Davido, Tems, Rema, Zerry DL Win Big At 17th Headies (FULL LIST) • Channels Television

Pop and Afrobeat singers Davido, Tems, Rema, and Zerry DL shone at the 17th edition of the Headies Awards, held in Lagos on Sunday.

The biggest music award event in Nigeria made a grand return after two years of hosting in Atlanta, United States.

This edition is the first of two ceremonies planned for 2025, with the 18th Headies Awards scheduled for December, compensating for the event’s absence in 2024.

The highly anticipated night celebrated musical talents across Nigeria and Africa in 31 categories.

Rema won Afrobeats Album of the Year for his project HEIS, while Tems took home Best Recording of the Year for her soulful track Burning.

Davido clinched Digital Artiste of the Year, reaffirming his dominance in the digital music space.

Zerry DL, brother of breakout star Shallipopi, was crowned as Rookie of the Year, marking a significant feat in his rising career.

Among the major highlights and most anticipated category, Odumodublvck emerged as the coveted Next Rated Artist, beating out strong contenders like Shallipopi, Qing Madi, and Ayo Maff.

Returning to Nigeria, the 17th Headies Awards featured 31 competitive categories, including Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Recording of the Year, alongside multiple special awards.

The star-studded event drew key figures from entertainment and politics, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was honoured with a prestigious Special Recognition Award for his contributions to the music and creative industries.

Other Special Recognition recipients included Alex Okosi and Amaju Pinnick.

This 17th edition of the Headies also debuted two new categories — “Soundtrack of the Year” and “Best Performer (Live)” — broadening the range of honours for artistic contributions to the industry.

Filmmaker Funke Akindele’s record-breaking 2023 movie, A Tribe Called Judah, clinched the inaugural “Soundtrack of the Year” award.

The award event also welcomed a host of high-profile guests such as Tanzanian singer Juma Jux and his wife Priscilla, actress Nancy Isime, Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan (BamBam), Cubana Chief Priest, Big Brother Naija 2021 winner White Money and many more.

Other notable attendees included Mavins Records’ boss Don Jazzy and Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso.

Themed “Back to Base” and “Apologetically African,” the edition celebrated achievements in African music within the eligibility window of April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024.

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Full List of Winners:

Rookie of the Year
(WINNER: Zerry DL)
– Taves
– Kaestyle
– Llona

Best Recording of the Year
(WINNER: “Burning” – Tems)
– “Different Patterns” – Seyi Vibez
– “Higher” – Burna Boy
– “Last Heartbreak Song” – Ayra Starr and Giveon
– “Billions” – Sarz and Lojay

Best Vocal Performance (Male)
(WINNER: “Billions” – Lojay)
– “Moving” – Omah Lay
– “Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
– “For You” – Johnny Drille
– “Ke Na Ke So” – Timi Dakolo

Best Vocal Performance (Female)
(WINNER: “I’m Done” – Liya)
– “Last Heartbreak Song” – Ayra Starr
– “Level” – Niniola
– “Stranger” – Simi
– “Tomorrow” – Yemi Alade

Next Rated
(WINNER: Odumodublvck)
– Qing Madi
– Shallipopi
– Ayo Maff

Song of the Year
(WINNER: “Lonely at the Top” – Asake)
– “Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
– “OZEBA” – Rema
– “Showa” – Kizz Daniel
– “Commas” – Ayra Starr

Afrobeats Single of the Year
(WINNER: “Big Baller” – Flavour)
– “Big Big Things” – Young Jonn (feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
– “Twe Twe Remix” – Kizz Daniel
– “Egwu” – Chike (feat. Mohbad)
– “Remember” – Asake
– “Ogechi Remix” – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (feat. Davido)

Producer of the Year
(WINNER: “OZEBA” – London)
– “Happiness” – Sarz
– “Basquiat” – Magicsticks
– “HEHEHE” – Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz and Klimperboy
– “Different Patterns” – Dibs

Afrobeats Album of the Year
(WINNER: HEIS – Rema)
– Stubborn – Victony
– Work of Art – Asake
– The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
– Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn

Music Video of the Year
(WINNER: “EGWU” – Director Pink)
– “Charm” – Rema (directed by Perliks and Folarin Oludare)
– “Metaverse” – Jyde Ajala
– “Like Ice Spice” – Perliks and Emeka Shine Shine
– “Ojapiano” – Mattmax
– “Showa” – TG Omori
– “Na Money” – Dammy Twitch

Soundtrack of the Year
(WINNER: “Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack” – TCJ and Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack))
– “Eledumare” – Teledalase (Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre)
– “Lose to Gain” – Kaline (Breath of Life)
– “Kill Boro” – Native Filmworks and Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)
– “Orisa” – Beriola (Orisa)
– “Emotions” – Tiwa Savage and Asa (Water and Garri)

Special Recognition Award Recipients
– Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
– Alex Okosi
– Amaju Pinnick

Humanitarian Award Recipients
– Temitola Adekunle Johnson
– Michelle Mukoro (King Mitchy)

Songwriter of the Year
(WINNER: “Vision” – Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi))
– “Stranger” – Simisola Kosoko (Simi)
– “Can’t Breathe” – Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona)
– “Family Meeting” – Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian)
– “Stages of Life” – Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan)

Headies’ Viewers’ Choice
(WINNER: “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad)
– “Big Baller” – Flavour
– “Big Big Things” – Young Jonn (feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
– “Ogechi Remix” – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (feat. Davido)
– “Showa” – Kizz Daniel
– “Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez
– “OZEBA” – Rema
– “Love Me Jeje” – Tems
– “Cast” – Shallipopi (feat. Odumodublvck)
– “Dealer” – Ayo Maff (feat. Fireboy DML)

Best Rap Single
(WINNER: “Cast” – Shallipopi and Odumodublvck)
– “Blood on the Dance Floor” – Bloody Civilian, Wale, and Odumodublvck
– “Hallelujah” – Ladipoe, Rozzz, and Morello
– “Canada” – Magnito
– “Ije Nwoke” – Jeriq

Best Street-Hop Artiste
(WINNER: Mohbad – “Ask About Me”)
– Zhus Jdo – “Johnbull”
– Seyi Vibez – “Different Patterns”
– Ayo Maff – “Dealer” (feat. Fireboy DML)
– Shallipopi – “Cast” (feat. Odumodublvck)

Digital Artiste of the Year
(WINNER: Davido)
– Ayra Starr
– Rema
– Shallipopi
– Tems
– Kizz Daniel
– Asake

Best Central African Artiste of the Year
(WINNER: Innoss’B (DRC))
– Gaz Mawete (DRC)
– Emma’A (Gabon)
– Ebokolo (Gabon)
– Singuila (Central African Republic)
– Koceé (Cameroon)

Best East African Artiste of the Year
(WINNER: Juma Jux (Tanzania))
– Bien (Kenya)
– Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
– Bruce Melody (Rwanda)
– Azawi (Uganda)

Special Recognition
– KCee