The 17th Headies Awards 2025: Full List of Winners and Highlights
On April 27, 2025, the Nigerian music industry converged at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos for the 17th edition of The Headies Awards, a prestigious celebration of Afrobeats, Nigerian music, and African talent. Marking a triumphant return to Nigeria after two years of being hosted in Atlanta, USA, the 2025 Headies honored outstanding achievements in music released between April 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024. The star-studded event featured electrifying performances, heartfelt tributes, and a showcase of Nigeria’s vibrant music culture, with winners across various categories reflecting the diversity and innovation of the industry.
Below is a compilation of the winners at the 17th Headies Awards, based on information gathered from posts on X and other available sources. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, the list may be incomplete due to the absence of a comprehensive official release from The Headies at the time of this report. The Headies typically recognize over 30 categories, encompassing voting and non-voting awards decided by a combination of public votes and a panel of industry experts.
Full List of Winners at the 17th Headies Awards 2025
- Rookie of the Year: Zerry DL
Rising star Zerry DL clinched the Rookie of the Year award, recognized for his breakout impact in the Nigerian music scene. - Recording of the Year: Tems
Tems, a global Afrobeats sensation, took home the coveted Recording of the Year for her soulful and impactful work, solidifying her dominance in the industry. - Best Vocal Performance (Male): Lojay
Lojay’s emotive and versatile vocal delivery earned him the Best Male Vocal Performance award. - Best Vocal Performance (Female): Liya
Liya’s captivating vocal prowess was celebrated with the Best Female Vocal Performance award. - Songwriter of the Year (Female): Qing Madi
Qing Madi’s lyrical depth and storytelling secured her the Songwriter of the Year award in the female category. - Producer of the Year: London
Renowned producer London was honored for his exceptional production work, shaping some of the biggest hits in the eligibility period. - Album of the Year: Rema
Rema’s chart-topping and culturally resonant project earned him the Album of the Year, a testament to his global influence. - Best Music Video: Director Pink (“Ego”)
Director Pink’s visually stunning work on the music video for “Ego” won the Best Music Video category, showcasing creative excellence. - Afrobeats Single of the Year: Flavour
Highlife and Afrobeats icon Flavour secured the Afrobeats Single of the Year for a track that resonated widely with fans. - Viewers’ Choice Award: Chike & Mohbad
The duo of Chike and the late Mohbad won the hearts of fans, earning the Viewers’ Choice Award through public votes. - Next Rated: Odumodublvck
Odumodublvck, a rising rap and Afro-fusion artist, was named the Next Rated act, signaling his potential to shape the future of Nigerian music.
Categories Not Covered
The Headies Awards typically feature over 30 categories, including Best Rap Single, Best R&B Single, Best Pop Single, Lyricist on the Roll, Best Collaboration, and more. However, due to limited information from available sources, not all winners could be confirmed at this time. Categories such as Best Rap Album, Best Alternative Song, and Headies International Artiste Recognition, which have been staples in past editions, were not explicitly mentioned in the referenced posts. For a complete list, readers are encouraged to check the official Headies website (https://theheadies.com) or reputable Nigerian entertainment outlets like Billboard Nigeria, Vanguard News, or Okay.ng, which often publish detailed recaps.
Highlights of the 17th Headies Awards
The 2025 Headies Awards were a vibrant celebration of Nigerian music’s global ascent, with Afrobeats continuing to dominate the spotlight. The event’s return to Lagos was a significant moment, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as the heartbeat of African music. Hosted at the Landmark Event Centre, the ceremony featured dazzling performances from top artists, though specific performers were not detailed in the available sources.
The awards process combined public voting for categories like Viewers’ Choice and Next Rated with jury-decided categories like Recording of the Year and Best Vocal Performance, ensuring a balance of fan input and industry expertise. The eligibility period (April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024) captured a dynamic era of Nigerian music, with artists pushing creative boundaries and achieving international acclaim.
Tributes and special recognitions were also a key part of the night, with the Headies honoring the legacy of late artists like Mohbad, whose posthumous win with Chike for Viewers’ Choice resonated deeply with fans. The event underscored the resilience and unity of the Nigerian music industry, even amidst challenges like the passing of key figures.
Notes on Sources and Accuracy
This list of winners is primarily sourced from posts on X, which, while valuable for real-time updates, are not conclusive evidence and may lack the full scope of the awards. The official Headies website and social media channels had not yet published a comprehensive winners’ list at the time of this article. As such, some categories and winners may be missing or unverified. For the most accurate and complete information, fans are advised to follow The Headies’ official platforms or check trusted news outlets covering the event.
The Legacy of The Headies
Since its inception in 2006, The Headies has been Nigeria’s premier music awards platform, celebrating excellence across genres like Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B, highlife, and alternative music. The 17th edition continued this tradition, spotlighting both established stars like Tems and Rema and emerging talents like Zerry DL and Odumodublvck. The awards also highlighted the behind-the-scenes contributions of producers, directors, and songwriters, ensuring a holistic celebration of the industry.
The return to Nigeria after two years abroad was a homecoming for The Headies, reaffirming its commitment to showcasing African talent on a global stage. As Afrobeats continues to influence music worldwide, the 2025 Headies served as both a reflection of the genre’s dominance and a preview of its future.
How to Stay Updated
For those seeking the full list of winners or additional details about the 17th Headies Awards, here are recommended steps:
- Visit the official Headies website: https://theheadies.com
- Follow The Headies on social media platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook for real-time updates.
- Check Nigerian entertainment news outlets such as Pulse Nigeria, The Punch, or The Nation for post-event coverage.
- Monitor posts on X with hashtags like #TheHeadies2025 or #HeadiesAwards for fan and media reactions.
The 17th Headies Awards were a testament to the unstoppable rise of Nigerian music, celebrating creativity, resilience, and global impact. Congratulations to all the winners, nominees, and contributors who made the night unforgettable.
