2025 Headies Awards Nominees Announced, Celebrating African Music Excellence

LAGOS, Nigeria — The nominees for the 2025 Headies Awards were announced on February 26, 2025, revealing an impressive array of talent set to be honored at the ceremony taking place on April 5 in Lagos. This marks a significant return to Africa after hosting the previous two awards in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Headies, originally established as the Hip Hop World Awards in 2006 by the Hip Hop World magazine, aims to celebrate exceptional achievements in the Nigerian music industry and beyond, showcasing representatives from various African music genres.

“We are so excited about this year’s Headies Awards,” said Ayo Animashaun, executive producer and founder of The Headies, in a statement. “Our stellar lineup features dynamic artists from around the globe who have impacted their audience and the industry.”

This year’s nominees include Odumodublvck leading with eight nominations, followed closely by Rema and Ayra Starr, each with seven. Other nominees include Tems, Shallipopi, and Kizz Daniel with six nominations each.

The International Artist of the Year category features high-profile nominees such as Wale, Skepta, Chris Brown, Travis Scott, and Chloe Bailey, all recognized for their collaborations with African artists.

The event will kick off with a series of activities, including The Headies Stakeholder Brunch, Official Nominees Party, U.S. Consulate Reception, and an Afrobeats Conference starting March 29, culminating in the awards ceremony on April 5, which will be livestreamed on YouTube (U.S.) and Hip TV (Nigeria).

Only music materials released and distributed on digital streaming platforms and physical formats from April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, were considered for nominations this year.

The complete list of nominees reflects a diverse representation of talent in the African music scene, reinforcing the region’s flourishing music industry and its global impact.