Rema Leads the 17th Headies Awards Nominations with 9 Nods
The 17th Headies Awards nominations have been announced, and Afrobeats sensation Rema is leading the pack with an impressive 9 nominations. The award-winning superstar, who holds the record for the most streamed Afrobeats song on Spotify, has been recognized in major categories, including Album of the Year and Artist of the Year.
Rema’s artistic versatility is further highlighted by his nominations for Best Producer for his work on Hehehe and Best Video Director for co-directing Charm. His dominance in this year’s nominations solidifies his position as one of the most influential global stars in Afrobeats today.
Ayra Starr and OdumoduBlvck Follow Closely with 8 Nominations
Trailing behind Rema is his Mavin Records labelmate Ayra Starr, who has secured 8 nominations. Her chart-topping hit Last Heartbreak Song earned her nods in Record of the Year, Best Female Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Song. She is also in contention for Best Album and Artist of the Year.
Rapper OdumoduBlvck also racked up 8 nominations, fueled by his viral hit Blood On The Dancefloor, which was shortlisted for Best Collaboration and Best Rap Song. His contribution to Shallipopi’s Cast has also landed him nominations in Best Street Hop Star, Best Collaboration, Best Rap Single, and the Viewers’ Choice Award.
Additionally, OdumoduBlvck is competing for the prestigious Next Rated Prize, going up against Shallipopi, Ayo Maff, Qing Madi, and Nasboi.
Kizz Daniel Secures 7 Nods
Afrobeats superstar Kizz Daniel received 7 nominations, making him the third most nominated artist at this year’s awards. His song Showa is in the running for Song of the Year, while his collaboration with Davido on Twe Twe is nominated for Best Collaboration and Afrobeats Single of the Year.
Asake, Tems, and Shallipopi Bag 6 Nominations Each
Music heavyweights Asake, Tems, and Shallipopi have all secured 6 nominations each, proving their dominance in the industry.
- Asake’s sophomore album Work of Art is up for Album of the Year, and his hit Lonely At The Top is nominated for Song of the Year.
- Tems’ debut LP Born In The Wild is also competing for Album of the Year, alongside two nominations for Burning in Record of the Year and Best R&B Single.
- Shallipopi’s Cast is nominated for Collaboration of the Year, Rap Song of the Year, and the Viewers’ Choice Award, while he is also a contender for Best Street Hop Act and Next Rated Prize.
Other Notable Nominees
- Seyi Vibez secured 5 nominations, including Record of the Year for Different Pattern.
- Davido earned 5 nods, thanks to his guest features on Kizz Daniel’s Twe Twe and Boy Pee, Hyce, and Brown Joel’s Ogechi remix.
- The late Mohbad was honored with 5 nominations, including Collaboration of the Year and Song of the Year for Egwu featuring Chike.
International Recognition and Foreign Nominations
Nigerian-American rapper Wale is the most nominated foreign artist this year, receiving 3 nominations for his role in OdumoduBlvck’s Blood On The Dancefloor.
Headies 2025: Voting and Event Details
The full list of nominees for the 17th Headies Awards was officially released on February 12, 2025. Fans can visit the Headies Awards website to cast their votes and support their favorite artists.
According to the organizers, only music materials—including singles, videos, live performances, EPs, and albums—released between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, were considered for nomination.
The 17th Headies Awards will take place on April 5, 2025, marking its return to Nigeria after two consecutive editions in the United States.
With a thrilling lineup of nominees, the 2025 Headies is set to be one of the most competitive and exciting editions yet!
