It was a night of lights, legends, and loud cheers as Lagos hosted the 17th edition of The Headies Awards on Sunday at the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island.
Dubbed Nigeria’s most prestigious music awards, this year’s show pulled out all the stops, celebrating the country’s rich musical tapestry with breathtaking performances and emotional moments that kept the crowd buzzing well into the night.
Steering the evening’s festivities was Nollywood star and media darling, Nancy Isime, who brought charm and elegance to the big stage.
A Night of Electrifying Performances and Heartfelt Tributes
From the moment Fireboy DML stepped on stage for a soulful acoustic set, it was clear the audience was in for a treat. The energy soared even higher when rap heavyweight Olamide joined forces with rising star Shallipopi for a surprise collaboration that had fans screaming with excitement.
In one of the night’s most touching highlights, veterans like 2Baba teamed up with Sound Sultan’s son for a special tribute medley to the pioneers of Afrobeats — a performance that tugged at heartstrings and brought back memories of Nigeria’s music journey.
Chike, Rema, Asake, Ayra Starr… Who Ruled the Night?
Chike proved once again why he is fans’ favourite, clinching two awards — Viewers’ Choice and Best Music Video — for his stirring anthem “Egwu.”
The late Mohbad was honoured with the Best Street-Hop Artiste award for “Ask About Me,” a moment that turned emotional as a powerful video montage played in tribute to his legacy.
Rema continued his global takeover, winning Album of the Year for “Heis.” His performance, blending Afrobeats, R&B, and trap, reminded everyone why he remains one of the hottest acts out of Africa.
Asake added to his ever-growing trophy cabinet by snagging Best Male Artiste, while Ayra Starr was named Best Female Artiste, solidifying her place as a leading voice of the new generation.
Odumodublvck took home Rookie of the Year award, thrilling his growing fanbase, while Tems earned Best Collaboration for “Fountains” with Drake.
Nigeria’s Music Evolution on Full Display
Beyond the glamour and the trophies, The Headies 2025 was a proud showcase of Nigerian music’s global influence. With international guests from across Africa and beyond, the night was a testament to just how far Afrobeats and Nigerian talent have travelled.
The organisers introduced a brand-new Global Impact Award to celebrate Nigerian artistes making waves abroad. Burna Boy, currently on tour, accepted the honour virtually.
Interestingly, ten categories were shelved this year, including Best Collaboration, Best Inspirational Single, Best Rap Album, and others — a move that sparked quiet debates among fans but did little to dull the shine of the evening.
Here’s a Quick Look at Some of the Big Winners:
- Best Recording of the Year: Tems – Burning
- Producer of the Year: London – Ozeba
- Headies Next Rated: Odumodublvck
- Afrobeats Album of the Year: Rema – Heis
- Songwriter of the Year: Qing Madi – Vision
- Rookie of the Year: Zerrydl
- Best Rap Single: Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – Cast
- Best Street-Hop Artiste: Mohbad – Ask About Me
- Afrobeats Single of the Year: Flavour – Big Baller
- Viewers’ Choice Award: Chike and Mohbad – Egwu
- Digital Artiste of the Year: Davido
- Song of the Year: Asake – Lonely at the Top
- Best Movie Soundtrack: A Tribe Called Judah
Special Awards and Humanitarian Honours
Among the night’s honorary awards, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Alex Okosi, Amaju Pinnick, and KCee received Special Recognition Awards. Humanitarian awards went to Temitola Adekunle Johnson and Mitchell Mukoro for their impactful work.
A Final Bow
As the curtains closed on Headies 2025, one thing was clear: Nigerian music isn’t just thriving, it is leading the global conversation. With talent, passion, and innovation on full display, the future looks even brighter.
