The 16th Annual Headies Awards: Honoring The Ingenuity Of Pan-African Talent, Celebrating African Renaissance Rema, Burna Boy, and Selena Gomez Win BIG

For the second time on U.S. soil, The Headies hosted its 16th Annual Awards Show. This past Sunday, the prestigious show brought out the best in Afrobeats and Pan-African Music as African Artists Odumodublvk, BlaqBonez, Spiro, Shay Vibez, Yung Jon, KCee, Black Sherif, and Asake took the stage with electrifying performances. 

As Afrobeats exploded into a worldwide phenomenon, the impact was undeniable. The Headies Awards was at the forefront of the movement – transporting Afrobeats to America and giving new, thriving, and established artists a platform to showcase their talents for over 16 years. This year, the winner of the Rookie Of  The Year took home a 2 bedroom, solar-powered home as their desire to inspire and acknowledge new artists on their journey to stardom. 

In March of 2022, Billboard Magazine launched America’s first-ever Afrobeats chart in association with Afro Nation to rank the top 50 most popular Afrobeats songs in the country based on streams and downloads. Rema and Selena Gomez’s hit single “Calm Down” is currently #1. 

When Rema took the stage Sunday night, he talked about the power of supporting media houses and African Awards shows around the world. “… it’s very important, I should let everyone know that I’m not here because of the awards. I’m here because it’s important to support our institutions and it will affect us big time. …This is our chance because we are not the first  African genre to make it big, Reggae has done it and there’s a reason why. … this is our chance to protect what we have,” the Afrobeats star shared with the audience.

The Headies is the most prestigious Nigerian/Pan African award show, celebrating the best in Afrobeats, African music and culture with the sounds of south, east, and west Africa. Inspired by the need to fill an important gap and be the voice of a generation in the culture that they represented, The Headies Awards understands the urban contemporary, pop culture that Afrobeats brings to mainstream music and has created a mega platform that interfaces with young, talented artists who represent the future of global music. 

Rema and Burna Boy each won three awards and Odumodublvck, Asake, and Victony & Tempoe each won two awards. Selena Gomez won international artiste of the year and Director K, won for best music video. Asake took home this year’s Album of the Year award as well as the Next Rated Award, which came with a home. Here’s the full winner’s list:

• International Artist of the Year: Selena Gomez

• Best Rap Single: Odumodublvck – “Declan Rice”

• Best Vocal Performance: Wande Coal – “Kpe Paso” 

• Best Music Video: Director K – “Calm Down” (Remix)

• Best Rap Album: Blaqbonez – Young Preacher 

• Lyricist on the roll: Payper Corleone – “Fly talk alone” 

• Producer of the year: Rexxie – Abracadaba Remix 

• Best Male Artiste: Rema 

• Rookie of the year: Odumodublvk

• Best Inspirational Single: Neon Adejo – “Eze Ebube”

• Special Recognition: Soundsultan 

• Afrobeats single of the year: Burna Boy – “Last Last” 

• Digital Artiste of the year: Rema 

• Best Street Hop Artiste: Seyi Vibez

• Next Rated: Asake 

• Album of the year: Asake – “Mr Money with the vibe”

• Song of the year: Burna Boy – “Last Last”

• Best Collaboration: Spyro ft Tiwa Savage – “Who is your guy remix”

• African Artiste of the year: Rema (Nigeria)

• Best West African Artiste of the year: Black Sherif (Ghana)

• Best R&B Album: Chike – The Brother’s Keeper

• Headies Viewers choice: Victony- “Soweto”

• Best Recording of the year: Victony & Tempoe – “Soweto”

• Best Vocal Performance (Female): Waje – “In Between”

• Best North African Artiste of the year: El Grande Toto – Morocco

• Best East African Artiste of the year: HEREDiamond Platnumz

• Best Central African Artiste of the year: Libianca – Cameroon 

• Best Female Artiste: Ayra Starr 

• Hall of Fame: Youssou N’Dour 

• Songwriter of the year: Simi Kosoko, Godsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata – “Loyal” (Simi)

• Best Alternate Album: BOJ – Gbagada Express

• Best Southern African Artiste of the year: Focalistic – South Africa

• Best R&B Single: Burna Boy – “For My Hand”

• Best Alternative Song: Wizard Chan – “Earth Song” 

Inspired by the need to fill a significant void and be the voice of a generation in the culture that they represent, The Headies understands the urban contemporary pop culture that Afrobeats brings to mainstream music. The event boasts a mega-platform that interfaces with young, talented artists who represent the future of global music. 

The Awards show was streamed live on YouTube (U.S.) and HipTV (Africa) Network. 

For more details on this year’s 16th Annual Headies Awards, please visit https://theheadies.com.