The Headies Award Nomination List

Explore The Headies Award Nomination list for the 16^th edition of the most prestigious music award show in Nigeria.

The list of The Headies nominees comprises an array of both local and international artists (notably, Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, Asake, Omah Lay and Victony, Drake, Future, Selena Gomez, Don Toliver, and Ed Sheeran) that have been recognized for their contribution to the music scene in the past year.

The Headies Nominees 2023

Here is the full nominations list of the 16th Headies Awards.

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.

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

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.

• “Alone” – Burna Boy
• “Soweto” – Victony & Tempoe
• “I’m A Mess” – Omah Lay
• “Ku Lo Sa” – Oxlade
• “Stand Strong” – Davido Ft. Sunday Service Choir
• “No Woman, No Cry” – Tems

Producer of the Year

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

• Magicsticks – “Sungba Remix” (Asake)
• Prime, Tmxo & Pheelz – “Electricty” (Pheelz Ft Davido)
• Andre Vibez & London – “Calm Down” (Rema)
• Tempoe – “Soweto” (Victony & Tempoe)
• Kel-P – “Kpe Paso” (Wande Coal & Olamide)
• Rexxie – “Abracadabra” (Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii & Wizkid)

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.

• Simi Kosoko, Godsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata – “Loyal” (Simi)
• Stanley Didia, Adebajo Adebanjo – “I’m A Mess” (Omah Lay)
• Tems, Ludwig Goransson, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Ryan Coogler – “Lift Me Up” (Rihanna)
• Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Austin Jnr Iornongu Iwar, Peace Oredope, Ludwig Goransson – “Alone” (Burna Boy)
• Daniel Benson “In My Mind” (Bnxn)
• Fuayefika Maxwell – Earth Song (Wizard Chan)

Best R&B Single

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

• “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

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

• “Hustle” – Reminisce
• “Big Energy” – Ladipoe
• “Back In Uni” – Blaqbonez
• “Bando Diaries” – Psychoyp
• “Declan Rice” – Odumodublvck
• “My Bro” – Jeriq Ft. Phyno

Best ‘Alternative’ Song

A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.

• “Earth Song” – Wizard Chan
• “Final Champion” – Cruel Santino
• “The Traveller” – Basketmouth Ft the Cavemen
• “In A Loop” – Boj Ft Moliy & Mellissa
• “Game Changer” (Dike) – Flavour
• “Tinko Tinko” – Obongjayar

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

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

• Niniola – “Memories”
• Simi –  “Loyal”
• Waje – “In Between“
• Liya – “Adua Remix”
• Preye – “Red Wine”
• Dami Oniru – “Just 4 U”

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

• Oxlade – “Ku Lo Sa”
• Ric Hassani – “My Only Baby”
• Magixx – “Love Don’t Cost A Dime”
• Chike – “Spell Remix”
• Praiz – “Reckless”
• Wande Coal – “Kpe Paso”

Best Music Video

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.

• Blaqbonez & Perliks – “Back In Uni” (Blaqbonez)
• Tg Omori – “Pbuy” (Asake)
• Director Pink– “Spell Remix” (Chike & Oxlade)
• Tg Omori – “Bandana” (Fireboy & Asake)
• Director K – “Common Person” (Burna Boy)
• Director K – “Calm Down” (Rema)

Best Collaboration

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

• 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

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

• Rexxie Ft. Naira Marley & Skiibii – “Abracadabra”
• Seyi Vibez – “Chance (Na Ham)”
• Asake – “Joha”
• Zlatan Ft. Young Jonn – “Astalavista”
• Poco Lee & Hotkid – “Otilo”
• Mohbad – “Peace”

Afrobeats Single of the Year

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

• “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

A voting category to award the fans’ favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.

• Ruger – “Asiwaju”
• Victony & Tempoe – “Soweto”
• Fireboy Dml & Asake – “Bandana”
• Ayra Star – “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

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Western African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• ­Gyakie (Ghana)
• Black Sherif (Ghana)
• The Therapist (Liberia)
• Camidoh (Ghana)

Check out: List of VGMA Nominees

Best East African Artiste of the Year

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Eastern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• Zuchu
• Diamond Platinumz
• Rayvanny
• Eddy Kenzo
• Hewan Gebreworld

Best North African Artiste Of The Year

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Northern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• Marwa Loud – Morocco
• Wegz – Egypt
• El Grande Toto – Morocco
• Soolking – Algeria

Best Southern African Artiste Of The Year

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Southern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• 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

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Central African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• Fally Ipupa – Democratic Republic Of Congo
• Gaz Mawete – Democratic Republic Of Congo
• Matias Damasio – Angola
• Emma’a – Gabon
• Libianca – Cameroon

Best R&B Album

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

• 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

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

• 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

A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in the year under review.

• 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

A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in the year under review that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition, and impact).

• 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

A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

• “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

Overall most successful female artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.

• Tems
• Simi
• Ayra Starr
• Tiwa Savage

Best Male Artiste

Overall, the most successful male artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.

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

Next Rated

This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with a single, EP, or Album) in the year under review.

• Young Jonn
• Seyi Vibez
• Asake
• Victony
• Spyro

African Artiste Of The Year

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact, and infiltration into the international music scene within the year under review.

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

Lyricist on the Roll

A non-voting category for the rapper with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album in the year under review

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

International Artiste Recognition

A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the Nigerian entertainment industry within a specific period and/or the year under review.

• Sean ‘Love’ Combs

­Hall Of Fame

Special recognition to an individual of African Descent, for excellence and outstanding impact on the African entertainment industry, at home and abroad.

• Youssou N’dour

Best Inspirational Single

A voting award category for the best inspirational single in year under review (by an individual or group).

• “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 And Mercy Chinwo
• “I Get Backing” – Victoria Orenze

Digital Artiste of the Year

A voting award category for an individual Nigerian artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact digitally in the year under review.

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

Special Recognition

Special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact on the entertainment industry.

• Sound Sultan

International Artist of the Year

A voting award category for a non-African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact on Afrobeats

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