Lagos was on fire last night, April 27, as the 17th edition of the Headies Awards took over the Landmark Events Centre in a spectacular celebration of Nigeria’s thriving music industry.
The star-studded event, hosted by the ever-radiant Nollywood actress Nancy Isime, brought together the biggest names in Afrobeats, hip-hop, and street pop for a night of electrifying performances, emotional tributes, and well-deserved accolades.
As usual, celebrities turned up in glamorous and head-turning fashion, making bold statements on the red carpet before the main event unfolded. But beyond the dazzling outfits and flashing cameras, the Headies 2025 was truly about honoring the artists who defined the sound of the past year.
Big wins and emotional moments
The night belonged to Chike, whose hit single ‘Egwu’ swept two major awards: Viewers’ Choice Award of the Year and Best Music Video. The track, which featured the late Mohbad. also secured a posthumous win for the beloved artist, who was named Best Street-Hop Artiste for his 2023 single ‘Ask About Me’ – this a touching moment that had the audience on their feet and with resounding applause.
Another big winner was Odumodublvck, who clinched the coveted ‘Next Rated’ award and ‘Best Rap Single’ for ‘Cast’, his collaboration with Shallipopi.
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See the full winners’ list below:
Best Recording of the Year
- Tems – ‘Burning’ – WINNER
- Seyi Vibez – ‘Different Pattern’
- Burna Boy – ‘Higher’
- Ayra Star and Giveon – ‘Last Heartbreak Song’
- Sarz and Lojay – ‘Billions’
Best Collaboration
- ‘Emotions’ – Tiwa Savage ft Asa
- ‘Blood on the dance floor’ – Odumodu Blvck, Bloody Civilian and Wale
- ‘Cast’ – Shallipopi ft Odumodu Blvck
- ‘Egwu’ – Chike ft Mohbad – WINNER
- ‘Ole’ – Qing Madi ft Bnxn
- ‘Twe Twe remix’ – Kizz Daniel ft Davido
- ‘IDK’ – Wizkid ft Zlatan
Best Street-hop Artiste
- Seyi Vibez – ‘Different Patterns’
- Ayo Maff – ‘Dealer’ ft (Fire Boy)
- Shallipopi – ‘Cast’ ft (Odumodu Blvck)
- Zhus Jdo – ‘Johnbull’
- Mohbad – ‘Ask About Me’ – WINNER
Afrobeats Single of the Year
- ‘Big Big Things’ – Young John ft Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez
- ‘Twe Twe remix’ – Kizz Daniel ft Davido
- ‘Egwu’ – Chike ft Mohbad
- ‘Remember’ – Asake
- ‘Ogechi remix’ – Hyce, Boypee and Brown Joel ft Davido
- ‘Big Baller’ – Flavour – WINNER
Producer of the Year
- Sarz – ‘Happiness’
- London – ‘Ozeba’ – WINNER
- Magicsticks – ‘Basquiat’
- Rema/Producer X/Cubeats/Deatz/Klimperboy – ‘Hehehe’
- Dibs – ‘Different Pattern’
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
- Ayra Star – ‘Last Heartbreak Song’
- Niniola – ‘Level’
- Simi – ‘Stranger’
- Liya – ‘I’m Done’ – WINNER
- Yemi Alade – ‘Tomorrow’
Best Rap Single
- ‘Cast’ – Odumodu Blvck and Shallipopi – WINNER
- ‘Blood on the dance floor’ – Bloody Civilian, Wale and Odumodu Blvck
- ‘Hallelujah’ – Ladipoe, Rozzz, and Morello
- ‘Canada’ – Magnito
- ‘Ije Nwoke’ – Jeriq
Rookie of the year
- Zerry DL – WINNER
- Taves
- Kaestyles
- Llona
Best R&B single
- Qing Madi – ‘Vision’
- Jonny Drille – ‘For You’
- Simi – ‘Stranger’
- Tems – ‘Burning’
- Ayra Star – ‘Last Heartbreak Song’ ft Giveon
Songwriter of the Year
- Simisola Kosoko – ‘Stranger’ (Simi)
- Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma – ‘Vision’ (Qing Madi) – WINNER
- Michael Ajuma Attah – ‘Can’t Breathe’ (Llona)
- Emoseh Khamofu – ‘Family Meeting’ (Bloody Civilian)
- Fuayefika Maxwell – ‘Stages of Life’ (Wizard Chan)
Music Video of the Year
- ‘Charm’ – Rema, Oerlinks and Folarin Oludare
- ‘Metaverse’ – Jyde Ajala
- ‘Like Ice Spice’ – Perlinks and Emeka Shine Shine
- ‘Ojapiano’ – Mattmax
- ‘Egwu’ – Director Pink – WINNER
- ‘Showa’ – TG Omori
- ‘Na Money’ – Dammy Twitch
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 FT. Lawrence Oyor
- ‘Good God 2’ – Limoblaze FT. Naomi Raine
- ‘Particularly’ – Gaise Baba FT. Tope Alabi
- ‘You Do This One’ – Mercy Chinwo – WINNER
Best West African Artiste of the Year
- Black Sherif (GHANA)
- King Promise (GHANA)
- Himra (IVORY COAST) – WINNER
- Josey (IVORY COAST)
- Toofan (TOGO)
Best East African Artiste of the Year
- Bien (KENYA)
- Diamond Platnumz (TANZANIA)
- Juma Jux (TANZANIA) – WINNER
- Bruce Melodie (RWANDA)
- Azawi (UGANDA)
Best North African Artiste of the Year
- Mohamed Ramadan (EGYPT)
- Elgrande Toto (MOROCCO)
- Soolking (ALGERIA) – WINNER
- Balti (TUNISIA)
- Abu (EYGPT)
Best Rap Album
- ‘Sideh Kai’ – Illbliss
- ‘Eziokwu’ – Odumodublvck
- ‘Alaye Toh Se Gogo VOL. 1’ – Reminisce
- ‘Family Time’ – Erigga – WINNER
- ‘Shiny Object Syndrome’ – Modenine
- ‘Full Time Job’ – Phyno
Best Southern African Artiste of the Year
- Titom (SOUTH AFRICA) – WINNER
- Yuppe (SOUTH AFRICA)
- Tyla (SOUTH AFRICA)
- Kelly Kay (MALAWI)
- Plutonio (MOZAMBIQUE)
- Zee Nxumalo (SOUTH AFRICA)
Next Rated
• Qing Madi
• Shallipopi
• Odumodublvck – WINNER
• Ayo Maff
• Nasboi
Song Of The Year
• ‘Showa’ – Kizz Daniel
• ‘Commas’ – Ayra Starr
• ‘Egwu’ – Chike AND Mohbad
• ‘Lonely At The Top’ – Asake – WINNER
• ‘Ozeba’ – Rema
• ‘Big Baller’ – Flavour
Best Performer (LIVE)
• Rema
• Omah Lay
• Flavour
• Wizard Chan
• Burna Boy – WINNER
• Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
Digital Artiste of the Year
• Ayra Starr
• Rema
• Shallipopi
• Tems
• Davido — WINNER
• Kizz Daniel
• Asake
Album Of The Year
• ‘Born In The Wild’ – Tems
• ‘HeIs’ – Rema – WINNER
• ‘The Year I Turned 21’ – Ayra Starr
• ‘Stubborn’ – Victony
• ‘Work Of Art’ – Asake
Soundtrack of the Year
- ‘Eledumare’ – Teledalase (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
- ‘Lose to Gain’– Kaline (Breathe of Life)
- ‘Kill Boro’ – Native Filmworks and Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)
- ‘Orisa’ – Beriola (Orisa)
- ‘Emotions’ – Tiwa Savage and Asa (Water and Garri)
- ‘Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack’ – TCJ and Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack) — WINNER
Headies Viewer’s Choice
‘Dealer’ – Ayo Maff (ft. Fireboy DML)
‘Egwu’ – Chike & Mohbad — WINNER
‘Big Baller’ – Flavour
‘Big Big Things’ – Young Jonn (ft. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
‘Ogechi Remix’ – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (ft. Davido)
‘Showa’ – Kizz Daniel
‘Different Pattern’ – Seyi Vibez
‘OZEBA’ – Rema
‘Love Me Jeje’ – Tems
‘Cast’ – Shallipopi (ft. Odumodublvck)
