Headies Unveils Nominees As Awards Head To Toronto +Full List

The Headies, Africa’s leading entertainment awards, have released their nominations list ahead of the 18th ceremony, which will be held this October in Toronto, Canada. The list features 218 nominations spread across 35 categories, celebrating the biggest names and breakout stars who defined African music in the period under review (August 1, 2024 – April 30, 2026).

Fola is the most nominated act with 10 nods, including Album of the Year, Next Rated, Songwriter of the Year and Best Male Artiste, off the back of his acclaimed debut album CATHARSIS. Omah Lay follows closely with 8, as Davido, Mavo and Wizkid follow with 7 nominations each.

Ayra Starr and Tiwa Savage lead the female nominees with 5 nods each, while Breakout artiste Kunmie is also nominated 5 times, including Song of the Year for his standout single, “Arike.” Adekunle Gold, Odumodublvck, and Shoday round out the 5-nomination tier.

Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You” is the most-nominated song, appearing in six categories: Recording of the Year, Music Video, Best Collaboration, Afrobeats Single, Viewers’ Choice, and Song of the Year. Best Collaboration itself is one of the most competitive categories on this year’s list, with 9 entries reflecting the sheer volume of standout joint records that defined the year, from Olamide’s star-studded posse cut “99” to Mr Eazi and King Promise’s “See What We’ve Done.”

The Next Rated category delivers a stacked field of rising stars, which are Fido, FOLA, Llona, Mavo, and Shoday, while Rookie of the Year spotlights fresh breakout talent in Amma, Danpapa GTA, FirstKlaz, Kidd Carder, NO11, Priesst, and OG Abbah.

Album of the Year brings together 7 of the year’s most celebrated projects: CATHARSIS (Fola), CLARITY OF MIND (Omah Lay), G.O.A.T (Erigga), MORAYO (Wizkid), NO SIGN OF WEAKNESS (Burna Boy), THE MACHINE IS COMING (Odumodublvck), and THIS ONE IS PERSONAL (Tiwa Savage).

This year’s ceremony will have artists in the Alternative genre shining as they have earned nominations in the general categories, while the Headies’ regional awards are extended across 16 African countries, alongside categories for International Artiste of the Year and Best Canadian/African Diaspora Artiste, underscoring the Headies’ continued push as a truly continental and global award.

Legendary Congolese artiste Awilo Longomba will receive the iconic HEADIES HALL OF FAME AWARD, while Cecil Hammond will be honoured with the SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD for his lasting contributions to African entertainment.

The 18th Headies Awards is themed “Africa to the World” and will take place on October 25, 2026, in Toronto, Canada.

See the full nominations list. Voting details and other information will be announced later.

18TH HEADIES NOMINEES LIST (2026)

Only music materials including singles, videos, EPs and Albums released and distributed on digital streaming platforms within the year in review (1st August 2024 and 30th April 2026) were considered for nomination.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

A category that recognizes the most outstanding new artiste who achieved a breakthrough during the year under review and has not released a commercially distributed full-length album before the eligibility period. 

AMMA

DANPAPA GTA

FIRSTKLAZ

KIDD CARDER

NO11

PRIESST

OG ABBAH

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A category that recognizes the most outstanding recorded song released during the year under review, celebrating excellence in recording quality and musical execution.

“ARIKE” – KUNMIE

“BABY (IS IT A CRIME)” – REMA

“COPING MECHANISM” – OMAH LAY FT. ELMAH

“HOW DO YOU?” – AMAEYA

“WITH YOU” – DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY

“YOU” – FOLA

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

This is a category that honours the songwriter responsible for the most exceptional writing on a song in the year under review.

ADEKUNLE KOSOKO (ADEKUNLE GOLD) – “MANY PEOPLE”

ANTHONY EBUKA VICTOR (VICTONY) – “COUGH SYRUP” (WITH BNXN)

FUAYEFIKA MAXWELL (WIZARD CHAN) – “TIME TRAVELER”

ODUNLAMI AFOLARIN TEMILOLUWA (FOLA) – “WHO DOES THAT?”

OLUWABUKUNMI ARIYIBI PETER (KUNMIE) – “ARIKE”

PEACE CHIDINMA AMAEFULA (AMAEYA) – “HOW DO YOU?”

BEST R&B SINGLE

Recognizes the best R&B single by a solo artiste or group released in the year under review.

“6:35” – LAYEFA

“HOW DO YOU?” – AMAEYA

“I LOVE YOU” – AMMA

“WHAT YOU NEED” – TEMS

“WINTER & SUMMER” – MAGIXX

“YOU4ME” – TIWA SAVAGE

BEST RAP SINGLE

A category that recognizes the best rap song released as a single, by a solo artiste or group in the year under review.

“2:02 PM IN LONDON” – ODUMODUBLVCK

“ACL” – BLAQBONEZ

“JOHN WICK” – ZHUS JDO

“MAN2MAN” – DREMO

“MOSHOOD” – PDSTRN

“NKEMAKONAM” – TUFF KING

“WUSE TU” – ZAYLEVELTEN, MAVO

BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG

Category for the best song that creatively explores sounds outside the mainstream.

“CYK BADDIE” – LUWA.MP4 FT. JELEEL!

“LAGOS LOVIN’” – SEWÀ

“OLIVER” – WIZARD CHAN

“OMO TO SEXY” – BLNDE

“PRADA BABY” – WAVE$TAR

“SWEET DANGER” – OBONGJAYAR

“SUMMER ADINA” – CHIEF PRIEST FT. BOYPEE & ZORO SWAGBAG

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

Category that recognizes the female artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on an eligible recording.

LAYEFA – “6:35”  

AMAEYA – “HOW DO YOU?”

SEWÀ – “LAGOS LOVIN’”- 

QING MADI – “SCUMBAG”

LIYA – “SKIN TO SKIN” 

TIWA SAVAGE – “YOU4ME” 

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

Category that recognizes the male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on an eligible recording.

ADEKUNLE GOLD – “I’M NOT DONE”

FLAVOUR – “ORENTE”

MAGIXX – “WINTER & SUMMER”

ODEAL – “PATIENCE”

SYEMCA – “LOVE EGBUGOMO”

TAY IWAR – “BAD BELLE”

BEST R&B ALBUM

Recognizes the best R&B album or EP by an individual or group.

BEFORE WE BECAME STRANGERS – KUNMIE

CATHARSIS – FOLA

I AM THE BLUEPRINT – QING MADI

LOVE IS A KINGDOM – TEMS

REFLECTION STATION – TAY IWAR

THIS ONE IS PERSONAL – TIWA SAVAGE

BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM

A category for the best Alternative album or EP by an artiste or group in the year under review.

AFRIKA MAGIK – SDC

DETOX – SEWÀ

DUPLICITY – BOJ

HEALERS CHAPEL – WIZARD CHAN

OLORIN PACK – SCOTTYOLORIN

THEN 1T G0T CRAZY – ZAYLEVELTEN

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

An award that is presented to the producer responsible for the most exceptional production on a song, EP or album released during the year under review.

MAGICSTICKS – “JOGODO” BY ASAKE & WIZKID AND “REAL, VOL. 1” BY ASAKE & WIZKID

P. PRIIME – “MMS” BY ASAKE & WIZKID, “BABY (IS IT A CRIME)” BY REMA, “BILLIONAIRES CLUB” BY OLAMIDE, DARKOO & WIZKID

RAGEE – “HOT BODY” BY AYRA STARR AND “WHO’S DAT GIRL” BY AYRA STARR FT. REMA

SARZ – “GETTING PAID” BY SARZ, ASAKE, WIZKID & SKILLIBENG AND “UHH YEAHH” BY ASAKE AND “C’MON LOOK!” BY SARZ FT. ASAKE

TEMPOE – “WITH YOU” BY DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY AND “SMH” BY JOEBOY

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Award presented to the video director of the most outstanding music video within the year under review.

DIRECTOR PINK – 10 KILO (DAVIDO) – 

TG OMORI – AFROCULTURE (FLAVOUR FT. BAABA MAAL) 

DK – BUNDLE BY BUNDLE (BURNA BOY)

JYDE AJALA – KAI (OLAMIDE FT. WIZKID)

MEJI ALABI – WHO’S DAT GIRL (AYRA STARR FT. REMA)

DAMMY TWITCH – WITH YOU (DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY)

BEST COLLABORATION

A vote category that recognizes the most outstanding collaborative recording featuring two or more artistes.

“99” – OLAMIDE FT. YOUNG JONN, ASAKE, SEYI VIBEZ & DAECOLM

“BODY (DANZ)” – CKAY FT. MAVO

“ESCALADIZZY” – MAVO FT. WAVE$TAR

“HEY JAGO” – POCO LEE, SHODAY & RAHMAN JAGO

“LOST” – FOLA FT. KIZZ DANIEL

“PITY THIS BOY” – ODUMODUBLVCK FT. VICTONY

“WITH YOU” – DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY 

“SEE WHAT WE’VE DONE”- MR. EAZI AND KING PROMISE 

“FINALLY” – CHIEF PRIEST FT. SPYKI

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

A category that recognizes the artiste whose music best reflects street culture and resonates strongly with grassroots audiences.

FAMOUS PLUTO – “NA SCRA”

KASHCOMING – “ALL MY MONEY”

POCO LEE – “HEY JAGO” (FT. SHODAY & RAHMAN JAGO)

SEYI VIBEZ – “SHAOLIN”

SHALLIPOPI – “LAHO”

TUFF KING – “NKEMAKONAM”

RYBEENA – “GADDEM” (FT. SHODAY)

AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR

A category for the year’s most outstanding Afrobeats single by a single individual or group.

“FUN” – REMA

“JOGODO” – ASAKE & WIZKID

“JOY IS COMING” – FIDO

“LAHO” – SHALLIPOPI

“BUNDLE BY BUNDLE” – BURNA BOY

“WITH YOU” – DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY

“YOU” – FOLA

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

A non-voting category for the rapper with the most lyrical depth on a song in the year under review.

BLAQBONEZ FOR “ACL”

DREMO FOR “MAN2MAN”

MODENINE FOR “IF YOU LIKE GYM” (WITH ODUMODUBLVCK)

PDSTRN FOR “MOSHOOD”

YCEE FOR “MAN2MAN (YCEE REMIX)” (WITH DREMO)

BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE

A voting category for the most outstanding inspirational or faith-based song.

“AMIOLUWA” – SUNMISOLA AGBEBI & YINKA OKELEYE

“FAVOUR” – LAWRENCE OYOR

“IDINMA (YOU ARE GOOD)” – SINACH

“KO’RIN IYIN (I WILL PRAISE YOU)” – EMMA OMG

“NO TURNING BACK II” – GAISE BABA, LAWRENCE OYOR

“WE MOVE” – MERCY CHINWO

HEADIES VIEWERS’ CHOICE

A fan-voted award recognizing the year’s favourite artiste based on public support and digital engagement.

AYRA STARR – “HOT BODY”

DAVIDO – “WITH YOU” (FT. OMAH LAY)

FOLA – “YOU”

KUNMIE – “ARIKE”

MAVO – “ESCALADIZZY” (FT. WAVE$TAR)

REMA – “BABY (IS IT A CRIME)”

WIZKID – “JOGODO” (WITH ASAKE)

BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE

Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from West Africa in the year under review (non-Nigerian).

BLACK SHERIF (GHANA)

HIMRA (CÔTE D’IVOIRE)

KIDI (GHANA)

KING PROMISE (GHANA)

MOLIY (GHANA)

STONEBWOY (GHANA)

WALLY B. SECK (SENEGAL)

BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE

Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from East Africa in the year under review.

ABIGAIL CHAMS (TANZANIA)

BIEN (KENYA)

BRUCE MELODIE (RWANDA)

HARMONIZE (TANZANIA)

JOSHUA BARAKA (UGANDA)

BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE

Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from North Africa in the year under review.

BALTI (TUNISIA)

DYSTINCT (MOROCCO)

MARWAN MOUSSA (EGYPT)

SOOLKING (ALGERIA)

TUL8TE (EGYPT)

BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE

Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from Central Africa in the year under review.

FALLY IPUPA (DR CONGO)

FERRÉ GOLA (DR CONGO)

HÉRITIER WATANABE (DR CONGO)

HIRO (DR CONGO)

INNOSS’B (DR CONGO)

LOCKO (CAMEROON)

BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE

Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from Southern Africa in the year under review.

CIZA (SOUTH AFRICA)

DJ MAPHORISA (SOUTH AFRICA)

JAZZWRLD (LESOTHO)

KABZA DE SMALL (SOUTH AFRICA)

TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)

UNCLE WAFFLES (ESWATINI)

BEST AFRICAN DIASPORA-CANADIAN ARTISTE

A voting award category for the best Canadian or Canada-affiliated artiste of African descent in the year under review.

DEBBY FRIDAY – “LIPSYNC”

TÖME – “CC” (FT. ALPHA P)

BOLU AJIBADE – “DIANA” (WITH FRIYIE)

NONSO AMADI – “DIVE IN”

ROOKY KAMIZ – “DEEPER”

TOBI – “OUT THE MUD”

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the non-African artiste or group that made the most significant contribution to the global growth of Afrobeats.

CIARA

DAVE

GUNNA

JAZMINE SULLIVAN

SHENSEEA 

TIAKOLA

BEST RAP ALBUM

Recognizes the best rap album or EP by an artiste or group in the year under review.

BLACK SHEEPIZEN (THE 13TH DISCIPLE) – TUFF KING

GE3 (THE BEGINNING) – A-Q

G.O.A.T – ERIGGA

KING – JERIQ

NO EXCUSES – BLAQBONEZ

THE MACHINE IS COMING – ODUMODUBLVCK

BEST ORIGINAL SONG FOR VISUAL MEDIA

A non-voting category for a song written and composed originally for use in a motion picture or series.

“ALL MY LOVE” – OSAS OKONYON & ABBEY WONDER FROM ‘EVI (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK)’

“BEHIND THE SCENES” (ORIGINAL FOR FAAN PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) – FUNKE AKINDELE, TOLU OBANRO FROM ‘BEHIND THE SCENES.’

“SAVE ME” – OSCAR HEMAN-ACKAH & 2BABA FROM “TO KILL A MONKEY (ORIGINAL TV SERIES SOUNDTRACK)”

“ONLY IN LAGOS” – WURLD & LIYA FROM “CHRISTMAS IN LAGOS (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK)”

NEXT RATED

An award that recognizes the most promising emerging artiste poised for mainstream superstardom. Material can be two singles, an EP or an album.

FIDO

FOLA

LLONA

MAVO

SHODAY

BEST PERFORMER (LIVE)

A non-voting category for the artiste with the most outstanding live performance in front of an audience by singing, or playing a musical instrument. The live performance must have been recorded and officially released in video format – streaming, TV and/or physical media.

ADEKUNLE GOLD – “LIVE AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE LAGOS” (WITH MUSON ORCHESTRA)

ASAKE – “RED BULL SYMPHONIC”

AYRA STARR – “GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL NYC 2025”

JOHNNY DRILLE – “JOHNNY’S ROOM LIVE 6”

RUGER – “LIVE @ INDIGO AT THE O2, LONDON (2025)”

DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement and digital impact in the year under review.

ASAKE

AYRA STARR

BNXN

CHELLA

FOLA

MAVO

SEYI VIBEZ

WIZKID

SONG OF THE YEAR

A category that recognizes the song that achieved the greatest cultural impact within the year under review.

“99” – OLAMIDE FT. YOUNG JONN, ASAKE, SEYI VIBEZ & DAECOLM

“ARIKE” – KUNMIE

“HEY JAGO” – POCO LEE, SHODAY & RAHMAN JAGO

“HOT BODY” – AYRA STARR

“JOY IS COMING” – FIDO

“MMS” – ASAKE & WIZKID

“WITH YOU” – DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY

AFROBEATS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best Afrobeats album or EP (solo or group) in the year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).

5IVE – DAVIDO

CAPTAIN – BNXN

NO SIGN OF WEAKNESS – BURNA BOY

CLARITY OF MIND – OMAH LAY

FUJI – ADEKUNLE GOLD

MORAYO – WIZKID

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best overall album or EP (solo or group) in the year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).

CATHARSIS – FOLA

CLARITY OF MIND – OMAH LAY

G.O.A.T – ERIGGA

NO SIGN OF WEAKNESS – BURNA BOY

MORAYO – WIZKID

THE MACHINE IS COMING – ODUMODUBLVCK

THIS ONE IS PERSONAL – TIWA SAVAGE

BEST FEMALE ARTISTE

A category for the female artiste with outstanding cultural impact, having a minimum of 3 singles or an EP/album in the year under review.

AYRA STARR

QING MADI

SEWÀ

TEMS

TENI

TIWA SAVAGE

BEST MALE ARTISTE

A category for the male artiste with outstanding cultural impact, having a minimum of 3 singles or an EP/album in the year under review.

ADEKUNLE GOLD

ASAKE

BURNA BOY

DAVIDO

FOLA

MAVO

REMA

WIZKID

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

Presented to an individual or organization for exceptional contributions to the African entertainment industry

CECIL HAMMOND

HALL OF FAME

Lifetime honour recognizing an individual of African descent for excellence and outstanding impact to the African entertainment industry.

AWILO LONGOMBA