The 17th Headies Awards, held yesterday at the Landmark event centre, was a dazzling celebration of talent, dreams realized, and new legends in the making. From emotional wins to groundbreaking moments, the ceremony captured the unstoppable rise of African music on the world stage.
The breakthrough of the year went to Zerry DL, who was crowned Rookie of the Year, signaling the start of a thrilling career ahead. Tems continued her reign of brilliance, taking home Best Recording of the Year with her stirring track “Burning.” Meanwhile, Songwriter of the Year went to the gifted Qing Madi, whose storytelling continues to touch millions.
In the vocal categories, Liya’s heartfelt delivery in “I’m Done” earned her Best Vocal Performance (Female), while Lojay‘s soulful “Billions” sealed him the Best Vocal Performance (Male) award.
Visually, Chike and the late Mohbad struck gold, winning Music Video of the Year for their touching collaboration “Egwu.” Their chemistry also earned them Best Collaboration for the same song — a beautiful reminder of Mohbad’s indelible mark on the music scene. Mohbad’s spirit was celebrated even further as he posthumously won Best Street-Hop Artiste for his street anthem “Ask About Me.”
Adding another feather to their cap, Chike and Mohbad also took home the prestigious Headies’ Viewers’ Choice award, a fan-voted category honoring the artist with the most digital traction — including downloads, views, and streams — for “Egwu.” It was a powerful testament to the enduring love of fans.
In the infectious world of Afrobeats, Flavour’s chart-topping hit “Big Baller” was crowned Afrobeats Single of the Year, while gospel powerhouse Mercy Chinwo inspired audiences with “You Do This One,” earning her Best Inspirational Single.
Across borders, African stars shone just as brightly. Juma Jux, prominent Tanzanian artist and the newly married groom to Priscilla Ojo — proudly bagged Best East African Artiste of the Year. Inoss’ B from the Democratic Republic of Congo claimed Best Central African Artiste of the Year, while Titom was celebrated as Best Southern African Artiste of the Year. Representing North Africa, Soolking from Algeria clinched Best North African Artiste of the Year, and Himra from Ivory Coast brought home Best West African Artiste of the Year. It was a powerful reminder that from every corner of Africa, extraordinary music is rising.
On the international scene, Wale was honored for his collaboration “Blood on the Dance Floor” with Odumodublvck, and Travis Scott took home International Artiste of the Year, highlighting the strong and growing bridge between African music and the global stage.
The night also crowned Davido as Digital Artiste of the Year, recognizing his unparalleled influence across global streaming platforms.
When it came to the best song, Asake’s infectious “Lonely at the Top” stole the spotlight, winning Song of the Year and further proving his dominance on the airwaves.
For live performance excellence, Best Performer (Live) went to Burna Boy for his electrifying “African Giant Live from London” show, reminding the world why he’s one of the greatest performers of his generation.
In album accolades, Rema shined with Afrobeats Album of the Year for “Heis,” delivering a genre-pushing project that captivated millions. Meanwhile, Erigga’s “Family Time” scooped Best Rap Album, blending street wisdom with lyrical mastery.
The Next Rated award — one of the night’s most anticipated — went to Odumodublvck, a fast-rising star whose grit and innovation have captured fans’ hearts and votes alike.
In the film and soundtrack category, Soundtrack of the Year was awarded to TCJ and Abbey Wonder for their incredible work on A Tribe Called Judah, a testament to the power of music in storytelling.
Adding a touch of honor and history, a Special Recognition Award was presented to veteran entertainer Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo (Kcee), for his decades-long contribution to the music industry.
From raw talent to refined legends, the 17th Headies Awards showed us that African music isn’t just thriving — it’s taking over the world, one unforgettable song, performance, and story at a time.
As always, the Headies celebrates excellence in African music and creativity, honoring the hard work, artistry, and cultural pride of musicians who continue to shape the soundscape of the continent and beyond. Every note, every beat, and every lyric reminds the world that Africa’s time is now — and the future is even brighter.
