It was a night of glitz, glamour, and unexpected drama as Africa’s biggest music stars gathered at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, for the 17th edition of The Headies Awards. After two years of hosting the event in Atlanta, Georgia, the ceremony made a grand return to Nigerian soil under the themes “Back to Base” and “Apologetically African.”
The 2025 Headies Awards celebrated outstanding achievements across the African music landscape, covering works released between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024. This year also saw the introduction of two new categories, Soundtrack of the Year and Best Performer (Live) broadening the awards’ scope and deepening its commitment to honouring artistic excellence.
Despite the star-studded performances and electric atmosphere, the event struggled behind the scenes. Poor time management and a series of technical glitches plagued the night, leading organisers to abruptly end the ceremony before all winners could be announced. As of 3:32am WAT, several major categories, including Best R&B Single, Best Collaboration, Lyricist on the Roll, Best Rap Album, Best Inspirational Single, and regional Artist of the Year awards had not been revealed, leaving fans and nominees in suspense.
Still, amidst the chaos, some moments stood out. Actress and producer Funke Akindele scored a major win with her record-breaking film ‘A Tribe Called Judah,’ clinching the inaugural Soundtrack of the Year award and marking a historic moment in Headies history.
The night may have ended on a cliffhanger, but one thing was certain, African music continues to shine brightly on the world stage, and the Headies remains a powerful platform celebrating that brilliance.
Here is the full list of Headies winners:
Best Recording of the Year
Tems: Burning – WINNER
Seyi Vibe: different pattern
Burna Boy: Higher
Ayra Starr & Giveon: Last Heartbreak Song
Sarz & Lojay: Billions
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
“Billions” – Lojay – WINNER
“Moving” – Omah Lay
“Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
“For You” – Johnny Drille
“Ke Na Ke So” – Timi Dakolo
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
Ayra Star: Last Heartbreak Song
Niniola: Level
Simi: Stranger
Liya: I’m Done – WINNER
Yemi Alade: Tomorrow
Artiste of the Year
Davido
Ayra Starr
Asake
Tems
Rema
Burna Boy
Next Rated Award
Qing Madi
Shallipopi
Odumodu Blvck – WINNER
Ayo Maff
Nasboi
Rookie of the Year
Zerry DL – WINNER
Taves
Kaestyles
Llona
Album of the Year
‘Born in the Wild’ – Tems
‘HEIS’ – Rema
‘Stubborn’ – Victony
‘Work Of Art’ – Asake
‘The Year I Turned 21’ – Ayra Starr
Song of the Year
“Showa” – Kizz Daniel
“Commas” – Ayra Starr
“Lonely At The Top – Asake – WINNER
“Egwu” – Chike ft. Mohbad
“Ozeba” – Rema
“Big Baller” – Flavour
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)
Best Collaboration
Emotions: Tiwa Savage ft Asa
Blood On The Dance Floor: Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian and Wale
Egwu: Chike ft Mohbad
Ole: Qing Madi ft Bnxn
Twe Twe remix: Kizz Daniel ft Davido
Cast: Shallipopi ft Odumodublvck
IDK: Wizkid ft Zlatan
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
Best Street-hop Artiste
Seyi Vibez: Different Patterns
Ayo Maff: Dealer ft (Fireboy)
Shallipopi: Cast ft (Odumodublvck)
Zhus Jdo: Johnbull
Mohbad: Ask About Me – WINNER
Best R&B single
Qing Madi: Vision
Jonny Drille: For You
Simi: Stranger
Tems: Burning
Ayra Starr: Last Heartbreak Song ft Giveon
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
Afrobeats Album of the Year
‘Stubborn’ – Victony
‘Work Of Art’ – Asake
‘The Year I Turned 21’ – Ayra Starr
‘HEIS’ – Rema – WINNER
‘Jiggy Forever’ – Young Jonn
Best Rap Single
Cast: Shallipopi and Odumodublvck – WINNER
Blood on the dance floor: Odumodublvck, Wale, and Bloody Civilian.
Hallelujah: Ladipoe, Rozzz, and Morello
Canada: Magnito
Ije Nwoke: Jeriq
Best Rap Album
‘Sideh Kai’ – Illbliss
‘Eziokwu’ – Odumodublvck
‘Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol.1’ – Reminisce
‘Family Time’ – Erigga
‘Shiny Object Syndrome’ – Modenine
Producer of the Year
Happiness : Sarz
Ozeba: London – WINNER
Hehehe: Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Klimperboy
Basquait: Maggsticks
Different Pattern: Dibs
Digital Artiste of the Year
Ayra Starr
Shallipopi
Rema
Davido – WINNER
Tems
Kizz Daniel
Asake
Lyrics on the Roll
Mogadishu: A-Q
Chocolate City Cypher: M.I. Abaga
Chocolate City Cypher: Blaqbonez
Hallelujah: Ladipoe
Efeleme: Alpha Ojini
Best Performer (LIVE)
Rema
Omah Lay
Burna Boy
Wizard Chan
Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
Viewers’ Choice
“Big Big Things” – Young Jonn, Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
“Ogechi (remix)” – Hyce, Boypee, Brown Joel & Davido
“Egwu” – Chike ft. Mohbad – WINNER
“Showa” – Kizz Daniel
“Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez
“Ozeba” – Rema
“Love Me JeJe” – Tems
“CAST” – Shallipopi & Odumodublvck
“Dealer” – Ayo Maff & Fireboy DML
“Big Baller” – Flavour
Soundtrack of the Year
“Eledumare” – Anikulapo: Rise of the Sceptre (Teledalase)
A Tribe Called Judah (Abbey Wonder & TCJ) –WINNER
“Lose to Gain” – Breathe of Life (Kaline)
“Kill Boro” – Kill Boro (Wizard Chan)
“Orisa” – Orisa (Beriola)
“Emotions” – Water & Garri (Tiwa Savage and Asa)
Best Inspirational Single
“Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
“Worthy of My Praise” – Dunsin Oyekan ft. Lawrence Oyor
“Good God” – Limoblaze ft. Naomi Raine
“Particularly” – 2Gaise Baba ft. Tope Alabi
“You Do This One” – Mercy Chinwo
Best Southern African Artiste of the Year
TitoM (South Africa)
Yuppe (South Africa)
Tyla (South Africa)
Kelly Kay (Malawi)
Plutonio (Mozambique)
Zee Nxumalo (South Africa)
Best North African Artiste of the Year
Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
ElGrandeToto (Morocco)
Soolking (Algeria)
Balti (Tunisia)
Abu (Egypt)
Best East African Artiste of the Year
Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Juma Jux (Tanzania) – WINNER
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Azawi (Uganda)
Best West African Artiste of the Year
Black Sherif (Ghana)
King Promise (Ghana)
Himra (Ivory Coast)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Toofan (Togo)
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
Innoss’B (DRC) – WINNER
Gaz Mawete (DRC)
Emma’ a (Gabon)
Eboloko (Gabon)
Singuila (Central African Republic)
Kocee (Cameroon)
Stay tuned for the complete and updated list of winners as they are officially announced.
