Nigeria biggest music awards, The Headies, has said the nominees for its 18th edition on Tuesday, with Nigerian singer Afolarin Odunlami, popularly known as Fola, leading with 10 nominations

Fola secured nominations in top categories including the Song of the Year, Best R&B Album, Best Recording of the Year, Digital Artiste of the Year, Next Rated, Best Male Artiste and Writer of the Year.

Omah Lay followed with eight nominations, while Wizkid and Mavo secured seven nominations each. 

Davido and Asake received six nominations each.

Ayra Starr and Tiwa Savage were the only female artists with the highest nods, joining Kunmie, Shoday and Adekunle Gold who received five nominations each.

The 18th edition of the Headies will also honour legendary Congolese singer Awilo Longomba with the Headies Hall of Fame Award. 

Nigerian entertainment executive Cecil Hammond will be recognised for his contributions to African entertainment with the Special Recognition Award.

The 18th edition of the Headies is set to be held in Toronto, Canada on October 23, celebrating Africa’s biggest music, talent and culture.

Here are the full list of nominees: 

Rookie of the Year

Amma
Danpapa GTA
FirstKlaz
Kidd Carder
NO11
Priesst
OG Abbah

Next Rated

Fido
Fola
Llona
Mavo
Shoday

Song of the Year

Arike — Kunmie
Hey Jago — Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago
Hot Body — Ayra Starr
Joy Is Coming — Fido
MMS — Asake & Wizkid
With You — Davido & Omah Lay

Album of the Year

Morayo — Wizkid
Clarity of Mind — Omah Lay
Catharsis — Fola
This One Is Personal — Tiwa Savage
G.O.A.T — Erigga
No Sign of Weakness — Burna Boy
The Machine Is Coming — Odumodublvck

Afrobeats Album of the Year

5ive — Davido
Captain — BNXN
Clarity of Mind — Omah Lay
Fuji — Adekunle Gold
Morayo — Wizkid
No Sign of Weakness — Burna Boy

Best Recording of the Year

Arike — Kunmie
How Do You? — Amaeya
Baby (Is It a Crime) — Rema
Coping Mechanism — Omah Lay & Elmah
With You — Davido & Omah Lay
You — Fola

Best Male Artiste

Adekunle Gold
Asake
Fola
Mavo
Rema
Wizkid
Burna Boy

Best Female Artiste

Ayra Starr
Qing Madi
Sewa
Tems
Teni
Tiwa Savage

Digital Artiste of the Year

Asake
Ayra Starr
BNXN
Chella
Fola
Mavo
Seyi Vibez
Wizkid

Best Performer (Live)

Adekunle Gold — Live at the National Theatre, Lagos
Asake — Red Bull Symphonic
Ayra Starr — Global Citizen Festival 2025
Johnny Drille — Johnny’s Room Live 6
Ruger — Live at Indigo @ The O2, London (2025)

Best R&B Album

Before We Became Strangers — Kunmie
Catharsis — Fola
I Am the Blueprint — Qing Madi
Love Is a Kingdom — Tems
Reflection Station — Tay Iwar
This One Is Personal — Tiwa Savage

Best Rap Album

G.O.A.T — Erigga
No Excuses — Blaqbonez
King — Jeriq
GE3 (The Beginning) — A-Q
The Machine Is Coming — Odumodublvck
Black Sheepizen — Tuff King

Best Alternative Album

Afrika Magik — SDC
Detox — Sewa
Duplicity — BOJ
Healers Chapel — Wizard Chan
Olorin Pack — Scottyolorin
Then 1t Got Crazy — Zaylevelten

Best R&B Single

6:35 — Layefa
How Do You? — Amaeya
I Love You — Amma
What You Need — Tems
Winter & Summer — Magixx
You4Me — Tiwa Savage

Best Rap Single

2:02 PM in London — Odumodublvck
ACL — Blaqbonez
Man2Man — Dremo
Moshood — PDSTRN
Nkemakonam — Tuff King

Wuse Tu — Zaylevelten & Mavo
John Wick — Zhus Jdo

Best Alternative Song

CYK Baddie — Luwa.mp4 ft Jeleel!
Lagos Lovin — Sewa
Oliver — Wizard Chan
Omo to Sexy — BLNDE
Prada Baby — Wavestar
Sweet Danger — Obongjayar
Summer Adina — Chief Priest ft BoyPee & Zoro Swagbag

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

Layefa — 6:35
Amaeya — How Do You?
Sewa — Lagos Lovin
Qing Madi — Scum Bag
Liya — Skin to Skin
Tiwa Savage — You4Me

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

Adekunle Gold — I’m Not Done
Flavour — Orente
Magixx — Winter and Summer
Odeal — Patience
Syemca — Love Egbugomo
Tay Iwar — Bad Belle

Afrobeats Single of the Year

Fun — Rema
Jogodo — Asake & Wizkid