Tems, Odumodublvck, and Liya Shine Amid Technical Challenges
The 17th edition of the Headies Awards took place in Nigeria, gathering top names in music at the Eko Convention Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday night.
The event, themed “Back to Base” and “Apologetically African,” celebrated excellence in African music for the eligibility period between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024.
In addition to recognizing outstanding achievements, the 17th Headies introduced two new categories: “Soundtrack of the Year” and “Best Performer (Live),” expanding the scope of accolades for artists.
However, the event was marred by poor time management and technical issues, leading to an abrupt end before winners in some major categories were announced.
As of 3:32 am WAT, winners for the following categories had not been announced: Best R&B Single, Best Collaboration, Lyricist on the Roll, Best Rap Album, Best Inspirational Single, Best West African Artiste of the Year, Best North African Artiste of the Year, Best South African Artiste of the Year, Best Performer (Live), and a few others.
Funke Akindele’s record-breaking movie, A Tribe Called Judah, won the newly introduced “Soundtrack of the Year” award.
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Recording of the Year
- Tems: Burning – WINNER
- Seyi Vibe: Different Pattern
- Burna Boy: Higher
- Ayra Starr & Giveon: Last Heartbreak Song
- Sarz & Lojay: Billions
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
- Lojay: Billions – WINNER
- Omah Lay: Moving
- Anendlessocean: Gratitude
- Johnny Drille: For You
- Timi Dakolo: Ke Na Ke So
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
- Liya: I’m Done – WINNER
- Ayra Starr: Last Heartbreak Song
- Niniola: Level
- Simi: Stranger
- Yemi Alade: Tomorrow
Artiste of the Year
- Davido
- Ayra Starr
- Asake
- Tems
- Rema
- Burna Boy
Next Rated Award
- Odumodublvck – WINNER
- Qing Madi
- Shallipopi
- Ayo Maff
- Nasboi
Rookie of the Year
- Zerry DL – WINNER
- Taves
- Kaestyles
- Llona
Album of the Year
- Born in the Wild – Tems
- HEIS – Rema
- Stubborn – Victony
- Work of Art – Asake
- The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
Song of the Year
- Asake: Lonely at the Top – WINNER
- Ayra Starr: Commas
- Kizz Daniel: Showa
- Chike ft. Mohbad: Egwu
- Rema: Ozeba
- Flavour: Big Baller
Songwriter of the Year
- Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma: Vision (Qing Madi) – WINNER
- Simisola Kosoko: Stranger (Simi)
- Michael Ajuma Attah: Can’t Breathe (Llona)
- Emoseh Khamofu: Family Meeting (Bloody Civilian)
- Fuayefika Maxwell: Stages of Life (Wizard Chan)
Best Collaboration
- Tiwa Savage ft. Asa: Emotions
- Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian, Wale: Blood on the Dance Floor
- Chike ft. Mohbad: Egwu
- Qing Madi ft. Bnxn: Ole
- Kizz Daniel ft. Davido: Twe Twe (Remix)
- Shallipopi ft. Odumodublvck: Cast
- Wizkid ft. Zlatan: IDK
Music Video of the Year
- Director Pink: Egwu – WINNER
- Rema, Oerlinks, Folarin Oludare: Charm
- Jyde Ajala: Metaverse
- Perlinks, Emeka Shine Shine: Like Ice Spice
- Mattmax: Ojapiano
- TG Omori: Showa
- Dammy Twitch: Na Money
Best Street-Hop Artiste
- Mohbad: Ask About Me – WINNER
- Seyi Vibez: Different Patterns
- Ayo Maff ft. Fireboy: Dealer
- Shallipopi ft. Odumodublvck: Cast
- Zhus Jdo: Johnbull
Best R&B Single
- Tems: Burning
- Ayra Starr ft. Giveon: Last Heartbreak Song
- Simi: Stranger
- Jonny Drille: For You
- Qing Madi: Vision
Afrobeats Single of the Year
- Flavour: Big Baller – WINNER
- Kizz Daniel ft. Davido: Twe Twe Remix
- Chike ft. Mohbad: Egwu
- Asake: Remember
- Hyce, Boypee, Brown Joel ft. Davido: Ogechi Remix
Afrobeats Album of the Year
- HEIS – Rema – WINNER
- Stubborn – Victony
- Work of Art – Asake
- The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
- Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn
Best Rap Single
- Shallipopi & Odumodublvck: Cast – WINNER
- Odumodublvck, Wale, Bloody Civilian: Blood on the Dance Floor
- Ladipoe, Rozzz, Morello: Hallelujah
- Magnito: Canada
- Jeriq: Ije Nwoke
Best Rap Album
- Eziokwu – Odumodublvck
- Sideh Kai – Illbliss
- Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol.1 – Reminisce
- Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine
- Family Time – Erigga
Producer of the Year
- London: Ozeba – WINNER
- Sarz: Happiness
- Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Klimperboy: Hehehe
- Maggsticks: Basquait
- Dibs: Different Pattern
Digital Artiste of the Year
- Davido – WINNER
- Ayra Starr
- Shallipopi
- Rema
- Tems
- Kizz Daniel
- Asake
Lyricist on the Roll
- A-Q: Mogadishu
- M.I. Abaga: Chocolate City Cypher
- Blaqbonez: Chocolate City Cypher
- Ladipoe: Hallelujah
- Alpha Ojini: Efeleme
Best Performer (Live)
- Burna Boy
- Flavour
- Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
- Omah Lay
- Rema
- Wizard Chan
Viewers’ Choice
- Chike ft. Mohbad: Egwu – WINNER
- Kizz Daniel: Showa
- Seyi Vibez: Different Pattern
- Rema: Ozeba
- Tems: Love Me JeJe
- Shallipopi & Odumodublvck: CAST
- Young Jonn, Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez: Big Big Things
- Ayo Maff & Fireboy DML: Dealer
Soundtrack of the Year
- Abbey Wonder & TCJ: A Tribe Called Judah – WINNER
- Anikulapo: Rise of the Sceptre
- Kaline: Lose to Gain
- Wizard Chan: Kill Boro
- Beriola: Orisa
- Tiwa Savage & Asa: Emotions
Best Inspirational Single
- Anendlessocean: Gratitude
- Dunsin Oyekan ft. Lawrence Oyor: Worthy of My Praise
- Limoblaze ft. Naomi Raine: Good God
- 2Gaise Baba ft. Tope Alabi: Particularly
- Mercy Chinwo: You Do This One
Best Southern African Artiste of the Year
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Zee Nxumalo (South Africa)
- Plutonio (Mozambique)
- Kelly Kay (Malawi)
- TitoM (South Africa)
- Yuppe (South Africa)
Best North African Artiste of the Year
- Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
- Abu (Egypt)
- ElGrandeToto (Morocco)
- Soolking (Algeria)
- Balti (Tunisia)
Best East African Artiste of the Year
- Juma Jux (Tanzania) – WINNER
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Bien (Kenya)
- Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
- Azawi (Uganda)
Best West African Artiste of the Year
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- King Promise (Ghana)
- Himra (Ivory Coast)
- Josey (Ivory Coast)
- Toofan (Togo)
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
- Innoss’B (DRC) – WINNER
- Gaz Mawete (DRC)
- Emma’a (Gabon)
- Eboloko (Gabon)
- Singuila (Central African Republic)
- Kocee (Cameroon)