The 17th Headies Awards returned triumphantly to Lagos on Sunday, April 27, 2025, after a two-year stint in the United States. Held at the Landmark Event Centre, the ceremony celebrated the best in Nigerian and African music, introducing new categories and honoring both emerging and established talents.
🎤 Major Winners and Highlights
- Odumodublvck: Crowned both Next Rated and Artiste of the Year, marking a significant milestone in his career.
- Tems: Secured Best Recording of the Year for her soulful track “Burning”.
- Rema: Won Afrobeats Album of the Year for his project HEIS.
- Davido: Recognized as Digital Artiste of the Year, reaffirming his dominance in the digital music space.
- Zerry DL: Named Rookie of the Year, marking a significant feat in his rising career.
- Funke Akindele: Her blockbuster movie A Tribe Called Judah clinched the inaugural Soundtrack of the Year award.
🏆 Full List of Winners
- Best Recording of the Year: “Burning” – Tems
- Best Vocal Performance (Male): “Billions” – Lojay
- Best Vocal Performance (Female): “I’m Done” – Liya
- Songwriter of the Year: “Vision” – Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi)
- Song of the Year: “Lonely at the Top” – Asake
- Music Video of the Year: “Egwu” – Director Pink
- Best Street-Hop Artiste: “Ask About Me” – Mohbad
- Best R&B Single: “Big Baller” – Flavour
- Producer of the Year: “Ozeba” – London
- Headies’ Viewers’ Choice: “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad
- Best Rap Single: “Cast” – Shallipopi & Odumodublvck
- Best East African Artiste of the Year: Juma Jux (Tanzania)
- Best Central African Artiste of the Year: Innoss’B (DRC)
- Special Recognition Awards: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Alex Okosi, and Amaju Pinnick.
🎭 Event Highlights and Controversies
The ceremony was a star-studded affair, with notable personalities like Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, actress Nancy Isime, and Big Brother Naija winner White Money in attendance.
However, the event faced challenges, including technical issues and time management problems, leading to the abrupt end of the ceremony before announcing winners in some major categories.
📅 Looking Ahead
To compensate for the awards’ absence in 2024, the organizers have announced that the 18th Headies Awards will take place in December 2025.