After months of shortlisting thousands of submitted entries, the nominees list for the 12th edition of Nigeria’s biggest and most prestigious music award show, The Headies, is finally out.
Music superstar Davido leads the pack with the highest number of nominations – six (6), while Wizkid, Olamide and Adekunle Gold follow with five (5) nominations each. Tiwa Savage, Kiss Daniel, and Johnny Drille got four (4) nominations each while Flavour, Nonso Amadi, Banky w, Niniola, Runtown, Phyno, Reminisce cupped 3 Nominations respectively.
This year, the organizers are also introducing new categories to the award show. The new categories include The Viewer’s Choice Award, Best Performer category and a special category to recognize the efforts of brands that have supported the entertainment industry for the past 3 years.
Olamide has won the most number of Headies awards (10), closely followed in the win by TuBaba (7), Wizkid (6), Davido (4) and Clarence Peters (4).
The Nominees’ party for the 12th edition of The Headies holds 29th of April in Abuja while the main event is scheduled for 5th of May 2018 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
See the full list of nominees below:
12TH HEADIES EDITION NOMINEES LIST: YEAR IN REVIEW (JULY 2016 – DECEMBER 2017)
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST RECORDING (THAT MEETS THE JUDGES REQUIREMENTS OF EXCELLENCE; SONGWRITING, PRODUCTION, RENDITION) BY AN ARTISTE OR GROUP IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
1. BUTTERFLIES – OMAWUMI
2. HALLELUYAH – FUNBI
3. PONMILE – REMINISCE
4. HEAVEN – BANKY W
5. JOROMI – SIMI
BEST POP SINGLE
A CATEGORY FOR THE BEST POP SINGLE IN YEAR UNDER REVIEW (BY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP).
1. MAD OVER YOU – RUNTOWN
2. ALL OVER – TIWA SAVAGE
3. YEBA – KISS DANIEL
4. ISKABA – WANDE COAL AND DJ TUNEZ
5. IF– DAVIDO
6. FIA – DAVIDO
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING THE MOST ACCLAIMED SONG OR ALBUM IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
1. (FALL, MAMA) KIDOMINANT
2. (ISKABA, MALO) SPELLZ
3. (IF, RARA) TEKNO
4. (MARADONA, COME CLOSER) SARZ
5. YAWA, VIRTUOUS WOMAN- MASTER KRAFT
BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE
A CATEGORY FOR THE BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW (BY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP).
1. LOVE YOU DIE – PATORANKING FT. DIAMOND PLATNUMZ
2. DANCE – TIMAYA FT. RUDEBOY
3. HOLY HOLY – 2BABA
4. ROCK YOUR BODY – BURNA BOY
5. COME CLOSER – WIZKID
6. SOFA – KISS DANIEL
BEST RAP ALBUM
A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST ALBUM BY A RAP ARTISTE OR GROUP IN YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
1. 27 – FALZ
2. TRIP TO THE SOUTH – ERIGGA
3. EL HADJ – REMINISCE
4. THE PLAYMAKER – PHYNO
5. THE GLORY – OLAMIDE
6. ROSE – AQ
BEST R&B/POP ALBUM
A CATEGORY FOR THE BEST R&B/POP ALBUM IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW (BY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP).
1. SOUNDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE – WIZKID
2. TIMELESS – OMAWUMI
3. SIMISOLA – SIMI
4. GOLD – ADEKUNLE GOLD
5. IJELE THE TRAVELLER – FLAVOR
6. THIS IS ME – NINIOLA
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST CONCEPTUALIST, BEST DIRECTED AND MOST EXCITING VIDEO IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW. THIS AWARD GOES TO THE VIDEO DIRECTOR.
1. MA LO – TIWA SAVAGE FT WIZKID (MEJI ALABI)
2. FOCUS- HUMBLE SMITH (CLARENCE PETERS)
3. COME CLOSER – WIZKID (DAPS)
4. BEEN CALLING – MALEEK BERRY (MEJI ALABI)
5. YOLO – SEYI SHAY (MEJI ALABI)
6. LIKE DAT – DAVIDO (DAPS)
BEST R&B SINGLE
A CATEGORY FOR THE BEST R&B SINGLE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW (BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP).
1. TONIGHT – NONSO AMADI
2. FOLASHADE – PRAIZ
3. LET ME KNOW – MALEEK BERRY
4. ROMEO & JULIET – JOHNY DRILLE
5. LOVE YOU BABY – BANKY W
6. SMILE FOR ME – SIMI
BEST COLLABO
A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST R&B, POP OR HIP-HOP COLLABORATIVE TRACK (INCLUDING CAMEOS).
1. MA LO – TIWA SAVAGE FT WIZKID
2. TEMPER REMIX – SKALES FT BURNA BOY
3. JUICE – YCEE FT MALEEKBERRY
4. NO FORGET – ADEKUNLE GOLD FT. SIMI
5. COME CLOSER – WIZKID FT. DRAKE
BEST RAP SINGLE
A VOTING CATEGORY FOR A SINGLE (RELEASED ON-AIR) RECORDING OF A RAP SONG.
1. YOU RAPPERS SHOULD FIX UP YOUR LIVES – MI
2. SOMETHING LITE – FALZ FT YCEE
3. LINK UP – PHYNO FT. BURNA BOY, M.I.
4. UP TO YOU – SHOW DEM CAMP FT FUNBI
5. ME VERSUS ME – ICE PRINCE
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE SINGLE MALE ARTISTE WITH THE MOST OUTSTANDING VOCAL PERFORMANCE ON A SINGLE SONG OR ALBUM.
1. PERFECT WOMAN – FAZE
2. FOLASHADE – PRAIZ
3. ROMEO & JULIET – JOHNNY DRILLE
4. TONIGHT – NONSO AMADI
5. LOVE YOU BABY – BANKY W
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE SINGLE FEMALE ARTISTE WITH MOST OUTSTANDING VOCAL PERFORMANCES ON A SINGLE SONG OR ALBUM.
1. IN THE AIR – WAJE
2. GONE FOR GOOD – SIMI
3. JOWO – ARAMIDE
4. SARO – NINIOLA
5. WHERE’S THE LOVE – NIYOLA FT. ADEKUNLE GOLD
6. BUTTERFLIES – OMAWUMI
NEXT RATED
THIS CATEGORY IS A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE MOST PROMISING ACT IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
1. MALEEK BERRY
2. MAYORKUN
3. DICE AILES
4. JOHNNY DRILLE
5. ZORO
HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION
A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST NEW ARTISTE WITH A DEBUT ALBUM ADJUDGED TO BE OUTSTANDING IN TERMS OF ARTISTIC QUALITY AND IMPACT WITHIN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
1. NINIOLA
2. ADEKUNLE GOLD
3. MR. EAZI
4. REEKADO BANKS
LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE RAP ARTISTE WITH THE BEST LYRICAL DEPTH AND PERFORMANCE ON A SINGLE SONG OR ALBUM.
1. YOU RAPPERS SHOULD FIX UP YOUR LIVES – MI
2. POLITICAL SCIENCE – AQ
3. LIQUOR NIGHT – BOOGEY
4. INDUSTRY NITE – ERIGGA
BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE
A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE ARTISTE WHOSE SONGS ARE INSPIRED BY THE STREETS. SUCH SONG SHOULD CAPTAIN LINGUA, WHICH MAY ALSO BE ORIGINATED BY THE ARTISTE AND POPULAR ON THE STREET.
1. PENALTY – SMALL DOCTOR
2. WO – OLAMIDE
3. SAI BABA – CDQ
4. SHEPETERI – IDOWEST FT. DAMMY KRANE, SLIM CASE
5. PASS THE AGBARA – SKUKI
6. LEGBEGBE – MR REAL FT. IDOWEST, KELVIN CHUKS, OBADICE
BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG
A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE ARTISTE WHOSE SONGS REFLECT ANY FORM OR STYLE OF MUSIC WHICH FALLS OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM OF RECENT OR PAST POPULAR MUSICAL TRENDS.
1. MONEY – ADEKUNLE GOLD
2. RADIO – NONSO AMADI
3. ROMEO & JULIET – JOHNNY DRILLE
4. PONMILE – REMINISCE
5. FUN MI LOWO MI – ARAMIDE FT. SOUND SULTAN £& KOKER
6. LAGOS BARBIE – BANTU
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST ALBUM (SOLO OR GROUP) IN YEAR UNDER REVIEW, THAT MEETS JUDGES’ REQUIREMENTS OF EXCELLENCE (SONGWRITING, PRODUCTION, RENDITION AND IMPACT).
1. SIMISOLA – SIMI
2. GOLD – ADEKUNLE GOLD
3. KLITORIS – BRYMO
4. IJELE THE TRAVELER – FLAVOUR
5. SOUNDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE – WIZKID
6. THE PLAYMAKER – PHYNO
ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
MOST CRITICALLY AND COMMERCIALLY ADJUDGED ARTISTE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW. OVERALL MOST SUCCESSFUL ARTISTE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
1. DAVIDO
2. WIZKID
3. OLAMIDE
4. SIMI
5. TIWA SAVAGE
SONG OF THE YEAR
A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE MOST POPULAR SONG IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
1. PENALTY – SMALL DOCTOR
2. WO – OLAMIDE
3. IF- DAVIDO
4. YEBA – KISS DANIEL
5. MAD OVER YOU – RUNTOWN
6. FIA – DAVIDO
AFRICAN ARTISTE
A NON-NIGERIAN AWARD CATEGORY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OR GROUP WITH THE MOST OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT, IMPACT AND INFILTRATION INTO THE NIGERIAN MUSIC SCENE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
1. SARKODIE
2. CASPER NYOVEST
3. NASTY C
4. SAUTI SOL
5. VANESSA MDEE
HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE
A VOTING CATEGORY TO AWARD THE FAN’S FAVOURITE ARTISTE WITH THE MOST DIGITAL TRACTIONS (DOWNLOADS, VIEWS, STREAMS) IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
1. COME CLOSER- WIZKID
2. IF- DAVIDO
3. WO – OLAMIDE
4. MAD OVER YOU – RUNTOWN
5. YEBA – KISS DANIEL
6. YAWA -TEKNO
INDUSTRY BRAND SUPPORTER
THIS IS TO SAY THANK YOU TO BRANDS THAT HAVE MADE THE MOST IMPACT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. AN AWARD TO RECOGNIZE BRANDS WHO ARE SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRY AT A TIME WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARE SCARCE.
1. MTN
2. PEPSI
3. GLO
4. HENNESSY
5. FIRS
6. NIGERIA BREWERIES
7. LAGOS STATE
BEST PERFORMER
A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE ARTISTES WHOSE STAGECRAFT, SHOWMANSHIP AND PERFORMANCE ROUTINES ARE EXCEPTIONALLY CONCEPTUALIZED AND EXECUTED IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW WITH CONSIDERATION OF LIVE PERFORMANCES.
1. FLAVOUR
2. FALZ
3. M.I.
4. 2BABA
5. YEMI ALADE
6. TIWA SAVAGE
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WHO HAS HAD A SUCCESFUL YEAR MUSICALLY, WITH THE ABSENCE OF AN ALBUM IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.
KIDI
AIR BOY
TENI
JUNIOR BOY
PERUZZI
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
KAFFY
HALL OF FAME
CHRIS UBOSI