Friday, April 17, 2026

17th Headies Awards Nominees (Full List): Odumodu Blvck, Ayra Starr, Shallipopi, Mohbad top list

The 17th edition will hold in April.  

• February 12, 2025
Odumodu, Ayra Starr and Mohbad 
Odumodu, Ayra Starr and Mohbad 

Headies awards, Nigeria’s biggest music awards, released its nominees on Wednesday for the 17th edition to be held in April. 

Nigerian artiste, Tochukwu Ojogwu known as Odumodu Blvck, topped the list, garnering five nominations with Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, aka Ayra Starr and Crown Uzama, aka Shallipopi following behind with three nominations each.

Late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, also received three nominations.

The show, celebrating outstanding achievements in the country’s music industry, is said to be holding the 17th edition of the award on April 5, focusing on the music of 2024 and the 18th edition will take place in December, celebrating music from 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Here’s the full list of the nominees:

Best recording of the year 

Tems: Burning

Seyi Vibe: different pattern 

Burna Boy: Higher

Ayra Starr & Giveon: Last Heartbreak Song

Sarz & Lojay: Billions 

Music Video of the Year

Charm: Rema, Oerlinks and Folarin Oludare

Metaverse: Jyde Ajala

Like Ice Spice: Perlinks and Emeka Shine Shine

Ojapiano: Mattmax

Egwu: Director Pink

Showa: TG Omori

Na Money: Dammy Twitch

Best Vocal Performance (Female) 

Ayra Star: Last Heartbreak Song

Niniola: Level

Simi: Stranger

Liya: I’m Done

Yemi Alade: Tomorrow

Best Rap Single

Cast: Odumodu Blvck and Shallipopi

Blood on the dance floor: Bloody Civilian, Wale and Odumodu Blvck

Hallelujah: Ladipoe, Rozzz, and Morello

Canada: Magnito

Ije Nwoke: Jeriq

Rookie of the year

Zerry DL

Taves

Kaestyles

Llona

Best R&B single

Qing Madi: Vision

Jonny Drille: For You

Simi: Stranger

Tems: Burning

Ayra Starr:  Last Heartbreak Song ft Giveon

Songwriter of the year

Simisola Kosoko: Stranger (Simi)

Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma: Vision (Qing Madi)

Michael Ajuma Attah: Can’t Breathe (Llona)

Emoseh Khamofu: Family Meeting (Bloody Civilian)

Fuayefika Maxwell: Stages of Life (Wizard Chan)

Best Collaboration

Emotions: Tiwa Savage ft Asa

Blood on the dance floor: Odumodu Blvck, Bloody Civilian and Wale

Cast: Shallipopi ft Odumodu Blvck

Egwu: Chike ft Mohbad

Ole: Qing Madi ft Bnxn

Twe Twe remix: Kizz Daniel ft Davido

IDK:  Wizkid ft Zlatan

Best Street-hop artiste

Seyi Vibez: Different Patterns

Ayo Maff: Dealer ft (Fire Boy)

Shallipopi: Cast ft (Odumodu Blvck)

Zhus Jdo: Johnbull

Mohbad: Ask About me

Afrobeats Single of the Year

Big Big Things: Young John ft Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez

Twe Twe remix: Kizz Daniel ft Davido

Egwu: Chike ft Mohbad

Remember: Asake

Ogechi remix:  Hyce, Boypee and Brown Joel ft Davido

Big Baller: Flavour

Producer of the Year

Happiness : Sarz

Ozeba: London

Hehehe: Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Klimperboy 

Basquait: Maggsticks 

Different Pattern: Dibs

Lyrics on the Roll

Mogadishu: A-Q

Chocolate City Cypher: M.I. Abaga

Chocolate City Cypher: Blaqbonez

Hallelujah: Ladipoe

Efeleme: Alpha Ojini

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