The esteemed Headies Awards organizers have unveiled the list of nominees for both the voting and non-voting categories of its highly anticipated 16th edition.
The organizers on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, revealed the complete list of nominees for the categories. The nomination process only considered music works, including singles, videos, EPs, and albums that were released and made available on digital streaming platforms between January 2022 and March 2023, corresponding to the year under review.
About the Headies Awards
The Headies Awards, also known as The Headies, is an annual music awards ceremony held in Nigeria. The award ceremony recognizes outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry as well as international artistes and celebrates the contributions of artists, producers, songwriters, and other industry professionals.
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The Headies was first established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine, now known as The Headies Magazine, as a way to honor and promote Nigerian music talent. Over the years, the event has gained significant recognition and has become one of the most prestigious music awards in Nigeria.
The award categories cover various genres of music, including Afrobeats, Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, and more. Some of the categories include Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist, among others. Additionally, there are special categories that recognize music producers, music video directors, and collaborations.
2023 Headies Awards Nomination: In the upcoming edition of the awards, The Headies will extend its recognition to international artists who have left a lasting impact on the Nigerian music industry. The 2023 International Artiste of the Year category will feature notable nominees such as Drake, Future, Selena Gomez, Don Toliver, and Ed Sheeran.
These artists have made significant contributions to the Nigerian music scene and have garnered acclaim for their work within the country. The Headies aims to celebrate their influence and acknowledge their notable presence in the Nigerian music industry.
Nigeria’s Grammy award-winning singer Burna Boy received the most nods on the list with a total of 11 nominations. He also battles for the Album of the Year with Davido, Rema, Asake, Omah Lay and Victony.
Ghanaian music stars, Gyakie, Black Sherif, Camidoh Make also made it to the 2023 Headies Award Nomination List. Check out the complete list of nominations below.
2023 Headies Awards Nominees List
Best Recording of The Year
- Burna Boy – Alone
- Victony, Tempoe – Soweto
- Omah Lay – I’m a mess
- Oxlade – Ku Lo Sa
- Davido, SSC – Stand Strong
- Tems – No Woman, No Cry
Album Of The Year
- Burna Boy – Love, Damini
- Asake – Mr. Money With The Vibe
- Rema – Rave & Roses
- Omah Lay – Boy Alone
- Victony – Outlaw
- Davido – Timeless
Song of The Year
- Rema – Calm Down
- Burna Boy – Last Last
- Oxlade – Ku Lo Sa
- Kizz Daniel, Tekno – Buga
- Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse
- Asake, Burna Boy – Sungba Remix
Best Male Artiste
- Asake
- Rema
- Burna Boy
- Ruger
- Kizz Daniel
- Omah Lay
Best Female Artiste
- Tems
- Simi
- Tiwa Savage
- Ayra Starr
Next Rated
- Spyro
- Seyi Vibez
- Young Jonn
- Asake
- Victony
Songwriter of The Year
- Simi – Royal
- Omah Lay – I’m a mess
- Tems – Lift me Up
- Burna Boy – Alone
- BNXN – In my mind
- Wizard Chan – Earth Song
Producer of The Year
- Magicsticks – Sungba Remix
- Pheelz – Electricity
- Andre Vibez, London – Calm Down
- Tempoe – Soweto
- Kel P – Kpe Paso
- Rexxie – Abracadabra Remix
Afrobeats Single of The Year
- Burna Boy – Last Last
- Ayra Starr – Rush
- Kizz Daniel, Tekno – Buga
- Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse
- Spyro – Who’s Your Guy
- Ruger – Asiwaju
Best RnB Single
- Burna Boy, Ed Sheeran – For my mind
- Ckay – Mmadu
- Dami Oniru – Just 4 U
- Preye – Red Wine
- Chike, Flavour – Hard to find
- Simi, Fave – Loyal
Best Rap Single
- Reminisce – Hustle
- Ladipoe – Big Energy
- Blaqbonez – Back in Uni
- Psycho YP – Bando Diaries
- OdumoduBlvck – Declan Rice
- Jeriq, Phyno – My Bro
Best Alternative Song
- Wizard Chan – Earth song
- Cruel Santino – Final champion
- Basketmouth, The Cavemen – The Traveller
- Boj, Moliy, Mellissa – In a loop
- Flavour – Game Changer (Dike)
- Obongjayar – Tinko Tinko
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
- 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 Vocal Performance (Female)
- Niniola – Memories
- Simi – Loyal
- Liya – Adua Remix
- Waje – In Between
- Preye – Red wine
- Dami Oniru – Just 4 U
Best Music Video
- Blaqbonez, Perliks – Back in Uni
- TG Omori – PBUY
- Director Pink – Spell Remix
- Director K – Common Person
- TG Omori – Bandana
- Director K – Calm Down
Best Collaboration
- Asake, Burna Boy – Sungba Remix
- BNXN, Kizz Daniel, Seyi Vibez – Gwagwalada
- Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse
- Spyro, Tiwa Savage – Who’s Your Guy Remix
- Pheelz, Davido – Electricity
- Wande Coal, Olamide – Kpe Paso
Best Street-Hop Artiste
- Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii – Abracadabra
- Seyi Vibez – Chance (Na Ham)
- Asake – Joha
- Poco Lee, HotKid – Otilo
- Zlatan, Young Jonn – Astalavista
- Mohbad – Peace
Headies Viewers’ Choice
- Ruger – Asiwaju
- Victony, Tempoe – Soweto
- Fireboy DML, Asake – Bandana
- Ayra Starr – 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
- Gyakie (Ghana)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- The Therapist (Liberia)
- Camidoh (Ghana)
Best East African artiste of the year
- Zuchu (Tanzania)
- Hewan Gebreworld (Ethiopia)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
- Rayvanny (Tanzania)
Best North African Artiste of The Year
- Marwa Loud (Morocco)
- Wegz (Egypt)
- El Grande Toto (Morocco)
- Soolking (Algeria)
Best Southern African Artiste of The Year
- AKA (South Africa)
- Nasty C (South Africa)
- Costa Titch (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)
- Focalistic (South Africa)
- DJ Tarico (Mozambique)
Best Central African Artiste of The Year
- Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
- Gaz Mawete (DR Congo)
- Matias Damiaso (Angola)
- Emma’A (Gabon)
- Libianca (Cameroon)
African Artiste Of The Year
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Marwa Loud (Morocco)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Rema (Nigeria)
Digital Artiste Of The Year
- Burna Boy
- Ayra Starr
- Rema
- Omah Lay
- Kizz Daniel
- Asake
International Artiste Of The Year
- Drake
- Future
- Selena Gomez
- Don Toliver
- Ed Sheeran
Lyricist On The Roll
- Ladipoe – Clowns
- Vector – Clowns
- Payper Corleone – Fly Talk Only
- Alpha Ojini – Vigilante Bop
- A-Q – Family First
- Tec (SDC) – Live Life
Best Rap Album
- Payper Corleone – Fly Talk Only
- Show Dem Camp – Palmwine Music Vol. 3
- Blaqbonez – Young Preacher
- Psycho YP – YPSZN3
- Vector – TESLIM
- Jeriq – Billion Dollar Dream
Best Alternative Album
- Basketmouth – Horoscopes
- BOJ – Gbagada Express
- Obongjayar – Some Nights I Dream of Doors
- Cruel Santino – Subaru Boys: Final Heaven
- Somadina – Heart of The Heavenly Undeniable
- Native Sound System – Native World
Best RnB Album
- Johnny Drille – Home
- Chike – The Brother’s Keeper
- Praiz – Reckless
- Waje – Waje 2.0
- Dami Oniru – Matter of Time
- Simi – To Be Honest
