The 17th edition of the Headies awards made an interesting and glamorous comeback to Nigeria on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos.
It was a night filled with exciting performances, touching speeches, and glowing smiles for many music lovers across Africa, theartisteguide reports.
The event was tagged “Back to Base”, just to remind many of us why the Headies remains the gold standard in celebrating musical excellence.
The music show, which was hosted by Nancy Isime and IK Osakioduwa, also witnessed top personalities like Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and even Tanzanian star Juma Jux gracing the occasion.
It truly felt like a family reunion for Africa’s music and entertainment elites, yet it had moments of unfinished business.
Headies Awards Winners 2025: The stars who stole the night
This year’s Headies awards winners list was packed with deserving names. Zerry DL kicked off the celebrations by clinching Rookie of the Year for his incredible rise.
In one of the night’s most anticipated categories, OdumoduBlvck walked away with the Next Rated award.
Well deserved? Well, he has already stamped his foot as one of Nigeria’s most exciting new voices.
But it wasn’t just the award that got people talking—it was OdumoduBlvck’s unstoppable presence on stage.
His performance was widely hailed as the best of the night. And when his speech began running long, organisers shockingly cut off his mic.
Yet, true to form, Odumodu stayed on stage, speaking passionately—even without sound.
The Song of the Year went to Asake’s “Lonely at the Top”, a track that has seen him make it to the top now.
And speaking of collaborations, Best Collabo fittingly went to “Egwu” by Chike and the late Mohbad, a bittersweet but beautiful moment for everyone.
Rema’s HEIS was recognised as Album of the Year and Afrobeats Album of the Year, taking up the superstar status as it should be.
Meanwhile, Davido proved once again why he’s called 001, taking home Artiste of the Year and Digital Act of the Year.
Producer London earned the Producer of the Year award for “OZEBA”, showing just how much of a beating heart production is to Afrobeat’s global success.
More unforgettable moments from the Headies awards celebration
The Viewer’s Choice Award and Music Video of the Year were both clinched by the emotional hit “Egwu”, directed brilliantly by Director Pink.
Burna Boy was also crowned as Best Performer, while Tems stole hearts with Recording of the Year for her soul-stirring “Burning”.
International recognitions were also on display. Travis Scott picked up Best International Act, and regional acts like Titom (Southern Africa) and Juma Jux (Eastern Africa) were celebrated for their impact as well.
Special recognitions went out to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Kcee, which goes to show that the Headies isn’t just about music—it’s about honouring culture shapers across fields.
Other notable winners included:
Best Street-Hop Artist: Mohbad – “Ask About Me”
Best Inspirational Single: Mercy Chinwo
Best Rap Single: Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – “Cast”
Best Vocal Performance (Male): Lojay – “Billions”
Best Vocal Performance (Female): Liya – “I’m Done”
Songwriter of the Year: Qing Madi – “Vision”
Drama behind the spotlight: When the Headies Awards night faltered
But let’s be honest—with all the glitz came a few cracks. On a fair scale, the show stood at 6/10. Technical glitches surfaced throughout the night, with cameras occasionally cutting off or not so clear during crucial moments.
One of the most awkward instances came when Director Pink, after winning for Egwu, failed to mention Mohbad—whose vocals and legacy were central to the song.
Annie Idibia, now known as Annie Uwana Macaulay, also added an unintended comic moment, slipping up on her name before correcting it onstage. She tried to crack a joke like “her name is Annie Idi”; she now corrected it by saying “Annie Macaulay”.
While light-hearted, it added to the night’s scattered energy.
The Headies abruptly ended the ceremony without announcing four major categories. There was confusion, frustration, and even disappointment as the event wrapped up without closure.
To make things worse, several winners didn’t even receive their plaques due to an alleged shortage.
Shallipopi, who won Best Rap Single, was handed just a handshake—which visibly upset him. Reports say he vowed never to attend the Headies again.
The Headies awards winners of 2025 didn’t just entertain us — they inspired many. They reminded every artist, every dreamer, that with hard work, originality, and a sprinkle of grace, anything is possible.
