Rema, Ayra Starr & Tems Dominate 2025 Headies Awards Nominees: Full List and What It Means for Afrobeats’ Global Rise

The 2025 Headies Awards are shaping up to be a landmark moment for African music. With the ceremony returning to its Lagos, Nigeria roots after two editions in Atlanta, this year’s nominations read like a who’s who of Afrobeats royalty. Rema, Ayra Starr, and Tems are among the top nominees, but the real story is the depth of talent across categories—and what it signals about the genre’s unstoppable global momentum.

A Homecoming Celebration: The Headies Returns to Lagos

After staging its last two ceremonies in Atlanta, Georgia—a strategic move to honor the growing diaspora audience—the Headies Awards are coming back home. The 2025 edition is now set for April 27 in Lagos, Nigeria (postponed from the original April 5 date). The event will be livestreamed on YouTube for U.S. viewers and on Hip TV for Nigerian audiences, ensuring maximum reach for a global fanbase.

Founder Ayo Animashaun, who launched the awards in 2006 as the Hip Hop World Awards, expressed excitement about the return. “Our stellar lineup features dynamic artists from around the globe who have impacted their audience and the industry,” he said in a statement. The homecoming is more than symbolic; it’s a full-fledged festival experience.

The Headies Festival: A Week of Culture and Music

For the first time, the awards will be accompanied by The Headies Festival, a series of events kicking off March 29. The schedule includes the Stakeholder Brunch, Official Nominees Party, U.S. Consulate Reception, and an Afrobeats Conference, all culminating in the awards ceremony. This expansion transforms the Headies from a single-night gala into a weeklong cultural immersion—a clear signal that African music is no longer a niche but a mainstream powerhouse.

Top Nominees: Odumodublvck Leads, Rema and Ayra Starr Follow

The nominations window covered releases from April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, and the results reflect a fiercely competitive period. Leading the pack is fast-rising rapper Odumodublvck with eight nods. Close behind are Rema and Ayra Starr, each earning seven nominations, while Tems, Shallipopi, and Kizz Daniel each snagged six.

• Artist of the Year pits Davido, Ayra Starr, Asake, Rema, Tems, and Burna Boy against one another—a lineup that could headline any festival in the world.
• Song of the Year contenders include Kizz Daniel’s “Showa,” Ayra Starr’s “Commas,” Chike and Mohbad’s “Egwu,” Asake’s “Lonely at the Top,” Rema’s “Ozeba,” and Flavour’s “Big Baller.”
• Album of the Year features Tems’ debut Born in the Wild, Rema’s Heis, Ayra Starr’s The Year I Turned 21, Victony’s Stubborn, and Asake’s Work of Art.

The international artist of the year category also draws star power: Wale, Skepta, Chris Brown, Travis Scott, and Chloe Bailey are all vying for the honor—proof that Afrobeats collaborations are now a mainstay in global pop.

Why This Year Matters: Afrobeats’ Ascendancy

The 2025 Headies arrive at a moment when African music is breaking records worldwide. Burna Boy sold out stadiums, Tems won a Grammy, and Rema’s “Calm Down” became a global streaming phenomenon. The nominations reflect this new reality: artists who once sought validation from Western awards now command their own spotlight.

The return to Lagos also re-centers the conversation around Nigeria’s role as the heartbeat of Afrobeats. Holding the ceremony in Atlanta was a nod to the diaspora, but Lagos remains the genre’s spiritual home. By merging the awards with a festival, the Headies are creating a blueprint for how African music can celebrate itself on its own terms.

Deep Dive: The Nominees Who Could Shake Up the Night

Beyond the heavy hitters, several categories reveal emerging trends. Rookie of the Year introduces Zerry Dl, Taves, Kaestyle, and Llona—names to watch. Best Street-Hop Artiste includes Seyi Vibez, Ayo Maff, and Shallipopi, reflecting the genre’s gritty, grassroots energy. Best R&B Single sees Qing Madi’s “Vision” going head-to-head with Tems’ “Burning” and Ayra Starr’s “Last Heartbreak Song” featuring Giveon.

The Best Performer (Live) category underscores the importance of stagecraft: Rema’s “Ravage Uprising” at London’s O2, Omah Lay at L’Olympia Paris, Flavour’s “Celebrating You 2023,” and Burna Boy’s “African Giant Live From London” all highlight how these artists have conquered venues worldwide.

For fans of hip-hop, Best Rap Album offers Illbliss’ Sideh Kai, Odumodublvck’s Eziokwu, Reminisce’s Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1, Erigga’s Family Time, and Modenine’s Shiny Object Syndrome—a reminder that Nigerian rap remains a vital force.

Full List Highlights: Regional Recognition Expands

The Headies have also broadened their geographic scope. Best West African Artiste includes Ghana’s Black Sherif and King Promise, Ivory Coast’s Himra, Togo’s Toofan. Best East African Artiste features Kenya’s Bien, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, Uganda’s Azawi. Best North African Artiste lists Egypt’s Mohamed Ramadan, Morocco’s Elgrande Toto, and Algeria’s Soolking. Southern and Central African categories are similarly packed with talent, proving that the Headies are truly pan-African.

The complete list, available at theheadies.com, includes 30+ categories covering everything from music videos to soundtrack of the year—a testament to the industry’s maturation.

What’s at Stake for the Winners

Winning a Headie is no longer just a local accolade. It’s a global calling card. Artists like Tems and Rema have used previous nominations to propel themselves onto international stages. This year, the competition is stiffer than ever. With Odumodublvck leading the count, a sweep could cement his status as Nigeria’s next breakout star. For Ayra Starr and Rema, multiple wins would solidify their positions as the new generation’s standard-bearers.

The ceremony also carries emotional weight. Mohbad, the late artist who died in 2023, is nominated posthumously for his collaboration with Chike on “Egwu.” His presence on the ballot is a poignant reminder of the talent lost and the legacy that endures.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Afrobeats and the Headies

As the Headies Awards return to Lagos, they do so at a pivotal time. Afrobeats is no longer a regional curiosity—it’s a global industry. The festival concept, the expanded regional categories, and the live-stream strategy all point to an organization thinking big. Whether the ceremony can maintain its relevance as the genre grows more fragmented remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the 2025 Headies will be a night where the world stops to listen.

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