17th Headies Awards: Nominees Who Didn’t Win In 2025

The 17th edition of the Headies Awards took place on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, shining a spotlight on some of the brightest talents in the music industry.

With the theme “Back to Base” and “Apologetically African,” the ceremony celebrated outstanding achievements in African music during the eligibility window spanning from April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024.

This year’s event showcased 31 award categories, such as Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, and Next Rated, drawing notable figures from both the entertainment world and political circles, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Actress and media personality Nancy Isime, alongside veteran broadcaster IK Osakioduwa, teamed up to host the event, delivering a lively and engaging show.

The evening buzzed with vibrant performances and touching tributes, all while celebrating the artists who have defined the musical landscape over the past year.

The event, marking a return to Nigeria after two years abroad, has already announced several winners in key categories.

List Of Winners And Their Categories

Best Recording of the Year
Tems – Burning — Winner

Producer of the Year
London – Ozeba — Winner

Next Rated
Odumodublvck — Winner

Afrobeats Album of the Year
Rema – Heis — Winner

Songwriter of the Year
Qing Madi – Vision — Winner

Rookie of the Year
Zerrydl — Winner

Best Rap Single
Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – Cast — Winner

Best Vocal Performance (Female)
Liya – I’m Done — Winner

Music Video of the Year
Director Pink – Egwu — Winner

Best Street-Hop Artiste
Mohbad – Ask About Me — Winner

Afrobeats Single of the Year
Flavour – Big Baller — Winner

Viewers’ Choice Award
Chike & Mohbad – Egwu — Winner

Digital Artiste of the Year
Davido — Winner

Song of the Year
Asake – Lonely at the Top — Winner

Best Vocal Performance (Male)
Lojay – Billions — Winner

Best Movie Soundtrack
A Tribe Called Judah — Winner

Best East African Artiste
Juma Jux (Tanzania) — Winner

Best Central African Artiste
Innoss’B (DRC) — Winner

Special Recognition Awards
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor
Alex Okosi
Amaju Pinnick
Kcee

Humanitarian Awards
Temitola Adekunle Johnson
Mitchell Mukoro

Notable Nigerian Nominees Who Did Not Win

Best Recording of the Year
Burna Boy – Higher
Ayra Starr & Giveon – Last Heartbreak Song
Sarz feat. Lojay – Billions

Producer of the Year
Sarz – Happiness
Magicsticks – Basquiat
Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Klimperboy – Hehehe
Dibs – Different Pattern

Next Rated
Qing Madi
Shallipopi
Ayo Maff
Nasboi

Afrobeats Album of the Year
Victony – Stubborn
Asake – Work of Art
Ayra Starr – The Year I Turned 21
Young Jonn – Jiggy Forever

Songwriter of the Year
Simi – Stranger
Llona – Can’t Breathe
Bloody Civilian – Family Meeting
Wizard Chan – Stages of Life

Rookie of the Year
Llona
Kaestyle
Taves

Best Rap Single
Odumodublvck feat. Bloody Civilian & Wale – Blood on the Dance Floor
Ladipoe, Rozzz & Morrelo – Hallelujah
Magnito – Canada
Jeriq – Ije Nwoke

Best Vocal Performance (Female)
Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
Niniola – Level
Simi – Stranger
Yemi Alade – Tomorrow

Music Video of the Year
Rema – Charm (Dir. Perliks & Folarin Oludare)
Jyde Ajala – Metaverse
Perliks & Emeka Shine Shine – Like Ice Spice
Mattmax – Ojapiano
TG Omori – Showa
Dammy Twitch – Na Money

Best Street-Hop Artiste
Seyi Vibez – Different Pattern
Ayo Maff feat. Fireboy DML – Dealer
Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – Cast
Zhus Jdo – Johnbull

Afrobeats Single of the Year
Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – Big Big Things
Kizz Daniel – Twe Twe Remix
Chike feat. Mohbad – Egwu
Asake – Remember
Hyce, Boypee & Brown Joel feat. Davido – Ogechi Remix

Viewers’ Choice Award
Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – Big Big Things
Hyce, Boypee & Brown Joel feat. Davido – Ogechi Remix
Rema – Ozeba
Seyi Vibez – Different Pattern
Kizz Daniel – Showa
Tems – Love Me Jeje
Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – Cast
Flavour feat. Fireboy – Dealer
Flavour – Big Baller

Digital Artiste of the Year
Ayra Starr
Rema
Shallipopi
Tems
Kizz Daniel
Asake

Song of the Year
Kizz Daniel – Showa
Ayra Starr – Commas
Chike and Mohbad – Egwu
Rema – Ozeba
Flavour – Big Baller

Best East African Artiste
Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Azawi (Uganda)

Best Central African Artiste
Gaz Mawete (DRC)
Emma’A (Gabon)
Eboloko (Gabon)
Singuila (Central African Republic)
Kocee (Cameroon)