By Abiola Olawale
The 17th Headies Awards, held on April 27, 2025, in Lagos State, delivered a night of electrifying performances with many celebrities gathering to celebrate another edition of the award event.
Nigerian music heavyweights Davido, Tems, Rema, and rising star Zerry DL emerged as standout winners, cementing their dominance in the African music scene.
Davido, a global Afrobeats icon, clinched the coveted Artiste of the Year award.
Tems, fresh off her Grammy win, took home the Best Recording of the Year for her soul-stirring track “Burning.”
Rema, the “Calm Down” hitmaker, won Afrobeats Album of the Year for his chart-topping project HEIS.
Breakout star Zerry DL stole the spotlight by winning Rookie of the Year, a testament to his rapid ascent in the Nigerian music scene.
Among the major highlights and most anticipated category, Odumodublvck emerged as the coveted Next Rated Artist, beating out strong contenders like Shallipopi, Qing Madi, and Ayo Maff.
Full List of Winners:
Rookie of the Year
(WINNER: Zerry DL)
– Taves
– Kaestyle
– Llona
Best Recording of the Year
(WINNER: “Burning” – Tems)
– “Different Patterns” – Seyi Vibez
– “Higher” – Burna Boy
– “Last Heartbreak Song” – Ayra Starr and Giveon
– “Billions” – Sarz and Lojay
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
(WINNER: “Billions” – Lojay)
– “Moving” – Omah Lay
– “Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
– “For You” – Johnny Drille
– “Ke Na Ke So” – Timi Dakolo
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
(WINNER: “I’m Done” – Liya)
– “Last Heartbreak Song” – Ayra Starr
– “Level” – Niniola
– “Stranger” – Simi
– “Tomorrow” – Yemi Alade
Next Rated
(WINNER: Odumodublvck)
– Qing Madi
– Shallipopi
– Ayo Maff
Song of the Year
(WINNER: “Lonely at the Top” – Asake)
– “Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
– “OZEBA” – Rema
– “Showa” – Kizz Daniel
– “Commas” – Ayra Starr
Afrobeats Single of the Year
(WINNER: “Big Baller” – Flavour)
– “Big Big Things” – Young Jonn (feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
– “Twe Twe Remix” – Kizz Daniel
– “Egwu” – Chike (feat. Mohbad)
– “Remember” – Asake
– “Ogechi Remix” – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (feat. Davido)
Producer of the Year
(WINNER: “OZEBA” – London)
– “Happiness” – Sarz
– “Basquiat” – Magicsticks
– “HEHEHE” – Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz and Klimperboy
– “Different Patterns” – Dibs
Afrobeats Album of the Year
(WINNER: HEIS – Rema)
– Stubborn – Victony
– Work of Art – Asake
– The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
– Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn
Music Video of the Year
(WINNER: “EGWU” – Director Pink)
– “Charm” – Rema (directed by Perliks and Folarin Oludare)
– “Metaverse” – Jyde Ajala
– “Like Ice Spice” – Perliks and Emeka Shine Shine
– “Ojapiano” – Mattmax
– “Showa” – TG Omori
– “Na Money” – Dammy Twitch
Soundtrack of the Year
(WINNER: “Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack” – TCJ and Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack))
– “Eledumare” – Teledalase (Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre)
– “Lose to Gain” – Kaline (Breath of Life)
– “Kill Boro” – Native Filmworks and Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)
– “Orisa” – Beriola (Orisa)
– “Emotions” – Tiwa Savage and Asa (Water and Garri)
Special Recognition Award Recipients
– Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
– Alex Okosi
– Amaju Pinnick
Humanitarian Award Recipients
– Temitola Adekunle Johnson
– Michelle Mukoro (King Mitchy)
Songwriter of the Year
(WINNER: “Vision” – Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi))
– “Stranger” – Simisola Kosoko (Simi)
– “Can’t Breathe” – Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona)
– “Family Meeting” – Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian)
– “Stages of Life” – Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan)
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice
(WINNER: “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad)
– “Big Baller” – Flavour
– “Big Big Things” – Young Jonn (feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
– “Ogechi Remix” – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (feat. Davido)
– “Showa” – Kizz Daniel
– “Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez
– “OZEBA” – Rema
– “Love Me Jeje” – Tems
– “Cast” – Shallipopi (feat. Odumodublvck)
– “Dealer” – Ayo Maff (feat. Fireboy DML)
Best Rap Single
(WINNER: “Cast” – Shallipopi and Odumodublvck)
– “Blood on the Dance Floor” – Bloody Civilian, Wale, and Odumodublvck
– “Hallelujah” – Ladipoe, Rozzz, and Morello
– “Canada” – Magnito
– “Ije Nwoke” – Jeriq
Best Street-Hop Artiste
(WINNER: Mohbad – “Ask About Me”)
– Zhus Jdo – “Johnbull”
– Seyi Vibez – “Different Patterns”
– Ayo Maff – “Dealer” (feat. Fireboy DML)
– Shallipopi – “Cast” (feat. Odumodublvck)
Digital Artiste of the Year
(WINNER: Davido)
– Ayra Starr
– Rema
– Shallipopi
– Tems
– Kizz Daniel
– Asake
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
(WINNER: Innoss’B (DRC))
– Gaz Mawete (DRC)
– Emma’A (Gabon)
– Ebokolo (Gabon)
– Singuila (Central African Republic)
– Koceé (Cameroon)
Best East African Artiste of the Year
(WINNER: Juma Jux (Tanzania))
– Bien (Kenya)
– Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
– Bruce Melody (Rwanda)
– Azawi (Uganda)
Special Recognition
– KCee
