The Headies Entertainment Award is Nigeria's pride for excellence — well, it should be anyway. Founded in 2006 by HipTV owner, Ayo Animashaun, it was originally named the Hip Hop World Awards. Its name was, however, changed to The Headies in 2011 at the 5th edition to reflect broader music styles.
In 2022, the 15th edition of The Headies was held in Atlanta — something I don't think was a great idea because how can an award meant to honor Nigeria's entertainment industry be held outside?
In 2023, the 16th edition was also held in Atlanta before finally moving back to Lagos for the 17th edition yesterday, 2025. Yay, The Headies is back!!!
Here’s a list of some artistes who won the prestigious Headies:
Major Categories
Artiste of the Year: Davido
Next Rated: Odumodublvck
Album of the Year: Rema (HEIS)
Afrobeats Album of the Year: Rema (HEIS)
Afrobeats Single of the Year: Flavour (Big Baller)
Best Recording of the Year: Tems (Burning)
Best Street-Hop Artiste: Mohbad (Ask About Me)
Rookie of the Year: Zerry DL
Viewers’ Choice Award: Chike & Mohbad (Egwu)
Songwriter of the Year: Qing Madi (Vision)
Music Video of the Year: Director Pink (Egwu)
Best Vocal Performance (Male): Lojay (Billions)
Best Vocal Performance (Female): Liya (I’m Done)
Producer of the Year: London (Ozeba for Rema)
Best Digital Artiste of the Year: Davido
Best East African Artiste of the year:Juma Jux(Tanzania)
Davido presented the Next Rated award to Odumodublvck, the Nigerian rapper who broke out with his song "Declan Rice." It was a show full of glitz and glamour, but I couldn’t help noticing the absence of some of the so-called big artistes like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, and even Olamide. I mean, how can you have an award show for Nigerian music and none of the biggest names in the industry — except Davido — showed up? Maybe Tiwa and Olamide can be excused, but Wizkid and Burna Boy have literally not shown up for any awards in like forever, especially Burna, who hasn't attended since he left angrily in 2013 after losing the Next Rated award. Honestly, to promote Nigerian entertainment, we definitely need these big acts on board. Hopefully, by next year, we'll have them there.
Another major talking point was our "in-law" from Tanzania, Juma Jux, winning the Best East African Artiste award over Diamond Platnumz, who had won it two years in a row. Of course, some people are calling it "in-law tax" — I mean, this guy recently married Priscilla Ojo, daughter of actress Iyabo Ojo — so technically, if you want to win Nigerian awards, "know Nigeria," and blah blah blah.
But honestly speaking, Juma Jux makes great songs, like "Ololufe" featuring Diamond Platnumz, and don’t forget he recently featured Phyno on a new song too. Also, artistes like Chris Brown and Selena Gomez have won Best Global Artiste because they either featured Nigerians or had Nigerian collaborations — Selena with Rema (Calm Down remix) and Chris Brown with Davido and Lojay (Sensational). So maybe, just maybe, Juma Jux actually deserved the award? Besides, not to invalidate Diamond Platnumz's work, but I honestly haven’t heard a lot of his recent songs lately. So I guess?
Anyway, one of the most touching highlights for me was when late Mohbad’s award was presented to his widow Wunmi and their child Liam. Rest in peace, Imole.
The Headies is back — bigger, better, and truly home!
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