Rema, Ayra Starr & Tems Among Top Nominees for 2025 Headies Awards: Full List

Rema, Ayra Starr and Tems are among the top nominees for the 2025 Headies Awards, a pan-African music awards event set for April 5 in Lagos, Nigeria. This will mark the show’s return to Africa after holding its last two ceremonies in Atlanta. The Headies Awards will be livestreamed on YouTube (U.S.) and Hip TV (Nigeria).

Odumodublvck is the top nominee with eight nods. Rema and Ayra Starr each received seven. Tems, Shallipopi and Kizz Daniel each have six.

Wale, Skepta, Chris Brown, Travis Scott and Chloe Bailey are vying for international artist of the year.

“We are so excited about this year’s Headies Awards,” Ayo Animashaun, executive producer and founder of The Headies, said in a statement. “Our stellar lineup features dynamic artists from around the globe who have impacted their audience and the industry.”

To mark its return to Africa, The Headies Awards introduces The Headies Festival with a series of activities showcasing the best of Afrobeats and hip-hop music, entertainment and culture. The  event schedule will commence on March 29, featuring events such as The Headies Stakeholder Brunch, Official Nominees Party, U.S. Consulate Reception and Afrobeats Conference and will climax with the Headies Awards ceremony.

The Headies Awards, originally called the Hip Hop World Awards, was established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.

Only music materials released and distributed on digital streaming platforms, and physical music media within the eligibility period (April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024) were considered for nominations.

Here’s the complete list of nominations for the 2025 Headies Awards. For more details, visit

Artiste of the year

Davido

Ayra Starr

Asake

Rema

Tems

Burna

Song of the year

“Showa” – Kizz Daniel

“Commas” – Ayra Starr

“Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad

“Lonely at the Top” – Asake

“Ozeba” – Rema

“Big Baller” – Flavour

Album of the year

Born in the Wild – Tems

Heis – Rema

The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr

Stubborn – Victony

Work of Art – Asake

Rookie of the year

Zerry Dl

Taves

Kaestyle

Llona

Best recording of the year

Tems – “Burning”

Seyi Vibez – “Different Pattern”

Burna Boy – “Higher”

Ayra Starr & Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”

Sarz featuring Lojay – “Billions”

Best vocal performance (female)

Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song”

Niniola – “Level”

Simi – “Stranger”

Liya – “I’m Done”

Tomorrow – “Yemi Alade”

Best vocal performance (male)

Lojay – “Billions”

Omah Lay – “Moving”

Anendlessocean – “Gratitude”

Johnny Drille – “For You”

Timi Dakolo – “Ke Na Ke So”

Best collaboration

“Emotions” – Tiwa Savage Feat. Asa

“Blood on the Dance Floor” Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian and Wale

“Cast” – Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck

“Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad

“Ole” – Qing Madi and Bnxn

“Twe Twe” Remix – Kizz Daniel and Davido

“IDK” – Wizkid feat. Zlatan

International artiste of the year

Wale – “Blood on the Dance Floor” (Odumodublvck)

Skepta – “Tony Montana” (feat. Portable)

Chris Brown – “Hmmm” (feat. Davido)

Travis Scott – “Active” (Asake)

Chloe Bailey – “Vision” remix (Qing Madi)

Music video of the year

“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 feat. Cavemen, Angelique Kidjo (Dammy Twitch)

Songwriter of the year

Simisola Kosoko – “Stranger” (Simi)

Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma – “Vision” (Qing Madi)

Michael Ajuma Attah – “Can’t Breathe” (Llona)

Emoseh Khamofu – “Family Meeting (Bloody Civilian)

Fuayefika Maxwell – Stages of Life” (Wizard Chan)

Producer of the year

Sarz – “Happiness”

London – “Ozeba”

Magicstick – “Basquiat”

Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Kilmberboy – “Hehehe”

Dibs – “Different Pattern”

Best R&B single

Qing Madi – “Vision”

Johnny Drille – “For You”

Simi – “Stranger”

Tems – “Burning”

Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song” feat. Giveon

Best rap single

“Cast” feat. Odumodublvck – Shallipoppi

“Blood on the Dance Floor” feat. Bloody Civilian & Wale – Odumodublvck

“Hallelujah” – Ladipoe, Rozzz & Morrelo

“Canada” – Magnito

“Ije Nwoke” – Jeriq

Best street-hop artiste

Seyi Vibez – “Different Patterns”

Ayo Maff – “Dealer” (feat. Fireboy Dl)

Shallipopi – “Cast” (feat. Odumodublvck)

Zhus Jdo – “Johnbull”

Mohbad – “Ask About Me”

Afrobeats single of the year

“Big Big Things” – Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez

“Twe Twe Remix” – Kizz Daniel

“Egwu” feat. Mohbad – Chike

“Remember” – Asake

“Ogechi” remix – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel feat. Davido

“Big Baller” – Flavor

Lyricist on the roll

Mogadishu – A-Q

Chocolate City Cypher – M.I Abaga

Chocolate City Cypher – Blaqbonez

Hallelujah – Ladipoe

Efeleme – Alpha Ojini

Best inspirational single

“Gratitude” – Anendlessocean

“Worthy of My Praise” – Dunsin Oyekan feat. Lawrence Oyor

“Good God 2” – Limoblaze feat. Naomi Raine

“Particularly” – Gaise Baba feat. Tope Alabi

“You Do This One” – Mercy Chinwo

Headies’ viewers’ choice

“Big Big Things” feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez – Young Jonn

“Ogechi” remix feat. Davido – Hyce, Boypee, And Brown Joel

“Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad

“Showa” – Kizz Daniel

“Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez

“Ozeba” – Rema

“Love Me Jeje” – Tems

“Cast” feat. Odumodublvck – Shallipopi

“Dealer” feat. Fireboy Dml – Ayo Maff

“Big Baller” – Flavour

Best West African artiste of the year

Black Sherif (Ghana) – “January 9th”

King Promise (Ghana) – “Terminator”

Himra (Ivory Coast) – “Coulibaly & Diabaté”

Josey (Ivory Coast) – “Venez Bouger”

Toofan (Togo) – “Tone”

Best East African artiste of the year

Bien (Kenya) – “Wahala”

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – “Mapoz”

Juma Jux (Tanzania) – “Enjoy”

Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – “When She’s Around”

Azawi (Uganda) – “Masavu”

Best North African artiste of the year

Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt) – “Arabi”

Elgrande Toto (Morocco) – “Maghribi”

Soolking (Algeria) – “Tiki Taka”

Balti (Tunisia) – “Dima Mechi”

Abu (Eygpt) – “Hollela”

Best Southern African artiste of the year

Titom (South Africa) –“Tshwala Bam”

Yuppe (South Africa) – “Tshwala Bam”

Tyla (South Africa) – “Water”

Kelly Kay (Malawi) – “Bana Pwanya”

Plutonio (Mozambique) – “Acordar”

Zee Nxumalo (South Africa) – “Thula Mabota”

Best Central African artiste of the year

Innoss’b (DRC) – “Sete”

Gaz Mawete (DRC) – “Dendisa”

Emma’a (Gabon) – “Biso Mibale”

Eboloko (Gabon) – “Satanana”

Singuila. (Central African Republic) – “Sin Saison”

Kocee (Cameroun) – “Credit Alert”

Best rap album

Sideh Kai – Illbliss

Eziokwu – Odumodublvck

Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 – Reminisce

Family Time – Erigga

Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine

Soundtrack of the year

Eledumare – Teledalese (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)

Lose to Gain – Kaline (Breath of Life)

Kill Boro – Native Filmworks & Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)

Orisa – Beriola (Orisa)

Emotions – Tiwa Savage & Asa (Water and Garri)

Tribe Called Judah soundtrack – TCJ & Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah)

Next rated

Qing Madi

Shallipopi

Odumodublvck

Ayo Maff

Nasboi

Afrobeats album of the year

Stubborn – Victony

Work of Art – Asake

The Year I Turn 21 – Ayra Starr

Heis – Rema

Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn

Best performer (live)

Rema – Ravage Uprising: Rema Live From The O2, London

Omah Lay – Live at L’olympia Paris

Flavour – Celebrating You 2023

Wizard Chan – Live in Concert Port Harcourt

Burna Boy – African Giant Live From London

Femi Kuti & The Positive Force – Nuits De Fourvière (Arte Concert)

Digital artiste of the year

Ayra Starr

Rema

Shallipopi

Tems

Davido

Kizz Daniel

Asake

Special recognition

Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo A.K.A Kcee