FULL LIST: check out Headies award 2025 winners

The 17th edition of the prestigious Headies Awards, themed Back to Base, took place on Sunday at the Landmark Event Centre in Lekki, marking a vibrant return to Nigeria after two years abroad.

Hosted by actress and media personality Nancy Isime and veteran broadcaster IK Osakioduwa, the night was filled with charisma, humor, and energy. The event honored outstanding achievements across the Nigerian and African music industries, celebrating the artists, producers, and creatives who made remarkable contributions over the past year.

The ceremony featured electrifying performances from Qing Madi, L.A.X, Odumodublvck, Kcee, Shallipopi, Flavour, Juma Jux, Nasboi, Magnito, and others, lighting up the stage with energy.

Tanzanian singer Juma Jux enjoyed a standout moment, winning Best East African Artiste of the Year ahead of Bien (Kenya), Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Bruce Melodie (Rwanda), and Azawi (Uganda). His captivating live performance added to the night’s highlights.

One of the evening’s most emotional moments was the presentation of the Special Recognition Award to Kcee, honoring his 26 years of contributions to the Nigerian music industry and his lasting cultural impact.

The late Mohbad was posthumously honored with the Best Street-Hop Artiste award for his hit Ask About Me. His wife and young son, Liam, accepted the award on his behalf, receiving a standing ovation. A heartfelt tribute celebrated Mohbad’s influence and the legacy he left behind. Mohbad also received multiple posthumous nominations, including Best Collaboration and Afrobeats Single of the Year for Egwu with Chike.

A moment of drama unfolded when Odumodublvck, winner of the Next Rated category, was asked to leave the stage during a lengthy acceptance speech. Despite the organizers switching off his microphone, the rapper, joined by his mother and entourage, stood his ground until the mic was restored, allowing him to complete his speech.

Full List of Nominees and Winners:

Best Recording of the Year

• Tems – Burning — Winner
• Burna Boy – Higher
• Ayra Starr & Giveon – Last Heartbreak Song
• Sarz feat. Lojay – Billions

Producer of the Year

• Sarz – Happiness
• London – Ozeba — Winner
• Magicsticks – Basquiat
• Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Klimperboy – Hehehe
• Dibs – Different Pattern

Next Rated

• Qing Madi
• Shallipopi
• Odumodublvck — Winner
• Ayo Maff
• Nasboi

Afrobeats Album of the Year

• Victony – Stubborn
• Asake – Work of Art
• Ayra Starr – The Year I Turned 21
• Rema – Heis — Winner
• Young Jonn – Jiggy Forever

Songwriter of the Year

• Simi – Stranger
• Qing Madi – Vision — Winner
• Llona – Can’t Breathe
• Bloody Civilian – Family Meeting
• Wizard Chan – Stages of Life

Rookie of the Year

• Llona
• Kaestyle
• Taves
• Zerrydl — Winner

Best Rap Single

• Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – Cast — Winner
• 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
• Liya – I’m Done — Winner
• 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
• Director Pink – Egwu — Winner
• 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
• Mohbad – Ask About Me — Winner

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
• Flavour – Big Baller — Winner

Viewers’ Choice Award

• Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – Big Big Things
• Hyce, Boypee & Brown Joel feat. Davido – Ogechi Remix
• Chike & Mohbad – Egwu — Winner
• 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
• Davido — Winner
• Kizz Daniel
• Asake

Song of the Year

• Kizz Daniel – Showa
• Ayra Starr – Commas
• Chike and Mohbad – Egwu
• Asake – Lonely at the Top — Winner
• Rema – Ozeba
• Flavour – Big Baller

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

• Lojay – Billions — Winner

Best Movie Soundtrack

• A Tribe Called Judah — Winner

Special Recognition Awards

• Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor
• Alex Okosi
• Amaju Pinnick
• Kcee

Humanitarian Awards

• Temitola Adekunle Johnson
• Mitchell Mukoro

Best East African Artiste

• Bien (Kenya)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Juma Jux (Tanzania) — Winner
• Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
• Azawi (Uganda)

Best Central African Artiste

• Innoss’B (DRC) — Winner
• Gaz Mawete (DRC)
• Emma’A (Gabon)
• Eboloko (Gabon)
• Singuila (Central African Republic)
• Kocee (Cameroon)