17th Headies Awards: Full List of Winners!

The 17th edition of the Headies Awards took place earlier today in Lagos, Nigeria. This marked a grand return to Nigeria after two consecutive editions were held outside the country.

The awards is one of the most prestigious music awards in Africa, recognizing excellence in the Nigerian and African music industries. It celebrates outstanding achievements in various genres, including Afrobeats, R&B, Hip-Hop, and more.

For this year’s nominations, only music materials—including singles, videos, live recordings, EPs, and albums—released and distributed on digital platforms and physical media (cassettes, CDs, and vinyl) between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, were considered.

Here’s the complete list of all nominees, with the winners proudly highlighted in each category.

Key Categories and Nominees

Rookie of the Year

A voting category for emerging artistes who have had a successful year without an album release.

Zerry DL (Winner)
Taves
Kaestyles
Llona

Best Recording of the Year

A non-voting category recognizing the best recording with excellence in songwriting, production, and performance.

Tems – Burning (Winner)
Seyi Vibez – Different Pattern
Burna Boy – Higher
Ayra Starr & Giveon – Last Heartbreak Song
Sarz ft. Lojay – Billions

Songwriter of the Year

Celebrating the most exceptional songwriters of the year.

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

Best R&B Single

Honoring the best R&B track of the year.

Qing Madi – Vision
Johnny Drille – For You
Simi – Stranger
Tems – Burning
Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – Last Heartbreak Song

Producer of the Year

Recognizing producers behind the most acclaimed songs or albums.

Sarz – Happiness
London – Ozeba (Winner)
Magicstick – Basquiat
Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Kilmberboy – Hehehe
Dibs – Different Pattern

Best Collaboration

Highlighting the most exciting musical collaborations.

Emotions – Tiwa Savage ft. Asa
Blood on the Dance Floor – Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian & Wale
Cast – Shallipopi ft. Odumodublvck
Egwu – Chike & Mohbad (Winner)
Ole – Qing Madi & BNXN
Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel & Davido
IDK – Wizkid ft. Zlatan

Artiste of the Year

Who was the most impactful artiste this year?

Davido (Winner)
Ayra Starr
Asake
Rema
Tems
Burna Boy

Album of the Year

Recognizing the best albums of the year.

Born in the Wild – Tems
Heis – Rema (Winner)
The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
Stubborn – Victony
Work of Art – Asake

Song of the Year

Which song ruled the charts?

Showa – Kizz Daniel
Commas – Ayra Starr
Egwu – Chike & Mohbad
Lonely at the Top – Asake (Winner)
Ozeba – Rema
Big Baller – Flavour

Digital Artiste of the Year

Who had the biggest digital presence?

Ayra Starr
Rema
Shallipopi
Tems
Davido (Winner)
Kizz Daniel
Asake

Next Rated

This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with a single, EP or Album) in the year under review.

Qing Madi
Shallipopi
ODUMODUBLVCK (Winner)
Ayo Maff
Nasboi

Soundtrack of the Year

This is a non-voting category for a song written and composed originally for use in a motion picture or series.

Eledumare – Teledalese (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
Lose to Gain – Kaline (Breath of Life)
Kill Boro – Native Film Works & Wizard Chain (Kill Boro)
Orisa – Beriola (Orisa)
Emotions – Tiwa Savage & Asa (Water and Garri)
Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack – TCJ & Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah) (Winner)

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

Lojay – Billions (Winner)
Omah Lay – Moving
Anendlessocean – Gratitude
Johnny Drille – For You
Timi Dakolo – Ke na Ke So

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single or album.

Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
Niniola – Level
Simi – Stranger
Liya – I’m Done (Winner)
Tomorrow – Yemi Alade

Music Video of the Year

A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.

Charm – Rema (Rema x Perliks x Folarin Oludare)
Metaverse – Olamide (Jyde Ajala)
Like Ice Spice – Blaqbonez (Perliks & Emeka Shine Shine)
Ojapiano – KCEE (Mattmax)
Egwu – Chike & Mohbad (Director Pink) (Winner)
Showa – Kizz Daniel (TG Omori)
Na Money – Davido ft. Caveman, Angelique Kidjo (Dammy Twitch)

Best Street-Hop Artiste

A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.