The 17th edition of the prestigious Headies Awards lit up Lagos on Sunday night, celebrating the finest talents across the African music scene. As expected, it was a night filled with glamour, excitement, and unforgettable moments.
Davido dominated the evening, clinching two major awards: Artiste of the Year and Digital Artiste of the Year. With these wins, he once again reaffirmed his status as one of Africa’s biggest music exports. Meanwhile, other stars also made their mark, ensuring the event remained competitive and lively.
Zerry DL impressed fans and critics alike by winning Rookie of the Year. Rema, on the other hand, continued his rise to global stardom as his album HEIS claimed the title of Afrobeats Album of the Year.
Similarly, Tems added another trophy to her growing collection by winning Best Recording of the Year with her soulful track Burning.
In terms of vocal talent, Lojay and Liya stood out. Lojay took home Best Vocal Performance (Male) for his hit Billions, while Liya won Best Vocal Performance (Female) with her powerful song I’m Done.
Moreover, the competition for the coveted Next Rated Artist award was fierce, but Odumodublvck ultimately prevailed over Shallipopi, Qing Madi, and Ayo Maff.
In addition to the music honors, Special Recognition Awards were given to notable personalities such as Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Alex Okosi, and Amaju Pinnick. Their efforts in promoting music and culture were duly celebrated, making the night even more memorable.
Furthermore, organizers announced an important update: the 18th edition of the Headies will take place in December. This adjustment comes as a way to compensate for the awards’ absence in 2024, much to the delight of fans.
Here’s the full list of winners at the 2025 Headies Awards:
Rookie of the Year: Zerry DL
Soundtrack of the Year: Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack – TCJ & Abbey Wonder
Best Recording of the Year: Burning – Tems
Best Vocal Performance (Male): Billions – Lojay
Best Vocal Performance (Female): I’m Done – Liya
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Alex Okosi, Amaju Pinnick
Songwriter of the Year: Vision – Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qing Madi)
Producer of the Year: OZEBA – London
Afrobeats Album of the Year: HEIS – Rema
Music Video of the Year: EGWU – Director Pink
Afrobeats Single of the Year: Big Baller – Flavour
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice: Egwu – Chike & Mohbad
Headies Next Rated: Odumodublvck
Digital Artiste of the Year: Davido
Best Rap Single: Cast – Shallipopi & Odumodublvck
Best East African Artiste of the Year: Juma Jux (Tanzania)
Best Street-hop Artiste: Mohbad – Ask About Me
Song of the Year: Lonely at the Top – Asake
Best Central African Artiste of the Year: Innoss’B (DRC)
As a result of these incredible performances, the 2025 Headies will be remembered as a night when African music’s brightest stars truly shone.
