The 16th Annual Headies Awards: Complete List of Nominees Announced

By Hardcore Flava | August 21, 2023

Burna Boy leads all nominees with 11. Plus Asake, BNXN, Pheelz, and Oxlade top this year’s list. 

 

The Official List of nominees for the 16th Annual Headies Awards has been announced, with Burna Boy leading nominations with 11 nods spread across ten categories including “African Artiste of The Year,” “Best Afrobeats Album,” “Best Male Artiste,” and “Song of The Year.” Singer Asake has eight nominations this year. 

 

The Headies is the most renowned Pan-African Award presentation–honoring the greatest in Afrobeats, African music, and culture featuring sounds from South, East, Central, North, and West Africa. 

 

This will mark the illustrious awards show’s second year returning to American soil. This year’s event will feature an unprecedented global line-up of powerhouse talent and influencers celebrating the artistic ingenuity of Pan-African and Afrobeats talent. 

 

“We are so excited that The Headies will return to American soil once again. We know that

Afrobeats connects people all around the globe, and this year’s event exemplifies and celebrates the power of our culture. The Headies will be an evening not only of dynamic talent but also memorable moments that will resonate with audiences worldwide,” said Ayo Animashaun, CEO and Founder of The Headies Awards.

 

The show will take place on Sunday, September 3rd, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and will be streamed live on YouTube (U.S.) and HipTV (Africa). 

 

Here are the nominees for the 16th Annual Headies Awards: 

 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 

 

BAYANNI

KHAID

GUCHI

BLOODY CIVILIAN

ODUMODUBLVCK

ELTEE SKHILLZ

 

BEST RECORD OF THE YEAR 

 

“ALONE” – BURNA BOY

“SOWETO” – VICTONY & TEMPOE 

“I’M A MESS” – OMAH LAY 

“KU LO SA” – OXLADE

“STAND STRONG” – DAVIDO FT. SUNDAY SERVICE CHOIR

“NO WOMAN, NO CRY” – TEMS 

 

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR 

 

MAGICSTICKS – “SUNGBA REMIX” (ASAKE) 

P.PRIME, TMXO & PHEELZ – “ELECTRICITY” (PHEELZ FT DAVIDO) 

ANDRE VIBEZ & LONDON – “CALM DOWN” (REMA) 

TEMPOE – “SOWETO” (VICTONY & TEMPOE) 

KEL-P – “KPE PASO” (WANDE COAL & OLAMIDE) 

REXXIE – “ABRACADABRA” (REXXIE, NAIRA MARLEY, SKIIBII & WIZKID) 

 

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR 

 

SIMI KOSOKO, GODSFAVOUR CHIDOZIE, KOSOKO ADEKUNLE, MARCEL AKUNWATA – “LOYAL” (SIMI) 

 

STANLEY DIDIA, ADEBAJO ADEBANJO – “I’M A MESS” (OMAH LAY) 

 

TEMS, LUDWIG GORANSSON, ROBYN RIHANNA FENTY, RYAN COOGLER – “LIFT ME UP” (RIHANNA) 

 

DAMINI EBUNOLUWA OGULU, AUSTIN JNR IORNONGU IWAR, PEACE OREDOPE, LUDWIG GORANSSON – “ALONE” (BURNA BOY) 

 

DANIEL BENSON – “IN MY MIND” (BNXN) 

 

FUAYEFIKA MAXWELL – “EARTH SONG” (WIZARD CHAN) 

BEST R&B SINGLE