The full winners list for the 2023 16th edition of the prestigious award The Headies is out with the raves of the moment Rema, Burna Boy, Asake and Odumodublvck leading with more than one awards.
The award show was held on Sunday, September 3, 2023, in Atlanta, United States, with lots of Nigerian music stars present and with its Hosts as Osas Ighodaro and Terrence J.
Some great Nigerian music stars such as Johnny Drille, Wande Coal, Asake, Rema, Oxlade, Niniola, Fireboy, Kcee, Ayra Starr, Victony, Blaqbonez, Spyro, Young Jonn, Seyi Vibez performed live at the event.
The likes of Burna Boy, and Rema took home three awards each. While superstars like Asake, Odumodublvck, and Victony received double awards.
Burna Boy won the category for Afrobeats of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R & B Single. Rema grabbed Best Male Artiste, Digital Artiste of the Year, and African Artiste of the Year categories.
Asake won the most anticipated Next Rated category which comes with gift of a car and Album of the Year. Odumodublvck’s hit single Declan Rice won him Rookie of the Year and Best Rap Single, while Victony’s Soweto earned him Headies Viewers’ Choice and Best Recording of the Year.
Below is complete winners’ list as was declared by The Headies academy.
NEXT RATED
This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with a single, EP or Album) in the year under review.
And the nominees are;
YOUNG JONN (@youngjonn )
SEYI VIBEZ (@seyi_vibez )
ASAKE (@asakemusic ) – WINNER
VICTONY (@vict0ny )
SPYRO (@spyro__official )
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.
And the nominees are;
BAYANNI (@itsbayanni )
KHAID ( @khaidxr )
GUCHI ( @officialguchi )
BLOODY CIVILIAN (@bloody__civ )
ODUMODUBLVCK (@odumodublvck) – WINNER
ELTEE SKHILLZ ( @themaineltee )
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.
And the nominees are;
“ALONE” – BURNA BOY (@burnaboygram )
“SOWETO” – VICTONY & TEMPOE (@vict0ny x @tempoe_ ) – WINNER
“I’M A MESS” – OMAH LAY (@omah_lay )
“KU LO SA” – OXLADE (@oxladeofficial )
“STAND STRONG” – DAVIDO FT. SUNDAY SERVICE CHOIR (@davido )
“NO WOMAN, NO CRY” – TEMS ( @temsbaby )
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
And the nominees are;
MAGICSTICKS ( @magicsticks_ )– “SUNGBA REMIX” (ASAKE)
PHEELZ (@pheelzgood )– “ELECTRICTY” (PHEELZ FT DAVIDO)
ANDRE VIBEZ & LONDON (@andrevibez x @thisizlondon ) – “CALM DOWN” (REMA)
TEMPOE (@tempoe_ )– “SOWETO” (VICTONY & TEMPOE)
KEL-P (@kelpvibes ) – “KPE PASO” (WANDE COAL & OLAMIDE)
REXXIE (@rexxiepondabeat ) – “ABRACADABRA” (REXXIE, NAIRA MARLEY, SKIIBII & WIZKID) – WINNER
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition) in the year under review.
And the nominees are;
SIMI KOSOKO, GODSFAVOUR CHIDOZIE, KOSOKO ADEKUNLE, MARCEL AKUNWATA – “LOYAL” (SIMI) – WINNER
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).
And the nominees are;
“FOR MY HAND” – BURNA BOY FT. ED SHEERAN (@burnaboygram ft @teddysphotos) – WINNER
“MMADU” – CKAY (@ckay_yo )
“JUST 4 U” – DAMI ONIRU (@damioniru_ )
“RED WINE” – PREYE (@preye_itams )
“HARD TO FIND” – CHIKE – FT. FLAVOUR (@officialchike ft @2niteflavour )
“LOYAL” – SIMI FT. FAVE ( @symplysimi ft @faveszn )
BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.
And the nominees are;
“HUSTLE” – REMINISCE (@iamreminisce )
“BIG ENERGY” – LADIPOE (@ladipoe )
“BACK IN UNI” – BLAQBONEZ (@blaqbonez )
“BANDO DIARIES” – PSYCHOYP (@psychoyp )
“DECLAN RICE” – ODUMODUBLVCK (@odumodublvck ) – WINNER
“MY BRO” – JERIQ FT. PHYNO ( @jeriqthehussla ft @phynofino )
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.
And the nominees are;
“EARTH SONG” – WIZARD CHAN (@wizard.chan ) – WINNER
“FINAL CHAMPION” – CRUEL SANTINO (@cruelsantino )
“THE TRAVELLER” – BASKETMOUTH FT THE CAVEMEN
“IN A LOOP” – BOJ FT MOLIY & MELLISSA (@bojonthemicrophone )
“GAME CHANGER” (DIKE) – FLAVOUR (@2niteflavour )
“TINKO TINKO” – OBONGJAYAR (@obongjayar )
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single or album.
And the nominees are;
NINIOLA (@officialniniola )– “MEMORIES”
SIMI (@symplysimi )- “LOYAL”
WAJE (@officialwaje )– “IN BETWEEN” – WINNER
LIYA (@yes_liya )– “ADUA REMIX”
PREYE (@preye_itams )– “RED WINE”
DAMI ONIRU (@damioniru_ )– “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.
And the nominees are;
OXLADE (@oxladeofficial )– “KU LO SA”
RIC HASSANI (@richassani )– “MY ONLY BABY”
MAGIXX (@iam_magixx )– “LOVE DON’T COST A DIME”
CHIKE (@officialchike )– “SPELL REMIX”
PRAIZ (@officialpraiz )– “RECKLESS”
WANDE COAL (@wandecoal ) – “KPE PASO” – WINNER
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.
And the nominees are;
BLAQBONEZ & Perliks – “BACK IN UNI” (@blaqbonez x @perliksdefinition )
TG OMORI – “PBUY” (ASAKE)
( @boy_director )
DIRECTOR PINK (@pinklinefilms )– “SPELL REMIX” (CHIKE & OXLADE)
TG OMORI (@boy_director )– “BANDANA” (FIREBOY & ASAKE)
DIRECTOR K (@dir.k_ )– “COMMON PERSON” (BURNA BOY)
DIRECTOR K (@dir.k_ ) – “CALM DOWN” (REMA) – WINNER
BEST COLLABORATION
A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).
And the nominees are;
ASAKE FT. BURNA BOY – “SUNGBA REMIX” (@asakemusic ft @burnaboygram )
BNXN FT KIZZ DANIEL & SEYI VIBEZ – “GWAGWALADA” (@toyourears ft @kizzdaniel x @seyi_vibez )
PHEELZ FT BNXN – “FINESSE” (@pheelzgood ft @toyourears )
SPYRO FT. TIWA SAVAGE – “WHO’S YOUR GUY REMIX” (@spyro__official ft @tiwasavage) – WINNER
PHEELZ FT DAVIDO – “ELECTRICITY” (@pheelzgood fr @davido )
WANDE COAL FT. OLAMIDE – “KPE PASO” (@wandecoal ft @olamide )
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.
And the nominees are;
REXXIE FT. NAIRA MARLEY & SKIIBII – “ABRACADABRA” (@rexxiepondabeat ft @nairamarley & @skiibii )
SEYI VIBEZ – “CHANCE (NA HAM)” (@seyi_vibez) – WINNER
ASAKE – “JOHA” (@asakemusic )
ZLATAN FT. YOUNG JONN – “ASTALAVISTA” (@zlatan_ibile ft @youngjonn )
POCO LEE & HOTKID – “OTILO” (@poco_lee ft @hotkidfire )
MOHBAD – “PEACE” (@iammohbad )
AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in year under review (by single individual or group).
And the nominees are;
“LAST LAST” – BURNA BOY (@burnaboygram) – WINNER
“RUSH” – AYRA STARR (@ayrastarr )
“BUGA” – KIZZ DANIEL & TEKNO (@kizzdaniel ft @teknomiles )
“FINESSE” – PHEELZ FT BNXN (@pheelzgood ft @toyourears )
“WHO’S YOUR GUY?” – SPYRO ( @spyro__official )
“ASIWAJU” – RUGER (@rugerofficial )
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.
And the nominees are;
RUGER – “ASIWAJU” (@rugerofficial )
VICTONY & TEMPOE – “SOWETO” (@vict0ny & @tempoe_ ) – WINNER
FIREBOY DML & ASAKE – ( “BANDANA” (@fireboydml & @asakemusic )
AYRA STAR – “RUSH” (@ayrastarr )
ASAKE – “TERMINATOR” (@asakemusic )
MAVINS – “OVERLOADING (OVERDOSE)” (@mavinrecords )
CRAYON – “IJO (LABA LABA)” (@crayonthis )
OXLADE – “KU LO SA” (@oxladeofficial )
KIZZ DANIEL & TEKNO – “BUGA” ( @kizzdaniel & @teknomiles )
PHEELZ & DAVIDO – “ELECTRICITY” (@pheelzgood & @davido )
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.
And the nominees are;
GYAKIE (GHANA) (@gyakie_ )
BLACK SHERIF (GHANA) (@blacksherif_ ) – WINNER
THE THERAPIST (LIBERIA) (@__thetherapist_ )
CAMIDOH (GHANA) ( @camidoh )
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.
And the nominees are;
ZUCHU (@officialzuchu )
DIAMOND PLATINUMZ (@diamondplatnumz) – WINNER
RAYVANNY (@rayvanny )
EDDY KENZO (@eddykenzo )
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.
And the nominees are;
MARWA LOUD – MOROCCO ( @marwa_loud)
WEGZ – EGYPT (@wegzofficial )
EL GRANDE TOTO – MOROCCO (@elgrandetoto) – WINNER
SOOLKING – ALGERIA (@soolkingofficiel )
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.
And the nominees are;
AKA (SOUTH AFRICA) (@akaworldwide )
NASTY C – SOUTH AFRICA ( @nasty_csa )
COSTA TITCH – SOUTH AFRICA (@costatitch )
UNCLE WAFFLES – SOUTH AFRICA ( @unclewaffles_ )
FOCALISTIC – SOUTH AFRICA ( @focalistic) – WINNER
DJ TARICO – MOZAMBIQUE ( @djtarico_yababuluku )
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.
And the nominees are;
FALLY IPUPA – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ( @fallyipupa01 )
GAZ MAWETE – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (@gazmawete )
MATIAS DAMASIO – ANGOLA (@matias_damasio_oficial )
EMMA’A – GABON (@emma_issembe )
LIBIANCA – CAMEROON ( @iamlibianca) – WINNER
BEST R&B ALBUM
A category for the best R&B album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
And the nominees are;
HOME – JOHNNY DRILLE ( @johnnydrille )
THE BROTHER’S KEEPER – CHIKE (@officialchike ) – WINNER
RECKLESS – PRAIZ (@officialpraiz )
WAJE 2.0 – WAJE (@officialwaje )
MATTER OF TIME – DAMI ONIRU (@damioniru_)
TO BE HONEST (TBH) – SIMI (@symplysimi )
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
A category for the best Alternative album in the year under review (by single individual or group)
And the nominees are;
HOROSCOPES – BASKETMOUTH
GBAGADA EXPRESS – BOJ (@bojonthemicrophone) – WINNER
SOME NIGHTS I DREAM OF DOORS – OBONGJAYAR (@obongjayar )
SUBARU BOYS: FINAL HEAVEN – CRUEL SANTINO (@cruelsantino )
HEART OF THE HEAVENLY UNDENIABLE – SOMADINA (@somadina )
NATIVE WORLD – NATIVE SOUND SYSTEM (@nativesoundsystem )
BEST RAP ALBUM
A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review.
Andnd the nominees are;
FLY TALK ONLY – PAYPER CORLEONE (@itsyourmancorleone )
PALMWINE MUSIC VOL 3 – SHOW DEM CAMP (@showdemcamp )
YOUNG PREACHER – BLAQBONEZ
(@blaqbonez) – WINNER
YPSZN3 – PSYCHOYP (@psychoyp )
TESLIM: THE ENERGY STILL LIVES IN ME – VECTOR (@vectorthaviper )
BILLION DOLLAR DREAM – JERIQ (@jeriqthehussla )
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).
And the nominees are;
LOVE, DAMINI – BURNA BOY (@burnaboygram )
MR MONEY WITH THE VIBE – ASAKE (@asakemusic) – WINNER
RAVE AND ROSES – REMA (@heisrema )
BOY ALONE – OMAH LAY (@omah_lay )
OUTLAW – VICTONY (@vict0ny )
TIMELESS – DAVIDO (@davido )
SONG OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
And the nominees are;
“CALM DOWN” – REMA (@heisrema)
“LAST LAST” – BURNA BOY (@burnaboygram) – WINNER
“KU LO SA” – OXLADE (@oxladeofficial )
“BUGA” – KIZZ DANIEL & TEKNO (@kizzdaniel & @teknomiles )
“FINESSE” – PHEELZ FT. BNXN (@pheelzgood x @toyourears )
“SUNGBA REMIX” – ASAKE FT. BURNA BOY (@asakemusic ft @burnaboygram)
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE
Overall most successful female artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.
And the nominees are;
TEMS (@temsbaby )
SIMI (@symplysimi )
TIWA SAVAGE (@tiwasavage )
BEST MALE ARTISTE
Overall, most successful male artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.
And the nominees are;
ASAKE (@asakemusic )
REMA (@heisrema) – WINNER
KIZZ DANIEL (@kizzdaniel )
RUGER (@rugerofficial )
OMAH LAY (@omah_lay )
BURNA BOY (@burnaboygram )
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.
And the nominees are;
REMA (NIGERIA) (@heisrema) – WINNER
BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)(@burnaboygram )
MARWA LOUD (MOROCCO) (@marwa_loud )
BLACK SHERIF (GHANA) (@blacksherif_ )
DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA) (@diamondplatnumz )
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
And the nominees are;
LADIPOE – “CLOWNS” (@ladipoe )
VECTOR – “CLOWNS” (@vectorthaviper )
PAYPER CORLEONE – “FLY TALK ONLY” (@itsyourmancorleone) – WINNER
ALPHA OJINI – “VIGILANTE BOP” (@alpha_ojini)
A-Q – “FAMILY FIRST” (@thisisaq )
TEC (SDC) – “LIVE LIFE” (@showdemcamp )
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE
A voting award category for the best inspirational single in year under review (by an individual or group).
And the nominees are;
“STAND STRONG” – DAVIDO FT SUNDAY SERVICE CHOIR ( @davido )
“JIREH (MY PROVIDER)” – LIMOBLAZE, LECRAE & HAPPI MUSIC (@limoblaze_ x @lecrae x @happimusic )
“THIS YEAR” – VICTOR THOMPSON & EHIS ‘D’ GREATEST (@victorthompson_ x @ehis_d_greatest )
“EZE EBUBE” – NEON ADEJO (@neonadejo) – WINNER
“TOBECHUKWU” – NATHANIEL BASSEY AND MERCY CHINWO (@nathanielblow x @mercychinwo )
“I GET BACKING” – VICTORIA ORENZE (@victoriaorenze )
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.
And the nominees are;
BURNA BOY (@burnaboygram )
AYRA STARR (@ayrastarr )
REMA (@heisrema) – WINNER
OMAH LAY (@omah_lay )
KIZZ DANIEL (@kizzdaniel )
ASAKE (@asakemusic )
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.
And the nominees are;
DRAKE (@champagnepapi )
FUTURE (@future )
SELENA GOMEZ (@selenagomez) – WINNER
DON TOLIVER (@dontoliver )
ED SHEERAN (@teddysphotos )
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.
SOUND SULTAN
HALL OF FAME
A special recognition to an individual of African Descent, for excellence and outstanding impact to the African entertainment industry, home and abroad.
YOUSSOU N’DOUR
(@youssoundour1959 )
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
(@diddy)