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16th 2023 Headies Nominations
Burna Boy, Asake, Rema, and Others Receive Nominations for Nigeria's Most Prestigious Music Award
The nominees for the 16th Headies, Nigeria’s top music award event, were recently announced, sparking enthusiasm in the country’s music business. Both domestic and foreign musicians who have made important contributions to the music landscape in the last year are included on the diverse list of nominees.
Burna Boy, also known as Damini Ogulu, a Grammy Award winner, is in first place with 11 nominations. He has been nominated in a number of categories, including Album of the Year, where he faces off against well-known performers like Davido, Rema, Asake, Omah Lay, and Victony.
Strong contenders in the Best Recording of the Year category include “Soweto” by Victony and Tempoe, “I’m a Mess” by Omah Lay, and “Ku Lo Sa” by Oxlade.
The International Artiste of the Year category honors international superstars Ed Sheeran, Don Toliver, Selena Gomez, Drake, and Future for their contributions to the Nigerian music scene.
The Rookie of the Year category has also sparked interest, with artists like Odumodu Blvck, Bayyani, Guchi, Eltee, and Khaid vying for the title.
The Headies Awards, known for its comprehensive recognition of talent, features categories such as Best R&B Single, Best Rap Single, Best Vocal Performance (Male and Female), and Best Alternative Song, among others. Fans are excited about the nominations, which have set the stage for a celebration of musical excellence and a recognition of these artists’ ability and labor of love.
| Category | Nominees | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ROOKIE OF THE YEAR | BAYANNI KHAID GUCHI BLOODY CIVILIAN ODUMODUBLVCK ELTEE SKHILLZ |
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. |
| BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR | “ALONE” – BURNA BOY “SOWETO” – VICTONY & TEMPOE “I’M A MESS” – OMAH LAY “KU LO SA” – OXLADE “STAND STRONG” – DAVIDO FT. SUNDAY SERVICE CHOIR “NO WOMAN, NO CRY” – TEMS |
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. |
| PRODUCER OF THE YEAR | MAGICSTICKS – “SUNGBA REMIX” (ASAKE) P.PRIME, TMXO & PHEELZ – “ELECTRICTY” (PHEELZ FT DAVIDO) ANDRE VIBEZ & LONDON – “CALM DOWN” (REMA) TEMPOE – “SOWETO” (VICTONY & TEMPOE) KEL-P – “KPE PASO” (WANDE COAL & OLAMIDE) REXXIE – “ABRACADABRA” (REXXIE, NAIRA MARLEY, SKIIBII & WIZKID) |
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review. |
| SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR | SIMI KOSOKO, GODSFAVOUR CHIDOZIE, KOSOKO ADEKUNLE, MARCEL AKUNWATA – “LOYAL” (SIMI) STANLEY DIDIA, ADEBAJO ADEBANJO – “I’M A MESS” (OMAH LAY) TEMS, LUDWIG GORANSSON, ROBYN RIHANNA FENTY, RYAN COOGLER – “LIFT ME UP” (RIHANNA) DAMINI EBUNOLUWA OGULU, AUSTIN JNR IORNONGU IWAR, PEACE OREDOPE, LUDWIG GORANSSON – “ALONE” (BURNA BOY) DANIEL BENSON “IN MY MIND” (BNXN) FUAYEFIKA MAXWELL – EARTH SONG (WIZARD CHAN) |
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. |
| BEST R&B SINGLE | “FOR MY HAND” – BURNA BOY FT. ED SHEERAN “MMADU” – CKAY “JUST 4 U” – DAMI ONIRU “RED WINE” – PREYE “HARD TO FIND” – CHIKE – FT. FLAVOUR “LOYAL” – SIMI FT. FAVE |
A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group). |
| BEST RAP SINGLE | “HUSTLE” – REMINISCE “BIG ENERGY” – LADIPOE “BACK IN UNI” – BLAQBONEZ “BANDO DIARIES” – PSYCHOYP “DECLAN RICE” – ODUMODUBLVCK “MY BRO” – JERIQ FT. PHYNO |
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song. |
| BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG | “EARTH SONG” – WIZARD CHAN “FINAL CHAMPION” – CRUEL SANTINO “THE TRAVELLER” – BASKETMOUTH FT THE CAVEMEN “IN A LOOP” – BOJ FT MOLIY & MELLISSA “GAME CHANGER” (DIKE) – FLAVOUR “TINKO TINKO” – OBONGJAYAR |
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. |
| BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE) | NINIOLA – “MEMORIES” SIMI – “LOYAL” WAJE – “IN BETWEEN” LIYA – “ADUA REMIX” PREYE – “RED WINE” DAMI ONIRU – “JUST 4 U” |
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single or album. |
| BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE) | OXLADE – “KU LO SA” RIC HASSANI – “MY ONLY BABY” MAGIXX – “LOVE DON’T COST A DIME” CHIKE – “SPELL REMIX” PRAIZ – “RECKLESS” WANDE COAL – “KPE PASO” |
A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album. |
| BEST MUSIC VIDEO | BLAQBONEZ & PERLIKS – “BACK IN UNI” (BLAQBONEZ) TG OMORI – “PBUY” (ASAKE) DIRECTOR PINK– “SPELL REMIX” (CHIKE & OXLADE) TG OMORI – “BANDANA” (FIREBOY & ASAKE) DIRECTOR K – “COMMON PERSON” (BURNA BOY) DIRECTOR K – “CALM DOWN” (REMA) |
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. |
| BEST COLLABORATION | ASAKE FT. BURNA BOY – “SUNGBA REMIX” BNXN FT KIZZ DANIEL & SEYI VIBEZ – “GWAGWALADA” PHEELZ FT BNXN – “FINESSE” SPYRO FT. TIWA SAVAGE – “WHO’S YOUR GUY REMIX” PHEELZ FT DAVIDO – “ELECTRICITY” WANDE COAL FT. OLAMIDE – “KPE PASO” |
A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos). |
| BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE | REXXIE FT. NAIRA MARLEY & SKIIBII – “ABRACADABRA” SEYI VIBEZ – “CHANCE (NA HAM)” ASAKE – “JOHA” ZLATAN FT. YOUNG JONN – “ASTALAVISTA” POCO LEE & HOTKID – “OTILO” MOHBAD – “PEACE” |
A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such songs should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street. |
| AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR | “LAST LAST” – BURNA BOY “RUSH” – AYRA STARR “BUGA” – KIZZ DANIEL & TEKNO “FINESSE” – PHEELZ FT BNXN “WHO’S YOUR GUY?” – SPYRO “ASIWAJU” – RUGER |
A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in the year under review (by a single individual or group). |
| HEADIES’ VIEWERS’ CHOICE | RUGER – “ASIWAJU” VICTONY & TEMPOE – “SOWETO” FIREBOY DML & ASAKE – “BANDANA” AYRA STAR – “RUSH” ASAKE – “TERMINATOR” MAVINS – “OVERLOADING (OVERDOSE)” CRAYON – “IJO (LABA LABA)” OXLADE – “KU LO SA” KIZZ DANIEL & TEKNO – “BUGA” PHEELZ & DAVIDO – “ELECTRICITY” |
A voting category to award the fans’ favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review. |
| BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR | GYAKIE (GHANA) BLACK SHERIF (GHANA) THE THERAPIST (LIBERIA) CAMIDOH (GHANA) |
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Western African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review. |
| BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR | ZUCHU DIAMOND PLATINUMZ RAYVANNY EDDY KENZO HEWAN GEBREWORLD |
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Eastern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review. |
| BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR | MARWA LOUD – MOROCCO WEGZ – EGYPT EL GRANDE TOTO – MOROCCO SOOLKING – ALGERIA |
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Northern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review. |
| BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR | AKA (SOUTH AFRICA) NASTY C – SOUTH AFRICA COSTA TITCH – SOUTH AFRICA UNCLE WAFFLES – SOUTH AFRICA FOCALISTIC – SOUTH AFRICA DJ TARICO – MOZAMBIQUE |
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Southern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review. |
| BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR | FALLY IPUPA – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO GAZ MAWETE – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO MATIAS DAMASIO – ANGOLA EMMA’A – GABON LIBIANCA – CAMEROON |
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Central African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review. |
| BEST R&B ALBUM | HOME – JOHNNY DRILLE THE BROTHER’S KEEPER – CHIKE RECKLESS – PRAIZ WAJE 2.0 – WAJE MATTER OF TIME – DAMI ONIRU TO BE HONEST (TBH) – SIMI |
A category for the best R&B album in the year under review (by single individual or group). |
| BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM | HOROSCOPES – BASKETMOUTH GBAGADA EXPRESS – BOJ SOME NIGHTS I DREAM OF DOORS – OBONGJAYAR SUBARU BOYS: FINAL HEAVEN – CRUEL SANTINO HEART OF THE HEAVENLY UNDENIABLE – SOMADINA NATIVE WORLD – NATIVE SOUND SYSTEM |
A category for the best Alternative album in the year under review (by single individual or group). |
| BEST RAP ALBUM | FLY TALK ONLY – PAYPER CORLEONE PALMWINE MUSIC VOL 3 – SHOW DEM CAMP YOUNG PREACHER – BLAQBONEZ YPSZN3 – PSYCHOYP TESLIM: THE ENERGY STILL LIVES IN ME – VECTOR BILLION DOLLAR DREAM – JERIQ |
A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in the year under review. |
| ALBUM OF THE YEAR | LOVE, DAMINI – BURNA BOY MR MONEY WITH THE VIBE – ASAKE RAVE AND ROSES – REMA BOY ALONE – OMAH LAY OUTLAW – VICTONY TIMELESS – DAVIDO |
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in the year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition, and impact). |
| SONG OF THE YEAR | “CALM DOWN” – REMA “LAST LAST” – BURNA BOY “KU LO SA” – OXLADE “BUGA” – KIZZ DANIEL & TEKNO “FINESSE” – PHEELZ FT. BNXN “SUNGBA REMIX” – ASAKE FT. BURNA BOY |
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review. |
| BEST FEMALE ARTISTE | TEMS SIMI AYRA STARR TIWA SAVAGE |
Overall most successful female artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review. |
| BEST MALE ARTISTE | ASAKE REMA KIZZ DANIEL RUGER OMAH LAY BURNA BOY |
Overall, most successful male artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review. |
| NEXT RATED | YOUNG JONN SEYI VIBEZ ASAKE VICTONY SPYRO |
This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with a single, EP or Album) in the year under review. |
| AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR | REMA (NIGERIA) BURNA BOY (NIGERIA) MARWA LOUD (MOROCCO) BLACK SHERIF (GHANA) DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA) |
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact, and infiltration into the international music scene within the year under review. |
| LYRICIST ON THE ROLL | LADIPOE – “CLOWNS” VECTOR – “CLOWNS” PAYPER CORLEONE – “FLY TALK ONLY” ALPHA OJINI – “VIGILANTE BOP” A-Q – “FAMILY FIRST” TEC (SDC) – “LIVE LIFE” |
A non-voting category for the rapper with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album in the year under review. |
| INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE RECOGNITION | SEAN ‘LOVE’ COMBS | A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the Nigerian entertainment industry within a specific period and/or the year under review. |
| HALL OF FAME | YOUSSOU N’DOUR | A special recognition to an individual of African Descent, for excellence and outstanding impact to the African entertainment industry, home, and abroad. |
| BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE | “STAND STRONG” – DAVIDO FT SUNDAY SERVICE CHOIR “JIREH (MY PROVIDER)” – LIMOBLAZE, LECRAE & HAPPI MUSIC “THIS YEAR” – VICTOR THOMPSON & EHIS ‘D’ GREATEST “EZE EBUBE” – NEON ADEJO “TOBECHUKWU” – NATHANIEL BASSEY AND MERCY CHINWO “I GET BACKING” – VICTORIA ORENZE |
A voting award category for the best inspirational single in the year under review (by an individual or group). |
| DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR | BURNA BOY AYRA STARR REMA OMAH LAY KIZZ DANIEL ASAKE |
A voting award category for an individual Nigerian artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact digitally in the year under review. |
| SPECIAL RECOGNITION | SOUND SULTAN | A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry. |
| INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR | DRAKE FUTURE SELENA GOMEZ DON TOLIVER ED SHEERAN |
A voting award category for a non-African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement and impact on Afrobeats. |
In related news, Burna Boy’s international success continues to grow, as his music reaches audiences far and wide. His influence in the music industry, both within Nigeria and abroad, highlights the global appeal of Nigerian music.
Stay tuned for more updates on the 16th Headies Awards, where the future of music in Nigeria and beyond will be celebrated, showcasing the artists who are shaping the industry.
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