Headies award, Nigeria’s highly esteemed music awards ceremony, unveiled the highly anticipated list of nominees for its 16th edition on Wednesday.
The roster encompasses a diverse range of both local and international artists who have been acknowledged for their contributions to the music scene throughout the past year.
Notably, Burna Boy, also known as Damini Ogulu and a recipient of a Grammy Award, secured the most nominations on the list with a total of 11 nods.
He will also compete for the coveted Album of the Year category alongside Davido, Rema, Asake, Omah Lay, and Victony.
This year’s ceremony will additionally acknowledge international artists who have left an impact on the Nigerian music industry. The nominees for the 2023 International Artiste of the Year category include Drake, Future, Selena Gomez, Don Toliver, and Ed Sheeran.
Below, you’ll find the complete list of nominations for the 16th Headies awards.
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Alone” – Burna Boy
“Soweto” – Victony and Tempoe
“I’m a Mess” – Omah Lay
“Ku lo sa” – Oxlade
“Stand Strong” – Davido
“No Woman, No Cry” – Tems
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Magicstickz – “Sungba Remix”
Pheelz – “Electricity”
Andrevibez & London – “Calm Down”
Tempoe – “Soweto”
Kel-P – “Kpe Paso”
Rexxie – “Abracadabra”
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
“Loyal” – Simi
“I’m a Mess” – Omah Lay
“Lift Me Up” – Tems
“Alone” – Burna Boy
“In My Mind” – BNXN
“Earth Song” – Wizard Chan
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 ft BNXN
“Big Energy” – Ladi Poe
“Back in Uni” – Blaq Bonez
“Bando Diaries” – Psycho YP ft Odumodublvck
“Declan Rice” – Odumodublvck
“My Bro” – Jeriq the Hussla ft Phyno
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
“Loyal” – Simi
“In Between” – Waje
“Memories” – Niniola
“Adua Remix” – Liya
“Red Wine” – Preye Itams
“Just 4 U” – Dami Oniru
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
“KU LO SA” Oxlade
“My Only Baby” Ric Hassani
“Love Don’t Cost a Dime” Magixx
“Spell Remix” Chike
“Reckless” Praiz
“Kpe Paso” Wande Coal
Best Alternative Song
“Earth Song” – Wizard Chan
“Final Champion” – Cruel Santino
“The Traveller” – Basketmouth and The Cavemen
“In a Loop” By BOJ – Mellissa
“Game Changer” – Flavour
“Tinko Tinko” – Obongjayar
Best Music Video
“Back in Uni” –Blaqbonez Perliks
“PBUY” By TG Omori
“Spell (Remix)” – Director Pink
“Common Person” – Director K
“Bandana” by TG Omori
“Calm Down (Remix)” – Director K
Best Collaboration
Asaka FT. Burna Boy – “Sungba Remix”
Bnxn ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibes – “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
Best Female Artiste
Tems
Simi
Ayra Starr
Tiwa Savage
