Burna Boy dominates the nominations for the 2023 Headies Music Awards, solidifying his status as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated musical talents.
ABUJA, NIGERIA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Burna Boy, the reigning champion of Afrobeats, has emerged as the frontrunner for the highly coveted 2023 Headies Awards.
The annual ceremony, organized by Hip Hop World Magazine, celebrates exceptional talent within Nigeria’s music industry while recognizing notable achievements across the African continent.
With nominations spanning various categories, Burna Boy has secured an astounding ten nominations, solidifying his status as one of Africa’s most influential artists. Alongside him, rising star Asake has earned an impressive nine nominations, while music powerhouses Pheelz and Bnxn follow closely with six nominations each.
The Headies Awards, established in 2006, serve as a prestigious platform for recognizing outstanding musical achievements. This year’s ceremony will honor works released between January 2022 and March 2023, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the industry’s evolution.
While Burna Boy’s dominance looms large over the nominations, it’s noteworthy that last year’s big winner, Wizkid, is absent from this year’s Headies list. The absence of the renowned artist has sparked intrigue and left fans eagerly speculating about the reasons behind his exclusion.
Official Nominees for the 2023 Headies
Best Recording of the Year
- ‘Alone’ by Burna Boy
- ‘Soweto’ by Victony and Tempoe
- ‘I’m a Mess’ by Omah Lay
- ‘Ku Lo Sa’ by Oxlade
- ‘Stand Strong’ by Davido
- ‘No Woman, No Cry’ by Tems
Producer of the Year
- Magicstickz (Sungba Remix)
- Pheelz (Electricity)
- Andrevibez & London (Calm Down)
- Tempoe (Soweto)
- Kel-P (Kpe Paso)
- Rexxie (Abracadabra)
Songwriter of the Year
- ‘Loyal’ by Simi
- ‘I’m a Mess’ by Omah Lay
- ‘Lift Me Up’ by Tems
- ‘Alone’ by Burna Boy
- ‘In My Mind’ by BNXN fka Buju
- ‘Earth Song’ by Wizard Chan
Best R&B Single
- ‘For My Hand’ by Bruna Boy ft. ED Sheeran
- ‘Mmadu’ by CKay
- ‘Just 4 u’ by Dami Oniru
- ‘Red Wine’ By Preye
- ‘Hard to Find’ by Chike ft. Flavour
- ‘Loyal’ by Simi ft. Fave
Best Rap Single
- ‘Hustle’ by Reminisce ft. BNXN
- ‘Big Energy’ by Ladi Poe
- ‘Back in Uni’ by Blaq Bonez
- ‘Bando Diaries’ by Psycho YP ft. Odumodublvck
- ‘Declan Rice’ by Odumodublvck
- ‘My Bro’ by Jeriq the Hussla ft. Phyno
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
- ‘Loyal’ Simi
- ‘In Between’ Waje
- ‘Memories’ Niniola
- ‘Adua Remix’ Liya
- ‘Red Wine’ Preye Itams
- ‘Just 4 U’ Dami Oniru
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
- ‘Ku Lo Sa’ Oxlade
- ‘My Only Baby’ Ric Hassani
- ‘Love Don’t Cost a Dime’ Magixx
- ‘Spell Remix’ Chike
- ‘Reckless’ Praiz
- ‘Kpe Paso’ Wande Coal
Best Alternative Song
- ‘Earth Song’ by Wizard Chan
- ‘Final Champion’ by Cruel Santino
- ‘The Traveller’ by Basketmouth and The Cavemen
- ‘In a Loop’ By BOJ ft. Mellissa
- ‘Game Changer’ by Flavour
- ‘Tinko Tinko’ by Obongjayar
Best Music Video
- ‘Back in Uni’ by Blaq Bonez Perliks
- ‘PBUY’ by TG Omori
- ‘Spell (Remix)’ by Director Pink
- ‘Common Person’ By Director K
- ‘Bandana’ by TG Omori
- ‘Calm Down (Remix)’ by Director K
Best Collaboration
- ‘Sungba Remix’ by Asake ft. Burna Boy
- ‘Gwagwalada’ by Bnxn ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
- ‘Finesse’ by Pheelz ft. Bnxn
- ‘Who’s Your Guy Remix’ by Spyro ft. Tiwa Savage
- ‘Electricity’ By Pheelz ft. Davido
- ‘Kpe Paso’ By Wande Coal ft. Olamide
Best Street-Hop Artist
- Rexxie ft. Naira Marley & Skiibii – ‘Abracadabra’
- Seyi Vibez – ‘Chance’
- Asake – ‘Joha’
- Zlatan ft. Young Jonn – ‘Astalavista’
- Poco Lee & Hotkid – ‘Otilo’
- Mohbad – ‘Peace’
Digital Artist of the Year
- Burna Boy
- Ayra Starr
- Rema
- Omah Lay
- Kizz Daniel
- Asake
International Artist of the Year
- Drake
- Future
- Selena Gomez
- Don Toliver
- Ed Sheeran
Afrobeats Single of the Year
- ‘Last Last’ by Burna Boy
- ‘Rush’ by Ayra Starr
- ‘Buga’ by Kizz Daniel & Tekno
- ‘Finesse’ by Pheelz ft. Bnxn
- ‘Who’s Your Guy?’ by Spyro
- ‘Asiwaju’ by Ruger
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice
- Ruger – ‘Asiwaju’
- Victony & Tempoe – ‘Soweto’
- Fireboy DML & Asake – ‘Bandana’
- Ayra Star – ‘Rush’
- Asake – Terminator’
- Mavins – ‘Overloading’
- Crayon – ‘Ijo (Laba Laba)’
- Oxlade – ‘Ku Lo Sa’
- Kizz Daniel & Tekno – ‘Buga’
- Pheelz & Davido – ‘Electricity’
Best West African Artist of the Year
- Gyakie (Ghana)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- The Therapist (Liberia)
- Camidoh (Ghana)
Best East African Artist of the Year
- Zuchu
- Diamond Platinumz
- Rayvanny
- Eddy Kenzo
- Hewan Gebreworld
Best North African Artist of the Year
- Marwa Loud (Morocco)
- Wegz (Egypt)
- El Grande Toto ( Morocco)
- Soolking ( Algeria)
Best Southern African Artist of the Year
- AKA (South Africa)
- Nasty C ( South Africa)
- Costa Titch (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
- Focalistic (South Africa)
- DJ Tarico (Mozambique)
Best Central African Artist of the Year
- Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Gaz Mawete (DRC)
Matias Damasio (Angola)
Emma’a ( Gabon)
Libianca (Cameroon)
African Artist of the Year
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Marwa Loud (Morocco)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Best R&B Album
- Home by Johnny Drille
- The Brother’s Keeper by Chike
- Reckless by Praiz
- Waje 2.0 by Waje
- Matter of Time by Dami Oniru
- To Be Honest by Simi
Best Alternative Album
- Horoscopes by Basketmouth
- Gbagada Express by BOJ
- Some Nights I Dream Of Doors by Obongjayar
- Subaru Boys: Final Heaven by Cruel Santino
- Heart Of The Heavenly Undeniable by Omadina
- Native World by Native Sound System
Best Rap Album
- Fly Talk Only by Payper Corleone
- Palmwine Music Vol 3 by Show Dem Camp
- Young Preacher by Blaqbonez
- YP SZN 3 by Psycho YP
- Teslim: The Energy Still Lives In Me by Vector
- Billion Dollar Dream by Jeriq
Lyricist on the Roll
- Ladipoe
- Vector
- Payper Corleone
- Alpha Ojini
- A-Q
- TEC (SDC)
Best Inspirational Single
- ‘Stand Strong’ by Davido ft. Sunday Service Choir
- ‘Jireh (My Provider)’ by Limoblaze, Lecrae & Happi Music
- ‘This Year’ by Victor Thompson & Ehis D’ Greatest
- ‘Eze Ebube’ by Neon Adejo
- ‘Tobechukwu’ by Nathaniel Bassey & Mercy Chinwo
- ‘I Get Backing’ – Victoria Orenze
Album of the Year
- Love, Damini by Burna Boy
- Mr Money With The Vibe by Asake
- Rave & Roses by Rema
- Boy Alone by Omah Lay
- Outlaw by Victony
- Timeless by Davido
Song of the Year
- ‘Calm Down’ by Rema
- ‘Last Last’ by Burna Boy
- ‘Ku Lo Sa’ by Oxlade
- ‘Buga’ by Kizz Daniel & Tekno
- ‘Finesse’ by Pheelz ft. Bnxn
- ‘Sungba Remix’ by Asake ft. Burna Boy
Best Female Artist
- Tems
- Simi
- Ayra Starr
- Tiwa Savage
Best Male Artist
- Asake
- Rema
- Kizz Daniel
- Ruger
- Omah Lay
- Burna Boy
Next Rated
- Young Jonn
- Seyi Vibez
- Asake
- Victony
- Spyro
International Artist Recognition
- Sean ‘Love’ Combs
Hall of Fame
- Youssou N’Dour
Special Recognition
- Sound Sultan
With the awards ceremony scheduled for later this year, the excitement surrounding the event continues to mount.
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The 2023 Headies Awards promise to be an unforgettable celebration of Nigeria’s musical tapestry, highlighting the dynamic talent that defines the nation’s rich cultural heritage. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this thrilling journey through the realm of Nigerian music excellence.
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