17th Headies Nominations: See Full List Here

Nigeria’s biggest music award show, The Headies, has finally dropped the full nomination list for its 17th edition, and the competition is stiff.

The list, released on Wednesday, shines the spotlight on both homegrown and international acts who have made waves in the past year.

Topping the list is Tochukwu Ojogwu, aka Odumodublvck, who bagged five nominations—making him the most nominated artiste this year. Right behind him are Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, aka Ayra Starr, and Crown Uzama, popularly called Shallipopi, each securing three nominations.

The Declan Rice crooner isn’t just leading the pack; he’s also set for a major showdown in the Best Collaboration category, where he’s in the ring with Chike, Wizkid, Zlatan, Asa, and Tiwa Savage.

In a bittersweet moment, the late Ilerioluwa Aloba, famously known as Mohbad, also clinched three nominations despite his tragic passing on September 12, 2023. His presence on the list has sparked fresh conversations about his impact on the music industry even after his death.

The full nominations list, which was shared on The Headies’ official X (formerly Twitter) handle, includes categories such as Producer of the Year, Best Recording of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Best R&B Single, Rookie of the Year, Best Rap Single, Best Vocal Performance (Female), Music Video of the Year, and Best Collaboration.

Full nominations list below:

Music Video of the Year

1. Charm – Rema, Oerlinks and Folarin Oludare
2. Metaverse – Jyde Ajala
3. Like Ice Spice – Perlinks and Emeka Shine Shine
4. Ojapiano – Mattmax
5. Egwu – Director Pink
6. Showa – TG Omori
7. Na Money – Dammy Twitch

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

1. Ayra Star – Last Heartbreak Song
2. Niniola – Level
3. Simi – Stranger
4. Liya – I’m Done
5. Yemi Alade – Tomorrow

Best Rap Single

1. Cast – Odumodu Blvck and Shallipopi
2. Blood on the dance floor – Bloody Civilian, Wale and Odumodu Blvck
3. Hallelujah – Ladipoe, Rozzz, and Morello
4. Canada – Magnito
5. Ije Nwoke – Jeriq

Rookie of the year

1. Zerry DL
2. Taves
3. Kaestyles
4. Llona

Best R&B single

1. Qing Madi – Vision
2. Jonny Drille – For You
3. Simi – Stranger
4. Tems – Burning
5. Ayra Star – Last Heartbreak Song ft Giveon

Songwriter of the year

1. Simisola Kosoko – Stranger (Simi)
2. Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma – Vision (Qing Madi)
3. Michael Ajuma Attah – Can’t Breathe (Llona)
4. Emoseh Khamofu – Family Meeting (Bloody Civilian)
5. Fuayefika Maxwell – Stages of Life (Wizard Chan)

Producer of the year

1. Sarz – Happiness
2. London – Ozeba
3. Magicsticks – Basquiat
4. Rema/Producer X/Cubeats/Deatz/Klimperboy – Hehehe
5. Dibs – Different Pattern

Best Recording of the year

1. Tems – Burning
2. Seyi Vibez – Different Pattern
3. Burna Boy – Higher
4. Ayra Star and Giveon – Last Heartbreak Song
5. Sarz and Lojay – Billions

Best Collaboration

1. Emotions – Tiwa Savage ft Asa
2. Blood on the dance floor – Odumodu Blvck, Bloody Civilian and Wale
3. Cast – Shallipopi ft Odumodu Blvck
4. Egwu – Chike ft Mohbad
5. Ole – Qing Madi ft Bnxn
6. Twe Twe remix – Kizz Daniel ft Davido
7. IDK – Wizkid ft Zlatan

Best Street-hop artiste

1. Seyi Vibez – Different Patterns
2. Ayo Maff – Dealer ft (Fire Boy)
3. Shallipopi – Cast ft (Odumodu Blvck)
4. Zhus Jdo – Johnbull
5. Mohbad – Ask About me

Afrobeats Single of the Year

1. Big Big Things – Young John ft Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez
2. Twe Twe remix – Kizz Daniel ft Davido
3. Egwu – Chike ft Mohbad
4. Remember – Asake
5. Ogechi remix – Hyce, Boypee and Brown Joel ft Davido
6. Big Baller – Flavour

Lyricist on the roll

1. Mogadishu – AQ
2. Chocolate City Cypher – MI Abaga
3. Chocolate City Cypher – Blaqbonez
4. Hallelujah – Ladipoe
5. Efeleme – Alpha Ojini

Best Inspirational Single

1. Gratitude – Anendlessocean
2. Worthy of my praise – Dunsin Oyekan ft Lawrence Oyor
3. Good God 2 – Limoblaze ft Naomi Raine
4. Particularly – Gaise Baba ft Tope Alabi
5. You do this one – Mercy Chinwo