Ayra Starr ft. Giveon
“Billions” - Sarz ft. Lojay
Afrobeats Single of the Year
“Big Big Things” - Young Jonn 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
“Happiness” - Sarz
“OZEBA” - London
“HEHEHE” - Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Klimperboy
“Basquiat” - Magicsticks
“Different Pattern” - Dibs
Best R&B Single
“Vision” - Qing Madi
“For You” - Johnny Drille
“Last Heartbreak Song” - Ayra Starr ft. Giveon
“Burning” - Tems
“Stranger” - Simi
Songwriter of the Year
“Stranger” - Simi
“Vision” - Qing Madi
“Can’t Breathe” - Llona
“Family Meeting” - Bloody Civilian
“Stages of Life” - Wizard Chan
Lyricist on the Roll
“Mogadishu” - A-Q
“Chocolate City Cypher” - M.I Abaga
“Chocolate City Cypher” - Blaqbonez
“Hallelujah” - Ladipoe
“Efeleme” - Alpha Ojini
Best Rap Single
“Cast” - Shallipopi & ODUMODUBLVCK
“BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR” - ODUMODUBLVCK, Bloody Civilian & Wale
“Hallelujah” - Ladipoe ft. Rozzz & Morrell
“Canada” - Magnito
“Ije Nwoke” - JERIQ
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
“Last Heartbreak Song” - Ayra Starr
“Level” - Niniola
“Stranger”- Simi
“I’m Done” - Liya
“Tomorrow” - Yemi Alade
Music Video Of the Year
“Charm” - Rema, Perliks, and Folarin Oludare
“Metaverse” - Jyde Ajala
“Like Ice SPice” - Blaqbonez
“Ojapiano” - Mattmax
“Egwu” - DIRECTOR PINK
“Showa” - TG OMORI
“Na Money” - Dammy Twitch
Best Street-Hop Artiste
“Different Patterns” - Seyi Vibez
“Dealer” - Ayo Maff ft. Fireboy DML
“Cast” - Shallipopi & ODUMODUBLVCK
“Johnbull” - Zhus Jdo
“Ask About Me” - Mohbad
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
Afrobeats Album of the Year
‘Stubborn’ - Victony
‘Work Of Art’ - Asake
‘The Year I Turned 21’ - Ayra Starr
‘HEIS’ - Rema
‘Jiggy Forever’ - Young Jonn
Digital Artiste of the Year
Ayra Starr
Shallipopi
Rema
Davido
Tems
Kizz Daniel
Asake
Best Performer (LIVE)
Rema
Omah Lay
Burna Boy
Flavour
Wizard Chan
Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
Song of the Year
“Showa” - Kizz Daniel
“Commas” - Ayra Starr
“Lonely At The Top - Asake
“Egwu” - Chike ft. Mohbad
“OZEBA” - Rema
“Big Baller” - Flavour
International Artiste of the Year
Wale - __“BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR” (ODUMODUBLVCK)
Skepta - “Tony Montana” (ft. Portable & JAE5)
Chris Brown - “Hmmm” (ft. Davido)
Travis Scott - “Active” (Asake)
Chloe Bailey - “Vision (remix)” (Qing Madi)
Album of the Year
‘Born in the Wild’ - Tems
‘HEIS’ - Rema
‘Stubborn’ - Victony
‘Work Of Art’ - Asake
‘The Year I Turned 21’ - Ayra Starr
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
“Billions” - Lojay
“Moving” - Omah Lay
“Gratitude” - Anendlessocean
“For You” - Johnny Drille
“Ke Na Ke So” - Timi Dakolo
Artiste of the Year
Davido
Ayra Starr
Asake
Tems
Rema
Burna Boy
Best Inspirational Single
“Gratitude” - Anendlessocean
“Worthy of My Praise” - Dunsin Oyekan ft. Lawrence Oyor
“Good God” - Limoblaze ft. Naomi Raine
“Particularly” - 2Gaise Baba ft. Tope Alabi
“You Do This One” - Mercy Chinwo
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)
Best North African Artiste of the Year
Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
ElGrandeToto (Morocco)
Soolking (Algeria)
Balti (Tunisia)
Abu (Egypt)
Best East African Artiste of the Year
Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Juma Jux (Tanzania)
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Azawi (Uganda)
Best West African Artiste of the Year
Black Sherif (Ghana)
King Promise (Ghana)
Himra (Ivory Coast)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Toofan (Togo)
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
Innoss'B (DRC)
Gaz Mawete (DRC)
Emma’ a (Gabon)
EBOLOKO (Gabon)
Singuila (Central African Republic)
Kocee (Cameroon)