The global award for Afrobeats, The Headies, has presented the list of artistes, songs and music projects competing for a Headie plaque at The 15th Headies Awards ceremony holding on September 4, 2022, at the Cobbs Energy Performing Center, in Atlanta, USA.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically, with the absence of an album in the year under review.
- AV ( @babyboyav )
- FAVE (@faveszn )
- MAGIXX ( @iam_magixx )
- PORTABLE ( @portablebaeby )
- UGOCCIE ( @ugoccie )
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the best recording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artiste or group in the year under review.
“CELEBRATE ME” – PATORANKING
“ESSENCE” – WIZKID FEAT. TEMS
“JOY” – FALANA
“LOVING IS HARDER” – JOHNNY DRILLE
“MEJI MEJI” – BRYMO
“SOMEBODY’S SON” – TIWA SAVAGE FEAT. BRANDY
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
BEATS BY JAYY – “GOLDEN” (A-Q)
BLAISE BEATZ – “SINNER” (ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. LUCKY DAYE)
NIPHKEYS – “FEEL GOOD” (MOHBAD)
P PRIIME – “OZUMBA MBADIWE” (REEKADO BANKS)
PHEELZ – “HIGH” (ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. DAVIDO)
SARZ – “MONALISA” (LOJAY & SARZ)
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:
A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition) in the year under review.
- ADEKUNLE GOLD – “SINNER”
- AJEBO HUSTLERS – “LOYALTY”
- BRYMO – “MEJI MEJI”
- FALANA – “JOY”
- FIREBOY DML – “PERU”
- OMAH LAY – “UNDERSTAND”
BEST R&B SINGLE
A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
- “BABY RIDDIM” – FAVE
- “BEGGIE BEGGIE” – AYRA STARR FEAT. CKAY
- “ESSENCE” – WIZKID FEAT. TEMS
- “RUNNING (TO YOU)” – CHIKE FEAT. SIMI
- “PROMISE” – NINIOLA
- “SINNER” – ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. LUCK DAYE
BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.
- “BREATHE” – A-Q FEAT CHIKE
- “CROWN OF CLAY” – VECTOR & MI ABAGA FEAT. PHEELZ
- “EARLY MOMO” – VECTOR FEAT. GOODGIRL LA
- “FEELING” – LADIPOE FEAT. BNXN
- “TYCOON” – SHOW DEM CAMP FEAT. REMINISCE & MOJO
- “LOADING” – OLAMIDE FEAT BAD BOY TIMZ
BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG
A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.
- “DOINGS” – FLAVOUR
- “FREE YOUR MIND” – MADE KUTI
- “GONTO” – IBEJII
- “HUSTLE” – BASKETMOUTH, THE CAVEMEN, BEZ, DICE AILES
- “MEJI MEJI” – BRYMO
- “SELENSE” – THE CAVEMEN
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.
- AYRA STARR – “TOXIC”
- LIYA – “ALARI”
- NINIOLA – “6TH HEAVEN”
- SIMI – “RUNNING (TO YOU)”
- TEMS – “ESSENCE”
- WAJE – “LAST TIME”
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE(MALE)
A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.
- BRYMO – “MEJI MEJI”
- JOHNNY DRILLE – “LOVING IS HARDER”
- OXLADE – “OJUJU”
- RIC HASSANI – “WHEN I’M GONE”
- TAY IWAR – “PEAKING”
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.
“CHAMPION” – (FIREBOY DML FEAT. D SMOKE) DIRECTED BY TG OMORI
“GINGER” – (WIZKID FEAT. BURNA BOY) DIRECTED BY MEJI ALABI
“ROJU” – (CHIKE) DIRECTED BY PINK
“RAIN” – (YEMI ALADE FEAT. MZANSI YOUTH CHOIR) DIRECTED BY OVIE ETSEYATSE
“BLING” – (BLAQBONEZ FEAT. AMAARAE & BNXN) DIRECTED BY TG OMORI
“RUNNING” – (LADIPOE FEAT. FIREBOY DML) DIRECTED BY DIRECTOR K
BEST COLLABORATION
A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).
- “BEGGIE BEGGIE” – AYRA STARR FEAT. CKAY
- “BLING” – BLAQBONEZ FEAT. AMAARAE & BNXN
- “EARLY MOMO” – VECTOR FEAT. GOODGIRL LA
- “ESSENCE” – WIZKID FEAT. TEMS
- “FEELING” – LADIPOE FEAT. BNXN
- “RUNNING (TO YOU)” – CHIKE FEAT. SIMI
BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE
A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.
- BELLA SHMURDA – “CASH APP” FEAT. ZLATAN & LINCOlN
- REXXIE & MOHBAD – “KPK”
- MOHBAD – “FEEL GOOD”
- NAIRA MARLEY – “KOLEYEWON”
- NEKTUNEZ & GOYA MENOR – “AMENO AMAPIANO (REMIX)”
- POCO LEE, PORTABLE & OLAMIDE – “ZAZOO ZEHH”
BEST AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in year under review (by single individual or group).
“BLOODY SAMARITAN” – AYRA STARR
“BOUNCE” – RUGER
“HIGH” – ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. DAVIDO
“MONALISA” – LOJAY & SARZ
“OZUMBA MBADIWE” – REEKADO BANKS
“PERU” – FIREBOY DML
HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE
A voting category to award the fan’s favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.
- AYRA STARR – “BLOODY SAMARITAN”
- FIREBOY – “PERU”
-
JOEBOY – “SIP”
- LOJAY & SARZ – “MONALISA”
- NEKTUNEZ & GOYA MENOR – “AMENO AMAPIANO (REMIX)”
- OLAMIDE FEAT. OMAH LAY – “INFINITY”
-
REMA – “SOUNDGASM”
- WIZKID FEAT. TEMS – “ESSENCE”
BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Western African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
- AMAARAE (GHANA)
- ANGELIQUE KIDJO (BENIN)
- AYA NAKAMURA (MALI)
- GYAKIE (GHANA)
- KIDI (GHANA)
- NELSON FREITAS (CAPE VERDE)
BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Eastern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
- DIAMOND PLATINUMZ (TANZANIA)
- EDDY KENZO (UGANDA)
- HARMONIZE (TANZANIA)
- MEDDY (RWANDA)
- NIKITA KERING (KENYA)
- ZUCHU (TANZANIA)
BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Northern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
- EMEL MATHLOUTHI (TUNISIA)
- ELGRANDETOTO (MOROCCO)
- LATIFA (TUNISIA)
- MANAL (MOROCCO)
- MUHAMAD RAMADAN (EGYPT)
- SOOLKING (ALGERIA)
BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Southern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
- BLACK COFFEE (SOUTH AFRICA)
- DJ TARICO (MOZAMBIQUE)
- ELAINE (SOUTH AFRICA)
- FOCALISTIC (SOUTH AFRICA)
- JAH PRAYZAH (ZIMBABWE)
- SHA SHA (ZIMBABWE)
BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Central African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.
- CALEMA (SAO TOME & PRINCIPE)
- BLANCHE BAILLY (CAMEROON)
- DADJU (DR CONGO)
- FALLY IPUPA (DR CONGO)
- INNOSS’B (DR CONGO)
- SORAIA RAMOS (CAPE VERDE)
BEST AFROBEATS ALBUM
A category for the best Afrobeats album in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
“19 AND DANGEROUS” – AYRA STARR
“A BETTER TIME” – DAVIDO
“BARNABAS” – KIZZ DANIEL
“MADE IN LAGOS (DELUXE EDITION)” – WIZKID
“KPOS LIFESTYLE” – AJEBO HUSTLERS
“WONDALAND” – TENI
BEST DIASPORA AFROBEATS
AYOJAY- US
DARKOO – UK
MOELOGO – UK
NSG – UK
OBONGJAYAR – UK
BEST REGGAE & DANCEHALL ALBUM
A voting category for the best Reggae & Dancehall album (solo or group) in year under review.
-
“GRATITUDE” – TIMAYA
-
“LOVE IS WAR” – PRETTYBOY D-O
-
“RAINBOW RIDDIM” – SHANK
-
“THREE” – PATORANKING
-
“YAADMAN KINGSIZE” – YUNG L
BEST R&B ALBUM
A category for the best r&b album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
“BEFORE WE FALL ASLEEP” – JOHNNY DRILLE
“IF ORANGE WAS A PLACE” – TEMS
“LOVE DEEP HIGH LIFE” – OMAWUMI
“RISING” – FALANA
“THE PRINCE I BECAME” – RIC HASSANI
“WATER AND GARRI” – TIWA SAVAGE
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
A category for the best Alternative album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
“9: ESAN” – BRYMO
“INTERMISSION” – IBEJII
“LEGACY +” – FEMI KUTI & MADE KUTI
“LOVE AND HIGHLIFE” – THE CAVEMEN
“P.S. THANK YOU FOR WAITING” – WAVY THE CREATOR
“YABASI” – BASKETMOUTH
BEST RAP ALBUM
A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review.
“CARPE DIEM” – OLAMIDE
“CLONE WARS VOL. 5 – THE ALGORHYTHM” – SHOW DEM CAMP
“GOLDEN” – A-Q
“MAFIA CULTURE, VOL. 2.0” – IDOWEST
“PROVIDENCE” – LADIPOE
“SEX OVER LOVE” – BLAQBONEZ
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).
- “9: ESAN” – BRYMO
- “19 & DANGEROUS” – AYRA STARR
- “CARPE DIEM” – OLAMIDE
- “LEGACY +” – FEMI KUTI & MADE KUTI
- “MADE IN LAGOS (DELUXE EDITION)” – WIZKID
- “YABASI” – BASKETMOUTH
SONG OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
- “CELEBRATE ME” – PATORANKING
- “DOINGS” – FLAVOUR FEAT. PHYNO
- “ESSENCE” – WIZKID FEAT. TEMS
- “HIGH” – ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. DAVIDO
- “MONALISA” – LOJAY & SARZ
- “PERU” – FIREBOY DML
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE
Overall most successful female artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.
-
SIMI
-
TEMS
-
TIWA SAVAGE
-
TENI
-
NINIOLA
BEST MALE ARTISTE
Overall most successful male artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.
-
ADEKUNLE GOLD
-
BURNA BOY
-
DAVIDO
-
FLAVOUR
-
OLAMIDE
-
WIZKID
NEXT RATED
This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with an EP or Album) in the year under review.
- AYRA STARR
- BNXN
- LOJAY
- RUGER
- ZINOLEESKY
AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the International music scene withiin the year under review.
- BLACK COFFEE (NIGERIA)
- BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)
- DAVIDO (NIGERIA)
- DIAMOND PLATINUMZ (TANZANIA)
- SOOLKING (ALGERIA)
- WIZKID (NIGERIA)
- AYA NAKAMURA (MALI/FRANCE)
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE RECOGNITION
A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the Nigerian entertainment industry within a specific period and/or the year under review.
WYCLEF JEAN
AKON
P DIDDY
SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry within the year under review.
BOSE OGULU
SUNDAY ARE
EFE OMOROGBE
HALL OF FAME:
A special recognition to an individual of African Descent, for excellence and outstanding impact to the African entertainment industry, home and abroad.
ANGELINA KIDJOE
HUMANITARIAN AWARD OF THE YEAR
A voting category to recognize and Award extraordinary individuals and/or groups who have positively impacted the lives of people, nature and society within the year in review.
- 2FACE IDIBIA
- RUGGEDMAN
- DAVIDO
- DON JAZZY