Review of Prestigious Awards, The Headies 2023 Nominations

The Headies 2023, The Headies, which started in 2006, have played a significant part in documenting the advancements made in the Nigerian music industry with their award, which has grown to be the highest reward in Nigerian music.

The nominated list for the 16th edition of The Headies, the most prestigious music awards ceremony in Nigeria, was announced on Wednesday. Notably, numerous local and foreign musicians who have received recognition for their contributions to the music scene in the previous year are included on the honorary Headies nomination list. Remarkably, this year’s Headies award will also honour foreign performers who have established themselves in the Nigerian music scene.

Notably, Burna Boy, Rema, Ruger, and Asake lead the 2023 Headies nomination lists. Is this list fit? Is anyone missing on The Headies` major categories? A peep and tip at potential winners? Read on as we take you through a detailed review of the prestigious awards and the nomination list released by The Headies for the year 2023.

Rookie of the Year

OdumoduBlvck

Bayyani

Guchi

Eltee

Khaid

Fast-rising artist, OdumoduBlvck, who has had a stellar 2023, is included on the list and is already a top favourite to take home the award. Other musicians on the list include Bayyani, Guchi, Eltee, and the entertaining performer, Khaid.

Best Recording of The Year

Burna Boy Alone

Victony, Tempoe Soweto

Omah Lay I`m a mess

Oxlade Ku Lo Sa

Davido, SSC Stand Strong

Tems No Woman, No Cry

Despite Burna Boy being arguably the biggest artiste in this category, “Ku lo sa” seems like the apparent best as the Oxlade record was famous for doing awesome numbers, especially with the influence of social media platforms like TikTok. Nonetheless, Victony – with the help of Tempoe – may just sweep away the win as his smash hit, “Soweto”, has a renewed and lasting impression on fans with his double remix features.

Album Of The Year

Burna Boy Love, Damini

Asake Mr. Money With The Vibe

Rema Rave & Roses

Omah Lay Boy Alone

Victony Outlaw

Davido Timeless

As major as this category gets, there`s no real favourite to win the Album of the Year 2023. All nominated acts released an overwhelming body of work and it`s exciting to witness the Nigerian compatriots (both new and old cats) go head to head in this tight contest. Burna Boy bagged a Grammy nomination with his birthday special, “Love, Damini”, Asake had an incredible record debut album, likewise Mavin star, Rema, too. Omah Lay bodied his “Boy Alone” project which already seems like an Afrobeats classic while Afrobeats international ambassador and DMW boss, Davido, has an outstanding work of art getting a Headies nod this year as he looks to break through having failing to ever win this category.

Song of The Year

Rema Calm Down

Burna Boy Last Last

Oxlade Ku Lo Sa

Kizz Daniel, Tekno Buga

Pheelz, BNXN Finesse

Asake, Burna Boy Sungba Remix

Remarkably, lots of amazing songs were released by Nigerian artists within the year in review by the Headies, so the songs nominated on this list already achieved an excellent feat of being recognized as the very top songs of the year. This is another tight category with no clear favorite act to take home the award. However, Calm Down by Rema and Buga by Kizz Daniel & Tekno seem like the top 2 songs to likely win The Headies` Song of the Year.

Best Male Artiste

Asake

Rema

Burna Boy

Ruger

Kizz Daniel

Omah Lay

It`s surreal to see new-generation names like Ruger, Rema, Omah Lay, and Asake on this prestigious list. Everyone on this list has had an incredible year, nonetheless, most critics have a strong feel that Asake has done enough wonders in the year in review by The Headies to be considered the Best Male Artiste 2023.

Best Female Artiste

Tems

Simi

Tiwa Savage

Ayra Starr

Nigerian female artists have been holding the grounds globally for the Afrobeats culture, in fact artists like Tems and Tiwa Savage can be considered to have a good field day as an overall best artiste for the year in review. The obvious favourite here to win the Best Female Artiste in The Headies 2023 might be Tems – even though she has more influential works in the international music scene compared to others who have a main stronghold on local fans in Nigeria.

Next Rated

Spyro

Seyi Vibez

Young Jonn

Asake

Victony

The Next Rated Category is one of the major categories of the night and it is one that gets to excite the Nigerian music landscape most times, there is much controversy around the winner announcement. This year 2023 may follow through with the same output as we doubt everyone will collectively agree there should be a single favourite to take home this excellent award that recognizes the Next Rated artiste in Nigeria. Asake, however, has been in the talks of critics on social media platforms – they believe he is the favourite to win this award but is he not quite too much for the category already?

Songwriter of The Year

Simi Kosoko, Godsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata – “Loyal” (Simi)

Stanley Didia, Adebajo Adebanjo – “I’m a mess” (Omah Lay)

Tems, Ludwig Goransson, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Ryan Coogler – “Lift me up” (Rihanna)

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Austin Jnr Iornongu Iwar, Peace oredope, Ludwig Goransson – “Alone” (Burna Boy)

Daniel Benson – “In my mind” (Bnxn)

Fuayefika Maxwell – Earth Song (Wizard Chan)

This is a prestigious category and eventually an Award given to the best songwriters in the country. For a nation whose culture focuses a lot on beats, drums, productions, and elite vibes, songwriting has been a delicate part of beautiful music-making. Most will argue that the Nigerian music industry had been oversaturated with shallow music with lesser reasonable lyrics and writing, nevertheless, today Nigerian music has gone up higher on the scale in terms of quality of songwriting. They deserved to be recognized and everyone on this list is quite famous for their profound writing already.

Producer of The Year

Magicsticks – Sungba Remix

Pheelz – Electricity

Andre Vibez, London – Calm Down

Tempoe – Soweto

Kel P – Kpe Paso

Rexxie – Abracadabra Remix

The quality of Nigerian music in the past year has been excellent and remarkable and it’s mostly kudos to the production team of the very best Afrobeats artists up there. The Headies have recognized the very top producers from Nigeria for the year in review – with a tight contest between Tempoe and Andre Vibez, London for their notable production input on each respective smash viral hits, “Victony`s Soweto” and “Rema`s Calm Down”.Oh well, let`s just give it to Andre Vibez and London for their charming art on the international banger, Calm Down.

Special Recognition Award

Sound Sultan

Afrobeats Single of The Year

Burna Boy – Last Last

Ayra Starr – Rush

Kizz Daniel, Tekno – Buga

Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse

Spyro – Who`s Your Guy

Ruger – Asiwaju

There are a whole of beautiful Afrobeats records released by Nigerians in the year of review by The Headies, and these hit singles made the cut. The favourites here are “Last Last” by Burna Boy and “Buga” by Kizz Daniel, Tekno as these may be the biggest songs on the list.

Best Rap Single

Reminisce – Hustle

Ladipoe – Big Energy

Blaqbonez – Back in Uni

Psycho YP – Bando Diaries

OdumoduBlvck – Declan Rice

Jeriq, Phyno – My Bro

With the amazing top rap records mentioned above especially the decent entries by Blaqbonez, Ladipoe, and veteran rapper, Reminisce, “Declan Rice” would be silly to be considered a favourite. Nonetheless, OdumoduBlvck has had an outstanding season so far and the viral hit single, “Declan Rice” may have been the beginning of his peak in the Nigerian music industry. With that factor and the clout amassed, we won`t be surprised if The Headies Award for the Best Rap Single is delivered to the brilliant rapper, OdumoduBlvck.

Best RnB Single

Burna Boy, Ed Sheeran For my mind

Ckay Mmadu

Dami Oniru Just 4 U

Preye Red Wine

Chike, Flavour Hard to find

Simi, Fave Loyal

Best Alternative Song

Wizard Chan Earth song

Cruel Santino Final champion

Basketmouth, The Cavemen The Traveller

Boj, Moliy, Mellissa In a loop

Flavour Game Changer (Dike)

Obongjayar Tinko Tinko

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

Oxlade Ku Lo Sa

Ric Hassani My only baby

Magixx Love Don`t Cost A Dime

Chike Spell Remix

Praiz Reckless

Wande Coal Kpe Paso

The two main artists in consideration for Best Vocal Performance (Male) may be Chocolate City star, Magixx, and Vocal genius, Oxlade. We really believe Oxlade has this one in the bag as his work on colours, Ku Lo Sa, seems to be the best record nominated in this category.

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

Niniola Memories

Simi Loyal

Liya Adua Remix

Waje In Between

Preye Red wine

Dami Oniru Just 4 U

This is a very special category and The Headies nominees list seems to already be screaming Simi`s name out clear in the wind, We hear it and possibly see it.

Best Music Video

Blaqbonez, Perliks Back in Uni

TG Omori PBUY

Director Pink Spell Remix

Director K Common Person

TG Omori Bandana

Director K Calm Down

Facts or sentiments, it`s not hidden that TG Omori has had an amazing run so far in the msuic industry – especially in the year in review by The Headies. TG Omori has a tight contender, however, as “Calm Down” video producer, Director K, also has two entries along with him. Blaqbonez is another excellent artist that got a nod as he claims to be aiming for TG Omori`s apparent crown.

Best Collaboration

Asake, Burna Boy Sungba Remix

BNXN, Kizz Daniel, Seyi Vibez Gwagwalada

Pheelz, BNXN Finesse

Spyro, Tiwa Savage Who`s Your Guy Remix

Pheelz, Davido Electricity

Wande Coal, Olamide Kpe Paso

This may not seem like a major category but The Headies understand this is an interesting category that excites fans. And it`s not just clout, all the songs listed above are incredible songs that held Nigerians and international fans in a chokehold in 2023. Notably, we have an interesting belief that Gwagwalada has the perfect collaboration that wins home the award.

Best Street-Hop Artiste

Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii Abracadabra

Seyi Vibez Chance (Na Ham)

Asake Joha

Poco Lee, HotKid Otilo

Zlatan, Young Jonn Astalavista

Mohbad Peace

The Best Street-Hop Artiste category has always excited fans as much as the Next Rated category and Best Male category. Now this year, The Headies have recognized some decent works by talented artistes and they all deserve the nod for Best Street-Hop for their contributions. Nevertheless, Seyi Vibez may seem like the most deserving of the honorary award from The Headies.

Headies Viewers` Choice

Ruger Asiwaju

Victony, Tempoe Soweto

Fireboy DML, Asake Bandana

Ayra Starr Rush

Asake Terminator

Mavins Overloading (Overdose)

Crayon Ijo (Laba Laba)

Oxlade Ku Lo Sa

Kizz Daniel, Tekno Buga

Pheelz, Davido Electricity

International Artiste Of The Year

Drake

Future

Selena Gomez

Don Toliver

Ed Sheeran

In the past year, we have witnessed some beautiful contributions from talented international artistes that deserve some accolades for their promotion of the Nigerian music culture. So this special list shouldn`t be a surprise or considered a ridiculous award as portrayed by critics after the announcement by Headies. This is, however, a very tight contest as every artist here has achieved something incredible in the Nigerian music scene. Though we will be tipping Ed Sheeran to take home the award.

African Artiste Of The Year

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Marwa Loud (Morocco)

Black Sherif (Ghana)

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Rema (Nigeria)

You might be shouting “Burna Boy`at the top of your voice, however, there is young lad raving and taking on the world. Apparently, Burna Boy`s biggest competition in this major category of African Artiste of the Year is Rema and we love to see it!

Digital Artiste Of The Year

Burna Boy

Ayra Starr

Rema

Omah Lay

Kizz Daniel

Asake

This is a close call as this list actually encompasses the very top Afrobeats at the top of the game digitally. While Burna Boy is proving to be a big boy as his name keeps popping up in these major categories, it won`t be surprising to see someone else sweep it home.