17th Headies Award: Seyi Vibez, Shallipopi Get 6 Nominations, Ayra Starr Grabs 5 As Full List Drops

Nigeria’s prestigious music award show, Headies Awards released the nomination list for the 17th edition on Wednesday, February 12.

Recall that two previous editions of the awards took place in the United States of America, with rapper Odumodu Blvck winning the Rookie of the Year at the 2023 Headies award.

Following the criticisms of the Nigerians Awards taking place in the US, the organizers in an announcement on Instagram said they are bringing the world back home to Nigeria.

According to the Headies organizers, the 17th edition will be hosted here in Lagos, Nigeria on April 5, 2025.

The nomination of the list for the 17th Headies Awards was released a few days after the 67th Grammy Awards and saw Tems win the Best African Music Performance category ahead of Burna Boy, and Davido, among others.

Artists whose songs were released between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, were the ones nominated for the 17th Headies Awards.

Tems and Ayra Starr were nominated in the Best Recording of the Year and Best R&B single categories.

ALSO READ: 17th Edition of Headies Set to Hold in Lagos, Nigerians React

Below is a list of nominated artists for the 17th Headies Awards:

Best Recording of the Year

A non-voting category for the best recording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artiste or group in the year under review.

Tems – Burning
Different Pattern – Seyi Vibez
Higher – Burna Boy
Last Heartbreak Song – Ayra Starr & Giveon
Billions – Sarz Featuring Lojay

Rookie of the Year

A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically with the absence of an album in the year under review.

Zerry DL
Taves
Kaestyles
Llona

BEST R&B SINGLE of the Year

A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

Qind Madi – Vision
Johnny Drille – For You
Simi – Stranger
Tems – Burning
Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song Ft Giveon

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, and rendition) in the year under review.

Simisola Kosoko – Stranger (Simi)

Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma – Vision (Qing Madi)

Micheal Ajuma Attah – Can’t Breathe (Llona)

Emoseh Khamofu – Family Meeting (Bloody Civilian)

Fuayefika Maxwell – Stages of Life (Wizard Chan)

Producer of the year:

An individual or collection of people responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

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

BEST RAP SINGLE

A voting category for a single (released on-air and streaming platforms) recording of a rap song.

Shallipopi Ft Odumodublvck – Cast

Odumodublvck ft Bloody Civilian & Wale – Blood On The Dance Floor

Ladipoe, Rozz & Morrelo – Hallelujah

Magnito – Canada

Jeriq – Ije Nwoke

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

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

Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
Ninola – Level
Simi – Stranger
Liya – I’m Done
Yemi Alade – Tomorrow

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)

SHOWA – KIZZ DANIEL (TG OMORI)

NA MONEY – DAVIDO FT. CAVEMEN, ANGELIQUE KIDJO (DAMMY TWITCH)

BEST COLLABORATION

A voting category for the best R&B, pop, hip-hop or Afrobeats collaborative track (including
cameos).

Emotions – Tiwa Savage ft Asa
Blood On The Dance Floor – Odumodublvck ft Bloody Civilian & Wale
Cast – Shallipopi Ft Odumodublvck
Egwu – Chike and Mohbad
Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel and Davido
IDK – Wizkid ft Zlatan

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

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

Seyi Vibez – Different Patterns
Ayo Maff – Dealer (Ft. Fireboy DML)
Shallipopi – Cast ft Odumodublvck
Zhus JDO – Johbull
Mohbad – Ask About Me

AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

Big Big Things – Young Jonn Ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
TWE TWE REMIX – Kizz Daniel
Egwu – Chike ft Mohbad
Remember – Asake
OGECHI REMIX – Hyce, BoyPee and Brown Joel Ft. Davido
Big Baller – Flavor