Africa’s entertainment capital, Lagos state, Nigeria once again lived up to her fame as she hosted the 17th edition of The Headies Awards. The Headies Awards 2025 was held on Sunday April 2025 at the Landmark Events Centre. There was palpable excitement in the air and from the red carpet hosted by Enioluwa & Hauwa Magaji to the main stage with the delectable Nancy Isime, Lagos delivered a night to remember.
This year’s ceremony was a brilliant celebration of the immense talent bursting from Nigeria’s evolving music scene and beyond. With new categories added to spotlight the best across the regions in Africa.
There were unforgettable performances from Shallipopi with the hit tune “e don Cast” to Qing Madi, Magnito, Flavour, Odumodu Blvck, Juma Jux, and more
There was however a really notable and emotional Mohbad tribute from afrobeats crooner Ayox.
It was a “Back to based” and “Unapologetically African,” season so the stars show out in Naija bougie style. Enioluwa and Hauwa Magaji brought the perfect blend of glam and excitement as red carpet hosts, setting the tone for a night that was proudly and unapologetically African.
The Headies has never been short of drama, from the days of the infamous Don Jazzy vs Olamide “don’t come to mainland” drama. Odumodu Blvck vs stage director with Odumodu refusing to be sung off the stage with his entourage of 1 million men in black and his mum was it for this year.
Odumodu who had come on stage to receive his award for the most coveted “Headies NextRated” award category had a speech written and was unable to complete his speech before his allotted time. This led to his mic being turned off and an attempt to sing him offstage. Odumodu wouldn’t have it as he waited and even attempted to do his all important speech without the mic, this drove the audience into a frenzy of laughter and applause. The mic came back on and he was able to profess his belief in Jesus and he ended his speech with this “And yes, they were asking, If I didn’t win what would I have done? I guess we would never know!” Drops mic. The headies had finally had its special drama for the night and the audience seemed to have fully enjoyed it.
Davido had a heartfelt plaque presentation of OdumoduBlvck’s award to his mother as against Odumodu himself, also quite entertaining. Annie Macaulay-Idibia, during her award presentation with Mr Steez himself Farouq Oreagba, had a playful slip of the tongue, quickly correcting her name as Annie Macauley and shouting out the single ladies. The newlyweds Juma Jux and Priscilla Ojo gave us some sweet sweet PDA every now and then.
On a more solemn note, Mohbad’s widow gave an emotional acceptance speech on his behalf of the late music icon.
In true Headies fashion, the awards themselves stirred pride and celebration. OdumoduBlvck won the prestigious Next Rated, while Davido once again claimed Artiste of the Year. Tems took home Recording of the Year for “Burning,” and the late Mohbad was honored with Best Street-Hop Act Posthumously. The highly anticipated Viewer’s Choice Award went to “Egwu” by Chike and Mohbad.
This year also recognized excellence beyond Nigeria’s borders. Artists like Innoss’B from Central Africa and Juma Jux From East Africa won best East African Artiste.
All in all, the headies awards 2025 was a beautiful event that brought together the music industry in Africa, public figures, entertainment personalities, cooperate Nigeria, music fans and people in government like the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwoolu, Hanatu Musa Musawa ( The minister of Art, culture, tourism and creative economy), Toke Benson (Lagos State commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture), Idris Aregbe (SSA to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Art and Culture) and a host of others.
The Headies Awards began in 2006, thanks to the visionary mind of Ayo Animashaun, and the show has grown from just celebrating Nigerian hip-hop to capturing the full spectrum of African music. In 2022, the Headies officially added categories for other African countries, this was a bold step toward uniting the African continent through sound. The ceremony was also moved to the USA. Hosting the ceremony in Lagos once again in 2025 feels like a homecoming, but with a broader, louder, and prouder African voice.
The Headies consists of voting and non voting categories and we are proud of every winner.
We look forward to more growth and the next editions.
Below is a full list of winners at the Headies 2025
Full List of The Headies Awards 2025 Winners
Best Recording of the Year
- Tems – Burning — Winner
Producer of the Year
- London – Ozeba — Winner
Headies Next Rated
- Odumodublvck — Winner
Afrobeats Album of the Year
- Rema – HEIS — Winner
Songwriter of the Year
- Qing Madi – Vision — Winner
Rookie of the Year
- Zerry DL — Winner
Best Rap Single
- Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – Cast — Winner
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
- Liya – I’m Done — Winner
Music Video of the Year
- Director Pink – Egwu — Winner
Best Street-Hop Artiste
- Mohbad – Ask About Me — Winner
Afrobeats Single of the Year
- Flavour – Big Baller — Winner
Viewers’ Choice Award
- Chike & Mohbad – Egwu — Winner
Digital Artiste of the Year
- Davido — Winner
Song of the Year
- Asake – Lonely at the Top — Winner
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
- Lojay – Billions — Winner
Best Movie Soundtrack
- A Tribe Called Judah — Winner
Best East African Artiste
- Juma Jux (Tanzania) — Winner
Best Central African Artiste
- Innoss’B (DRC) — Winner
Special Recognition Awards
- Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Governor of Lagos State)
- Alex Okosi
- Amaju Pinnick
- KCee
Humanitarian Awards
- Temitola Adekunle Johnson
- Mitchell Mukoro
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