The Headies 2023: A Comprehensive List of Nominations Unveiled

The Headies Unveils 16th Edition Nominations: A Melodic Celebration.

The long-awaited moment has arrived as The Headies, Nigeria’s illustrious music award show, proudly reveals the nominations for its 16th edition. This highly anticipated list pays homage to the finest, homegrown and international talents who have left an indelible mark on the music scene over the past year.

One name that resonates powerfully throughout the nominations is the Grammy award-winning virtuoso Damini Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy. With an astounding 11 nominations, his musical prowess takes centre stage, reflecting his unmatched contribution to the industry.

The race for Album of the Year is a captivating showdown featuring a star-studded lineup. Davido, Rema, Asake, Omah Lay, and Victony all contend for this prestigious honour, showcasing their artistry and captivating the hearts of listeners worldwide.

In a nod to the global impact of Nigerian music, The Headies embraces international artists who have woven their way into the fabric of our nation’s music industry. The International Artiste of the Year category showcases the talents of Drake, Future, Selena Gomez, Don Toliver, and Ed Sheeran, who have embraced the Nigerian sound and left an indelible imprint on the hearts of music enthusiasts.

Below is the full nominations list of 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

• Magicsticks – Sungba Remix
• Pheelz – Electricity
• Andre Vibez & 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 – Ladipoe
• Back in Uni – Blaqbonez
• Bando Diaries – PsychoYP Ft. Odumodublvck
• Declan Rice – Odumodublvck
• My Bro – JeriQ 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 – BOJ & Mellissa
• Game Changer – Flavour
• Tinko Tinko – Obongjayar

Best Music Video

• Back in Uni – Blaqbonez & Perliks
• PBUY – TG Omori
• Spell (Remix) – Director Pink
• Common Person – Director K
• Bandana – TG Omori
• Calm Down (Remix) – Director K

Best Collaboration

• Asake Ft. Burna Boy – Sungba Remix
• BNXN Ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – 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 John – 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 Starr – 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

Best Male Artiste

• Asake
• Rema
• Kizz Daniel
• Ruger
• Omah Lay
• Burna Boy

Next Rated

• Young John
• Seyi Vibez
• Asake
• Victony
• Spyro

Rookie of the Year

• Odumodublvck
• Bloody Civilian
• Bayanni
• Guchi
• Eltee Skhillz
• Khaid

African Artiste Of The Year

• Rema (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Marwa Loud (Morocco)
• Black Sherif (Ghana)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Lyricist On The Roll

• Ladipoe – Clowns
• Vector – Clowns
• Payper Corleone – Fly Talk Only
• Alpha Ojini – Vigilante Bop
• A-Q – Family First
• Tec (SDC) – Live Life

International Artiste Recognition

• Sean Combs

Hall Of Fame

• Youssou N’Dour

Best Inspirational Single

• Stand Strong – Davido Ft. Sunday Service Choir
• Jireh (My Provider) – Limoblaze, Lecrae & Happi Music
• This Year – Victor Thompson & Ehis D Greatest
• Eze Ebube – Neon Adejo
• Tobechukwu – Nathaniel Bassey & Mercy Chinwo
• I Get Backing – Victoria Orenze

Digital Artiste Of The Year

• Burna Boy
• Ayra Starr
• Rema
• Omah Lay
• Kizz Daniel
• Asake

Special Recognition

• Sound Sultan

International Artist Of The Year

• Drake
• Future
• Selena Gomez
• Don Toliver
• Ed Sheeran