The Headies Return In Grand Style With 2 Epic Award Ceremonies in One Year To Honor Musical Excellence

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Following a two-year pause in the United States, the Headies Awards have returned with the ultimate celebration of Nigerian music, talent, and entertainment. According to executive producer Ayo Animashaun, two award ceremonies will take place in 2025: the 17th edition, which was postponed last year, will be held on April 5, and the 18th edition is set for December.

As the industry evolves, the 2025 nominations showcase a dynamic mix of established stars and new talents eager to make their mark.

This year’s nominations include chart-topping hits as well as genre-defying collaborations, giving fans and industry experts plenty to discuss.

Whether you’re pulling for your favorite musician or just curious about who made the cut, here’s the full list of the 17th Headies Award nominations.

Rookie of the Year

• 
  Zerry DL
• taves
• Kaestyle
• Llona

Best Recording of the Year

• Burning — Tems
• Different Patterns — Seyi Vibez
• Higher— Burna Boy
• Last Heartbreak Song — Ayra Starr & Giveon
• Billions — Sarz featuring Lojay

Next Rated

• Qing Madi
• Shallipopi
• OdumoduBlvck
• Ayo Maff
• Nasboi

Songwriter of the Year

• Stranger — Simisola Kosoko (Simi)
• Vision— Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi)
• Can’t Breathe — Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona)
• Family Meeting — Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian)
• Stages of Life— Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan)

Producer of the Year

• Happiness — Sarz
• OZEBA — London
• Basquiat — Magicsticks
• HEHEHE — Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz and Klimperboy
• Different Patterns — Dibs

Afrobeats Single of the Year

• Big Big Things – Young Jonn (ft. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
• Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel
• Egwu – Chike (ft. Mohbad)
• Remember – Asake
• Ogechi Remix – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (ft. Davido)
• Big Baller – Flavour

Best Street-Hop Artiste

• Different Patterns – Seyi Vibez
• Dealer – Ayo Maff (ft. Fireboy DML)
• Cast – Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)
• Johnbull – Zhus Jdo
• Ask About Me – Mohbad

Music Video of the Year

• Charm – Rema, Perliks and Folarin Oludare
• Metaverse — Jyde Ajala
• Like Ice Spice — Perliks and Emeka Shine Shine
• Ojapiano — Mattmax
• EGWU — Director Pink
• Showa — TG Omori
• Na Money — Dammy Twitch

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

• Last Song Heartbreak — Ayra Starr
• Level — Niniola
• Stranger — Simi
• I’m Done — Liya
• Tomorrow — Yemi Alade

Best R&B Single

• Vision — Qing Madi
• For You — Johnny Drille
• Stranger — Simi
• Burning — Tems
• Last Heartbreak Song — Ayra Starr featuring Giveon

Best Collaboration

• Emotions — Tiwa Savage featuring Asa
• Blood On the Dance Floor — OdumoduBlvck featuring Bloody Civilian and Wale
• Cast — Shallipopi featuring OdumoduBlvck
• Egwu— Chike featuring Mohbad
• Ole — Qing Madi featuring BNXM
• Twe Twe (Remix) — Kizz Daniel featuring Davido
• IDK — Wizkid featuring Zlatan

Best Street-Hop Artiste

• Different Patterns – Seyi Vibez
• Dealer – Ayo Maff (ft. Fireboy DML)
• Cast – Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)
• Johnbull – Zhus Jdo
• Ask About Me – Mohbad

Headies’ Viewers’ Choice

• Big Baller – Flavour
• Big Big Things – Young Jonn (ft. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
• Ogechi Remix – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (ft. Davido)
• Egwu – Chike & Mohbad
• Showa – Kizz Daniel
• Different Pattern – Seyi Vibez
• OZEBA – Rema
• Love Me Jeje – Tems
• Cast – Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)
• Dealer – Ayo Maff (ft. Fireboy DML)

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)