In case you missed it, the Headies, an award show that honours outstanding talents and acts in the music industry, has begun the journey to the 15th edition of its annual award ceremony. The Headies 2022 is scheduled to hold on 4th September 2022 and it promises to be an eventful night. Even more intriguing is that three new categories have been added to the mix and the ceremony is slated to hold in Atlanta, USA. The list of nominees vying for distinguishment in each award category has been released and the voting windows are open for people to support their preferred choice. If you are yet to do so, get on the bandwagon before it is too late. The nominees are as follows:
Rookie of the Year
- AV
- Fave
- Magixx
- Portable
- Ugoccie
Best Recording of the Year
- “Celebrate Me” – Patoranking
- “Essence” – Wizkid Feat. Tems
- “Joy” – Falana
- “Loving Is Harder” – Johnny Drille
- “Meji Meji” – Brymo
- “Somebody’s Son” – Tiwa Savage Feat. Brandy
Producer of the Year
- Beats By Jayy – “Golden” (A-Q)
- Blaise Beatz – “Sinner” (Adekunle Gold Feat. Lucky Daye)
- Niphkeys – “Feel Good” (Mohbad)
- P Priime – “Ozumba Mbadiwe” (Reekado Banks)
- Pheelz – “High” (Adekunle Gold Feat. Davido)
- Sarz – “Monalisa” (Lojay & Sarz)
Songwriter of the Year
- Adekunle Gold – “Sinner”
- Ajebo Hustlers – “Loyalty”
- Brymo – “Meji Meji”
- Falana – “Joy”
- Fireboy Dml – “Peru”
- Omah Lay – “Understand”
Best R&B Single
- “Baby Riddim” – Fave
- “Beggie Beggie” – Ayra Starr Feat. Ckay
- “Essence” – Wizkid Feat. Tems
- “Running (To You)” – Chike Feat. Simi
- “Promise” – Niniola
- “Sinner” – Adekunle Gold Feat. Luck Daye
Best Rap Single
- “Breathe” – A-Q Feat Chike
- “Crown Of Clay” – Vector & Mi Abaga Feat. Pheelz
- “Early Momo” – Vector Feat. Goodgirl La
- “Feeling” – Ladipoe Feat. Bnxn
- “Tycoon” – Show Dem Camp Feat. Reminisce & Mojo
- “Loading” – Olamide Feat Bad Boy Timz
Best ‘Alternative’ Song
- “Doings” – Flavour
- “Free Your Mind” – Made Kuti
- “Gonto” – Ibejii
- “Hustle” – Basketmouth, The Cavemen, Bez, Dice Ailes
- “Meji Meji” – Brymo
- “Selense” – The Cavemen
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
- Ayra Starr – “Toxic”
- Liya – “Alari”
- Niniola – “6th Heaven”
- Simi – “Running (To You)”
- Tems – “Essence”
- Waje – “Last Time”
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
- Brymo – “Meji Meji”
- Johnny Drille – “Loving Is Harder”
- Oxlade – “Ojuju”
- Ric Hassani – “When I’m Gone”
- Tay Iwar – “Peaking”
Lyricist on the Roll
- A-Q – “The Last Cypher”
- Blaqbonez – “The Last Cypher”
- Jesse Jagz – “Vipers”
- Ladipoe – “Providence”
- Payper Corleone – “In Don We Trust”
- Vector – “Crown Of Clay”
Best Music Video
- “Champion” – (Fireboy Dml Feat. D Smoke) Directed By Tg Omori
- “Ginger” – (Wizkid Feat. Burna Boy) Directed By Meji Alabi
- “Roju” – (Chike) Directed By Pink
- “Rain” – (Yemi Alade Feat. Mzansi Youth Choir) Directed By Ovie Etseyatse
- “Bling” – (Blaqbonez Feat. Amaarae & Bnxn) Directed By Tg Omori
- “Running” – (Ladipoe Feat. Fireboy Dml) Directed By Director K
Best Collaboration
- “Beggie Beggie” – Ayra Starr Feat. Ckay
- “Bling” – Blaqbonez Feat. Amaarae & Bnxn
- “Early Momo” – Vector Feat. Goodgirl La
- “Essence” – Wizkid Feat. Tems
- “Feeling” – Ladipoe Feat. Bnxn
- “Running (To You)” – Chike Feat. Simi
Best Street-Hop Artiste
- Bella Shmurda – “Cash App” Feat. Zlatan & Lincoln
- Rexxie & Mohbad – “Kpk”
- Mohbad – “Feel Good”
- Naira Marley – “Koleyewon”
- Nektunez & Goya Menor – “Ameno Amapiano (Remix)”
- Poco Lee, Portable & Olamide – “Zazoo Zehh”
Best Afrobeats Single of the Year
- “Bloody Samaritan” – Ayra Starr
- “Bounce” – Ruger
- “High” – Adekunle Gold Feat. Davido
- “Monalisa” – Lojay & Sarz
- “Ozumba Mbadiwe” – Reekado Banks
- “Peru” – Fireboy Dml
Headies’ Viewer’s Choice
- Ayra Starr – “Bloody Samaritan”
- Fireboy – “Peru”
- Joeboy – “Sip”
- Lojay & Sarz – “Monalisa”
- Nektunez & Goya Menor – “Ameno Amapiano (Remix)”
- Olamide Feat. Omah Lay – “Infinity”
- Rema – Soundgasm
- Wizkid Feat. Tems – “Essence”
Best West African Artiste of the Year
- Amaarae (Ghana)
- Angelique Kidjo (Benin)
- Aya Nakamura (Mali)
- Gyakie (Ghana)
- Kidi (Ghana)
- Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde)
Best East African Artiste of the Year
- Diamond Platinumz (Tanzania)
- Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
- Harmonize (Tanzania)
- Meddy (Rwanda)
- Nikita Kering (Kenya)
- Zuchu (Tanzania)
Best North African Artiste of the Year
- Emel Mathlouthi (Tunisia)
- Elgrandetoto (Morocco)
- Latifa (Tunisia)
- Manal (Morocco)
- Muhamad Ramadan (Egypt)
- Soolking (Algeria)
Best Southern African Artiste of the Year
- Black Coffee (South Africa)
- Dj Tarico (Mozambique)
- Elaine (South Africa)
- Focalistic (South Africa)
- Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe)
- Sha Sha (Zimbabwe)
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
- Calema (Sao Tome & Principe)
- Blanche Bailly (Cameroon)
- Dadju (DR Congo)
- Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
- Innoss’b (DR Congo)
- Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
Best Afrobeats Album
- 19 And Dangerous – Ayra Starr
- A Better Time – Davido
- Barnabas – Kizz Daniel
- Made In Lagos (Deluxe Edition) – Wizkid
- Kpos Lifestyle – Ajebo Hustlers
- Wondaland – Teni
Best Reggae & Dancehall Album
- Gratitude – Timaya
- Love Is War – Prettyboy D-O
- Rainbow Riddim – Shank
- Three – Patoranking
- Yaadman Kingsize – Yung L
Best R&B Album
- Before We Fall Asleep – Johnny Drille
- If Orange Was a Place – Tems
- Love Deep High Life – Omawumi
- Rising – Falana
- The Prince I Became – Ric Hassani
- Water And Garri – Tiwa Savage
Best Alternative Album
- 9: Esan – Brymo
- Intermission – Ibejii
- Legacy + – Femi Kuti & Made Kuti
- Love and Highlife – The Cavemen
- P.S. Thank You for Waiting – Wavy The Creator
- Yabasi – Basketmouth
Best Rap Album
- Carpe Diem – Olamide
- Clone Wars Vol. 5 – The Algorhythm – Show Dem Camp
- Golden – A-Q
- Mafia Culture, Vol. 2.0 – Idowest
- Providence – Ladipoe
- Sex Over Love – Blaqbonez
Album of the Year
- 9: Esan – Brymo
- 19 & Dangerous – Ayra Starr
- Carpe Diem – Olamide
- Legacy + – Femi Kuti & Made Kuti
- Made In Lagos (Deluxe Edition) – Wizkid
- Yabasi – Basketmouth
Song of the Year
- “Celebrate Me” – Patoranking
- “Doings” – Flavour Feat. Phyno
- “Essence” – Wizkid Feat. Tems
- “High” – Adekunle Gold Feat. Davido
- “Monalisa” – Lojay & Sarz
- “Peru” – Fireboy Dml
Best Female Artiste
- Simi
- Tems
- Tiwa Savage
- Teni
- Niniola
We are excited to see how the ceremony turns out and who goes home with a coveted golden head figurine. In the meantime, take out a minute to vote for all your favourites and strengthen their chances because as you can see the nominations list is quite competitive. You can find instructions on how to do so here.
