By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Nigeria’s most prestigious music award show, Headies has released the highly anticipated nominations list for its 17th edition.
According to the list, which was made public on Wednesday, Odumodublvck, whose real name is Tochukwu Ojogwu, leads the pack with an impressive seven nominations.
Ayra Starr and Shallipopi trailed closely behind with three nominations each, while the late Mohbad, who passed away on September 12, 2023, also bagged three nominations.
The nominations list features a diverse range of local and international artists who have made significant contributions to the music scene in the past year.
Some of the notable categories and nominees include Best Recording of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Best R&B Singles, and Best Collaboration.
The 17th Headies Awards is scheduled to take place on April 5, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Full List of nominees:
Music Video of the Year
Charm – Rema, Oerlinks and Folarin Oludare
Metaverse – Jyde Ajala
Like Ice Spice – Perlinks and Emeka Shine Shine
Ojapiano – Mattmax
Egwu – Director Pink
Showa – TG Omori
Na Money – Dammy Twitch
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
Niniola – Level
Simi – Stranger
Liya – I’m Done
Yemi Alade – Tomorrow
Best Rap Single
Cast – Odumodu Blvck and Shallipopi
Blood on the dance floor – Bloody Civilian, Wale and Odumodu Blvck
Hallelujah – Ladipoe, Rozzz, and Morello
Canada – Magnito
Ije Nwoke – Jeriq
Rookie of the year
Zerry DL
Taves
Kaestyles
Llona
Best R&B single
Qing Madi – Vision
Johnny Drille – For You
Simi – Stranger
Tems – Burning
Ayra Star – Last Heartbreak Song ft Giveon
Songwriter of the year
Simisola Kosoko – Stranger (Simi)
Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma – Vision (Qing Madi)
Michael Ajuma Attah – Can’t Breathe (Llona)
Emoseh Khamofu – Family Meeting (Bloody Civilian)
Fuayefika Maxwell – Stages of Life (Wizard Chan)
Producer of the year
Sarz – Happiness
London – Ozeba
Magicsticks – Basquiat
Rema/Producer X/Cubeats/Deatz/Klimperboy – Hehehe
Dibs – Different Pattern
Best Recording of the year
Tems – Burning
Seyi Vibez – Different Pattern
Burna Boy – Higher
Ayra Star and Giveon – Last Heartbreak Song
Sarz and Lojay – Billions
Best Collaboration
Emotions – Tiwa Savage ft Asa
Blood on the dance floor – Odumodu Blvck, Bloody Civilian, and Wale
Cast – Shallipopi ft Odumodu Blvck
Egwu – Chike ft Mohbad
Ole – Qing Madi ft Bnxn
Twe Twe remix – Kizz Daniel ft Davido
IDK – Wizkid ft Zlatan
Best Street-hop artiste
Seyi Vibez – Different Patterns
Ayo Maff – Dealer ft (Fire Boy)
Shallipopi – Cast ft (Odumodu Blvck)
Zhus Jdo – Johnbull
Mohbad – Ask About me
Afrobeats Single of the Year
Big Big Things – Young John ft Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez
Twe Twe remix – Kizz Daniel ft Davido
Egwu – Chike ft Mohbad
Remember – Asake
Ogechi remix – Hyce, Boypee and Brown Joel ft Davido
Big Baller – Flavour
Best Inspirational Single
Gratitude – Anendlessocean
Worthy of my praise – Dunsin Oyekan ft. Lawrence Oyor
Good God 2 – Limoblaze ft. Naomi Raine
particularly – Gaise Baba ft. Tope Alabi
You Do This One – Mercy Chinwo
Lyricist on the Roll
Mogadishu – A-Q
Chocolate City Cypher – M.I Abaga
Chocolate City Cypher – Blaqbonez
Hallelujah – Ladipoe
Efeleme – Alpha Ojini
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice
Big Big Things ft. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez – Young Jonn
Ogechi remix ft. Davido – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel
Egwu – Chike & Mohbad
Showa – Kizz Daniel
Different Pattern – Seyi Vibez
Ozeba – Rema
Love Me Jeje – Tems
Cast ft. Odumodublvck – Shallipopi
Dealer ft. Fireboy DML- Ayo Maff
Big Baller – Flavour
West African Artiste of the Year
Black Sherif (Ghana)
King Promise (Ghana)
Himra (Ivory Coast)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Toofan (Togo)
Best East African Artiste of the Year
Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Juma Jux (Tanzania)
Bruce Melody (Rwanda)
Azawi (Uganda)
Best North African Artiste of the Year
Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
ElGrande Toto (Morocco)
Soolking (Algeria)
Balti (Tunisia)
Abu (Egypt)
Best Southern African Artiste of the Year
Titom (South Africa)
Yuppe (South Africa)
Tyla (South Africa)
Kelly Kay (Malawi)
Plutonio (Mozambique)
Zee Nxumalo (South Africa)
Best Rap Album
Sideh Kai – Illbliss
Eziokwu – Odumodublvck
Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 – Reminisce
Family Time – Erigga
Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine
Full Time Job – Phyno
Soundtrack of the Year
Eledumare – Teledalese (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
Lose to Gain – Kaline (Breath of Life)
Kill Boro – Native Filmworks & Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)
Orisa – Beriolla (Orisa)
5. “Emotions” – Tiwa Savage & Asa (Water and Garri)
6. “Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack” – TCJ & Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah)
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
Innoss’B (DRC)
Gaz Mawete (DRC)
Emma’A (Gabon)
Ebokolo (Gabon)
Singulila (Central African Republic)
Koceé (Cameroon)