The list of nominees for different categories for 16th edition of The Headies Awards have been released. The Headies is Nigeria’s biggest awards and it was created by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognise the remarkable achievements of Nigerian music stars in the year under review.
Recent editions of the awards have also recognised music artists outside of Nigeria which is why categories like “International Artist of the Year, African Artists of the Year exist among others exist”
The list of nominees for the 16th edition was published on the official Twitter page of the of the awards on Wednesday July 12 ahead of the main event which is set to hold soon.
This year’s edition of The Headies is for the year under review between January 2022 and March 2023.
In every edition of the Awards, a musical icon whether dead or alive is recognised for their immense contribution to the Nigerian music industry. This year’s Headies for “Special Recognition” will be awarded to late, rapper, singer, performer, songwriter, producer, actor, comedian and sports businessman, Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi popularly know as “Sound Sultan” who died on July 11, 2021 after long battle with illness.
One of the most coveted categories of the awards is “Rookie of the Year” award and this year’s edition will be contested by Mavin Record star, Bayanni, Khaid, Gucci, OdumoduBlvck, Bloody Civilian, and Eltee Skhillz.
See the full list of nominees below;
Rookie of the Year
BAYANNI
KHAID
GUCHI
BLOODY CIVILIAN
ODUMODUBLVCK
ELTEE SKHILLZ
BEST MALE ARTISTE
ASAKE
REMA
KIZZ DANIEL
RUGER
OMAH LAY
BURNA BOY
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE
TEMS
SIMI
AYRA STARR
TIWA SAVAGE
NEXT RATED
YOUNG JONN
SEYI VIBEZ
ASAKE
VICTONY
SPYRO
AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
REMA (NIGERIA)
BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)
MARWA LOUD (MOROCCO)
BLACK SHERIF (GHANA)
DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA)
LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
LADIPOE – “CLOWNS”
VECTOR – “CLOWNS”
PAYPER CORLEONE – “FLY TALK ONLY”
ALPHA OJINI – “VIGILANTE BOP”
A-Q – “FAMILY FIRST”
TEC (SDC) – “LIVE LIFE”
DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
BURNA BOY
AYRA STARR
REMA
OMAH LAY
KIZZ DANIEL
ASAKE
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
DRAKE
FUTURE
SELENA GOMEZ
DON TOLIVER
ED SHEERAN
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
ALONE” – BURNA BOY
“SOWETO” – VICTONY & TEMPOE
“I’M A MESS” – OMAH LAY
“KU LO SA” – OXLADE
“STAND STRONG” – DAVIDO FT. SUNDAY SERVICE CHOIR
“NO WOMAN, NO CRY” – TEMS
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
MAGICSTICKS – SUNGBA REMIX (ASAKE)
PHEELZ – ELECTRICITY (PHEELZ FT DAVIDO)
ANDRE VIBEZ & LONDON – CALM DOWN (REMA)
TEMPOE – SOWETO (VICTONY & TEMPOE)
KEL-P – KPE PASO (WANDE COAL & OLAMIDE)
REXXIE – ABRACADABRA (REXXIE, NAIRA MARLEY, SKIIBII & WIZKID)
BEST R&B SINGLE
FOR MY HAND – BURNA BOY FT. ED SHEERAN
MMADU – CKAY
JUST 4 U – DAMI ONIRU
RED WINE – PREYE
HARD TO FIND – CHIKE – FT. FLAVOUR
LOYAL – SIMI FT. FAVE
BEST RAP SINGLE
“HUSTLE” – REMINISCE
“BIG ENERGY” – LADIPOE
“BACK IN UNI” – BLAQBONEZ
“BANDO DIARIES” – PSYCHOYP
“DECLAN RICE” – ODUMODUBLVCK
“MY BRO” – JERIQ FT. PHYNO
BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG
“EARTH SONG” – WIZARD CHAN
“FINAL CHAMPION” – CRUEL SANTINO “THE TRAVELLER” – BASKETMOUTH FT THE CAVEMEN
“IN A LOOP” – BOJ FT MOLIY & MELLISSA
“GAME CHANGER” (DIKE) – FLAVOUR
“TINKO TINKO” – OBONGJAYAR
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
NINIOLA – “MEMORIES”
SIMI – “LOYAL”
WAJE – “IN BETWEEN“
LIYA – “ADUA REMIX”
PREYE – “RED WINE”
DAMI ONIRU – “JUST 4 U”
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE(MALE)
OXLADE – “KU LO SA”
RIC HASSANI – “MY ONLY BABY”
MAGIXX – “LOVE DON’T COST A DIME”
CHIKE – “SPELL REMIX”
PRAIZ – “RECKLESS”
WANDE COAL – “KPE PASO”
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
BLAQBONEZ – “BACK IN UNI” (BLAQBONEZ & PERLIKS)
TG OMORI – “PBUY” (ASAKE)
DIRECTOR PINK– “SPELL REMIX” (CHIKE & OXLADE)
TG OMORI – “BANDANA” (FIREBOY & ASAKE)
DIRECTOR K – “COMMON PERSON” (BURNA BOY)
DIRECTOR K – “CALM DOWN” (REMA)
BEST COLLABORATION
ASAKE FT. BURNA BOY – “SUNGBA REMIX”
BNXN FT KIZZ DANIEL & SEYI VIBEZ – “GWAGWALADA”
PHEELZ FT BNXN – “FINESSE”
SPYRO FT. TIWA SAVAGE – “WHO’S YOUR GUY REMIX”
PHEELZ FT DAVIDO – “ELECTRICITY”
WANDE COAL FT. OLAMIDE – “KPE PASO”
BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE
REXXIE FT. NAIRA MARLEY & SKIIBII – “ABRACADABRA”
SEYI VIBEZ – “CHANCE (NA HAM)”
ASAKE – “JOHA”
ZLATAN FT. YOUNG JONN – “ASTALAVISTA”
POCO LEE & HOTKID – “OTILO”
MOHBAD – “PEACE”
AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“LAST LAST” – BURNA BOY
“RUSH” – AYRA STARR
“BUGA” – KIZZ DANIEL & TEKNO
“FINESSE” – PHEELZ FT BNXN
“WHO’S YOUR GUY?” – SPYRO
“ASIWAJU” – RUGER
HEADIES’ VIEWERS’ CHOICE
RUGER – ASIWAJU
VICTONY & TEMPOE – SOWETO
FIREBOY DML & ASAKE – BANDANA
AYRA STAR – RUSH
ASAKE – TERMINATOR
MAVINS – OVERLOADING (OVERDOSE)
CRAYON – IJO (LABA LABA)
OXLADE – KU LO SA
KIZZ DANIEL & TEKNO – BUGA
PHEELZ & DAVIDO – ELECTRICITY
BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
GYAKIE (GHANA)
BLACK SHERIF (GHANA)
THE THERAPIST (LIBERIA)
CAMIDOH (GHANA)
BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
ZUCHU
DIAMOND PLATINUMZ
RAYVANNY
EDDY KENZO
HEWAN GEBREWORLD
BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
MARWA LOUD – MOROCCO
WEGZ – EGYPT
EL GRANDE TOTO – MOROCCO
SOOLKING – ALGERIA
BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
AKA (SOUTH AFRICA)
NASTY C – SOUTH AFRICA
COSTA TITCH – SOUTH AFRICA
UNCLE WAFFLES – SOUTH AFRICA
FOCALISTIC – SOUTH AFRICA
DJ TARICO – MOZAMBIQUE
BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
FALLY IPUPA – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
GAZ MAWETE – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
MATIAS DAMASIO – ANGOLA
EMMA’A – GABON
LIBIANCA – CAMEROON
BEST R&B ALBUM
HOME – JOHNNY DRILLE
THE BROTHER’S KEEPER – CHIKE
RECKLESS – PRAIZ
WAJE 2.0 – WAJE
MATTER OF TIME – DAMI ONIRU
TO BE HONEST (TBH) – SIMI
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
HOROSCOPES – BASKETMOUTH
GBAGADA EXPRESS – BOJ
SOME NIGHTS I DREAM OF DOORS – OBONGJAYAR
SUBARU BOYS: FINAL HEAVEN – CRUEL SANTINO
HEART OF THE HEAVENLY UNDENIABLE – SOMADINA
NATIVE WORLD – NATIVE SOUND SYSTEM
BEST RAP ALBUM
FLY TALK ONLY – PAYPER CORLEONE
PALMWINE MUSIC VOL 3 – SHOW DEM CAMP
YOUNG PREACHER – BLAQBONEZ
YPSZN3 – PSYCHOYP
TESLIM: THE ENERGY STILL LIVES IN ME – VECTOR
BILLION DOLLAR DREAM – JERIQ
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
LOVE, DAMINI – BURNA BOY
MR MONEY WITH THE VIBE – ASAKE
RAVE AND ROSES – REMA
BOY ALONE – OMAH LAY
OUTLAW – VICTONY
TIMELESS – DAVIDO
SONG OF THE YEAR
“CALM DOWN” – REMA
“LAST LAST” – BURNA BOY
“KU LO SA” – OXLADE
“BUGA” – KIZZ DANIEL & TEKNO
“FINESSE” – PHEELZ FT. BNXN
“SUNGBA REMIX” – ASAKE FT. BURNA BOY
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
SIMI KOSOKO, GODSFAVOUR CHIDOZIE, KOSOKO ADEKUNLE, MARCEL AKUNWATA – “LOYAL” (SIMI) STANLEY DIDIA, ADEBAJO ADEBANJO – “I’M A MESS” (OMAH LAY)
TEMS, LUDWIG GORANSSON, ROBYN RIHANNA FENTY, RYAN COOGLER – “LIFT ME UP” (RIHANNA)
DAMINI EBUNOLUWA OGULU, AUSTIN JNR IORNONGU IWAR, PEACE OREDOPE, LUDWIG GORANSSON – “ALONE” (BURNA BOY)
DANIEL BENSON “IN MY MIND” (BNXN)
FUAYEFIKA MAXWELL – EARTH SONG (WIZARD CHAN)
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE RECOGNITION
SEAN ‘LOVE’ COMBS
HALL OF FAME
YOUSSOU N’DOUR
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE
STAND STRONG – DAVIDO FT SUNDAY SERVICE CHOIR
JIREH (MY PROVIDER) – LIMOBLAZE, LECRAE & HAPPI MUSIC
THIS YEAR – VICTOR THOMPSON & EHIS ‘D’ GREATEST
EZE EBUBE – NEON ADEJO
TOBECHUKWU – NATHANIEL BASSEY AND MERCY CHINWO I GET BACKING – VICTORIA ORENZE
