The Headies Award is one of Nigeria’s biggest and the most entertaining awards with a history of many controversial and epic moments. The pioneers of the annual music awards, Headies have announced the nominees for the 14th edition for the awards.
See the list below
ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste in the year under review.
BURNA BOY
DAVIDO
WIZKID
MAYORKUN
TIWA SAVAGE
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the best recording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artiste or group in the year under review.
OZYMANDIAS – BRYMO
SMILE – WIZKID FEAT. HER
WONDERFUL – BURNA BOY
DREAMER – FIREBOY DML
GHOST TOWN – WURLD
BEST POP SINGLE
A voting category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group).
BILLIONAIRE – TENI
NOBODY – DJ NEPTUNE FEAT. JOEBOY & MR. EAZI.
LADY – REMA
FEM – DAVIDO
JORO – WIZKID
SKELETUN – TEKNO
SONG OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
PHEELZ – ‘BILLIONAIRE’ BY TENI
SPAX – ‘AWAY’ BY OXLADE
KEL P – ‘PULL UP’ BY BURNA BOY
SARZ – ‘MAD’ BY SARZ & WURLD
BEST RAP ALBUM
A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review.
GOD’S ENGINEERING – AQ
ILLY CHAPO X – ILLBLISS
YPSZN2 – PSYCHO YP
CULT! – PAYBAC IBORO
THE ERIGMA II – ERIGGA
BEST R&B ALBUM
A category for the best r&b album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
LAUGHTER, TEARS AND GOOSEBUMPS – FIREBOY DML
I LIKE GIRLS WITH TROBUL – SARZ & WURLD
KING – PRAIZ
BOO OF THE BOOLESS – CHIKE
CELIA – TIWA SAVAGE
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
A category for the best Alternative album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
YELLOW – BRYMO
LUCID – ASA
THE LIGHT – BEZ
PIONEERS – DRB LASGIDI
ROOTS – THE CAVEMEN
BEST POP ALBUM
A category for the best pop album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
APOLLO – FIREBOY DML
AFRICAN GIANT – BURNA BOY
A GOOD TIME – DAVIDO
WOMAN OF STEEL – YEMI ALADE
AFRO POP VOL. 1 – ADEKUNLE GOLD
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.
ELI – FIREBOY DML BY CLARENCE PETERS
1 MILLI – DAVIDO BY DIRECTOR K
SMILE – WIZKID BY MEJI ALABI
BILLIONAIRE – TENI BY TG OMORI
SHEKERE – YEMI ALADE BY OVIE ETSEYATSE
BEST R&B SINGLE
A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
UNDER THE SKY – PRAIZ
DUDUKE – SIMI
MAD – SARZ & WURLD
BAD INFLUENCE – OMAH LAY
TATTOO – FIREBOY DML
DANGEROUS LOVE – TIWA SAVAGE
BEST COLLABORATION
A voting category for the best R&B, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).
KNOW YOU – LADIPOE FEAT. SIMI
NOBODY – DJ NEPTUNE FEAT. JOEBOY & MR. EAZI
SWEET IN THE MIDDLE – DAVIDO FEAT. NAIRA MARLEY, ZLATAN & WURLD
DON’T CALL ME BACK – JOEBOY FEAT. MAYORKUN
TOTORI – ID CABASA FEAT. WIZKID & OLAMIDE
GET THE INFO – PHYNO FEAT. PHENOM & FALZ
BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.
OGB4IG – REMINISCE
SHUT UP – BLAQBONEZ
COUNTRY – ILLBLISS
GET THE INFO – PHYNO, FALZ & PHENOM
BOP DADDY – FALZ FEAT. MS. BANKS
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE(MALE)
A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.
WURLD – GHOST TOWN
CHIKE – FORGIVE
PRAIZ – UNDER THE SKY
COHBAMS – PLENTI
NONSO AMADI – WHAT MAKES YOU SURE
JOHNNY DRILLE – COUNT ON YOU
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.
SIMI – NO LONGER BENEFICIAL
LINDSEY ABUDEI – ONE ON THE OUTSIDE
NINIOLA – ADDICTED
J-DESS – CHI EFO
YEMI ALADE – LAI LAI
IMANSE – AJALA
NEXT RATED
This category is a voting category for the most promising act in the year under review.
TEMS
OMAH LAY
OXLADE
BELLA SHMURDA
HEADIES REVELATION
A voting category for the best new artiste with a debut album adjudged to be outstanding in terms of artistic quality and impact within the year under review.
VICTOR AD
FIREBOY DML
JOEBOY
TENI
REMA
CHIKE
LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
A non-voting category for the rap artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album.
AQ – EUNICE
BLAQBONEZ – DEFINE RAP 2
MI ABAGA – TRINITY
ILLBLISS – COUNTRY
PHENOM – GET THE INFO
PHYNO – SPEAK LIFE
BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE
A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.
A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.
CORNER – LADY DONLY FEAT. VANJESS & THE CAVEMEN
I WONDER – MOELOGO
BITTER – DEENA ADE
ANITA – THE CAVEMEN
MONEY DEVOTION – GBASKY
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN – OLU
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).
AFRICAN GIANT – BURNA BOY
APOLLO – FIREBOY DML
AFRO POP VOL. 1 – ADEKUNLE GOLD
YELLOW – BRYMO
BOO OF THE BOOLESS – CHIKE
AFRICAN ARTISTE RECOGNITION
A non-Nigerian award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review.
MASTER KG
KUAMI EUGENE
SAUTI SOL
SHAATA WALE
STONEBWOY
HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE
A voting category to award the fan’s favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.
DAVIDO
OMAH LAY
BURNA BOY
FALZ
FIREBOY DML
MAYORKUN
DJ NEPTUNE
WIZKID
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically, with the absence of an album in the year under review.
OLAKIRA
ALPHA P
JAMOPYPER
ZINOLEESKY
BAD BOY TIMZ
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:
A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition) in the year under review.
SIMISOLA BOLATITO OGUNLEYE (SIMI – DUDUKE)
ADEDAMOLA ADEFOLAHAN (FIREBOY DML – DREAMER)
DAMINI OGULU (BURNA BOY – WAY TOO BIG)
STANLEY OMAH DIDIA (OMAH LAY – BAD INFLUENCE)
SADIQ ONIFADE (WURLD – GHOST TOWN
ADEKUNLE KOSOKO (1 MILLION – DAVIDO)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.
EEDRIS ABDULKAREEM
TIMAYA
HALL OF FAME:
A special recognition to an individual for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.
Why I Refused To Rap In English For Global Validation – Olamide
When the conversation around Nigerian hip hop legends arises, Olamide Badoo’s name sits firmly at the top of the list.
From his breakout in the early 2010s to becoming a full-blown cultural force, Olamide Gbenga Adedeji has built an empire around authenticity, consistency, and a fearless embrace of his roots.
The YBNL boss is not only responsible for his own catalogue of timeless street anthems, but for discovering and nurturing some of the country’s biggest modern stars, from Lil Kesh to Fireboy DML to Asake.
What sets Olamide apart isn’t just his ear for hits or his dominance on the charts. It is his refusal to conform. In an era when many Nigerian artists switched to English or diluted their sound in search of international recognition, Olamide doubled down on the streets that made him.
During a recent interview with Eddie Kaddi on BBC Radio 1 Extra, Olamide spoke candidly about the philosophy behind his decision to rap in his native language rather than switching to English for global appeal.
His words revealed a sense of pride that goes beyond music.
He said: “Growing up and seeing the likes of Awilo Longomba doing his thing, Brenda Fassi (…). These people never tried to infuse English by force or anything. They were just doing their thing. Key thing is you have to identify your audience. Once you identify your audience, then the rest of the world are going to catch up eventually. So I have to stay true to myself no matter what it is, where it is in this world.”
The 36-year-old star added: “I’m a Naija boy. If I want to wear my Agbada and my Dashiki, I will do it. Let them know what I’m really all about — my heritage, my lineage, my culture, my food. You just have to stay true to yourself and that’s the only way you can become comfortable in life. I’m comfortable in my skin, I’m a Naija guy, Yoruba boy. I’ve got H-factor and all that. And I’m proud about it.”
That statement alone captures the very essence of Olamide’s career, a superb balance of street confidence, cultural loyalty, and an unshakeable belief in himself.
It is the same attitude that has fuelled his rise from Bariga to global acclaim, without ever having to abandon his linguistic or sonic identity.
#SpotlightAfricaThrowbackSeries The Exclusive Wedding of Chief Sunday and Mrs Oluwatosin Oso in Akure
Joyful was the moment when the families of Oso in Ado-Ekiti and Ojo in Akure, Ondo State, as their children, Chief Sunday Oso and Mrs. Oluwatosin Ojo, formally sealed their lifelong union with an exchange of marital vows on November 6, 2021.
For the two lovebirds, the aura exuded nothing but love, as they both looked resplendent in their beautiful attire, gazing at each other with overwhelming excitement.
The event kicked off with a photo session by the couple at St. Jacobs Hotel, a 5-star hotel in Akure, Ondo State, which hosted notable guests from across Nigeria and abroad. At the same time, families, friends, and well-wishers converged at BAS Event Centre, Akure, Ondo State, the venue for both the traditional marriage and reception.
The two families expressed their joy as they warmly welcomed one another during the engagement. Guests were enlivened with rib-cracking jokes by the popular actress, Ronke Ojo, popularly known as Oshodi Oke, who anchored the event. The Ogbomoso-based Fuji maestro, Ramoni Akanni, did not fail to entertain guests with lively music. It was an all-you-can-eat menu accompanied by varieties of drinks, wine, and liquor.
Dignitaries in attendance include top politician, Hon. Olu Araoyinbo, Chairman, West Park Hotel, Mr Rasaq Oseni, Aare Khalif Adebiyi, Nigerian-based businessman, Mr Sesan Adelabu, Emirates, Chairman, St. Jacobs Hotel, Mr Babatope Adebiyi (Jafil), the Waziri of Ekiti State, Alhaji Ajijola, former Chairman, Ado-Ekiti Local Government, Hon. Chief (Mrs) Tosin Aluko, among others.
Couple makes history with Nigeria’s first train wedding
As the rhythmic clatter of wheels echoed along the Lagos–Ibadan railway route, a different kind of journey unfolded inside some of the coaches. Nigerian actor Shawn Faqua and his partner, Sharon Ifunnaya, an event planner, made history by exchanging vows on a moving train, marking the first wedding of its kind in Nigeria.
The ceremony took place aboard a train departing from the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station in Alagomeji-Yaba, Lagos. The coaches, normally a functional passenger compartment, were transformed into a wedding venue, with guests seated at tables, floral arrangements along the windows, a small aisle, and a distinct sense of movement beneath the couple’s feet.
Videos and photos quickly circulated online, showing the train in motion, guests seated, the bride and groom exchanging rings, all of these happening while the train sped past skylines and small towns outside the windows, adding a cinematic touch to the celebration.
A viral clip captures the bride, announcing cheerfully, “Hey guys, we’re getting married on the train!” And Shawn adds with a grin: “First ever! Breaking record!” This light-hearted tone sets the affair apart as a bold idea executed with joy rather than a stiff and strictly formal event.
In a country where weddings often follow a popular route of banquet halls, churches, and lush locations, Shawn and Sharon’s choice stood out for its novelty and playful spirit. Instead of a stationary venue, they chose to literally move. The train symbolised motion, journey, and progress, which can be interpreted as a very clever metaphor for beginning a life journey together.
On top of that, the event subtly highlighted Nigeria’s rail travel, which is still bouncing back. The renovation and revitalisation of train lines, especially those linking Lagos with neighbouring cities, has brought trains back into the public eye. This wedding transformed that infrastructure into a setting for romance and celebration.
The wedding caught social-media attention, both for its uniqueness and the celebrity names involved. On Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, various video clips and images of the couple prompted jokes, praises, and reactions.
Weddings in Nigeria often carry a strong cultural and social load that includes multiple ceremonies (traditional, civil, white, religious), large guest lists, elaborate halls, and aesthetics. But this train wedding offered something different. It didn’t abandon tradition as the couple still held a traditional Igbo ceremony. But it added an unexpected and modern twist to the venue and setting.
This is probably a sign of how wedding culture in Nigeria is evolving. Couples increasingly seek personalisation, memorable experiences, and Instagram-worthy moments that reflect their personality, rather than simply replicating a standard format.
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