Entertainment

Asake vs Burna Boy, Kizz Daniel, Rema, Pheelz — All You Need To Know Ahead Of 16th Headies Awards

Published

2 years ago

September 1, 2023

The stage is set for the 16th edition of the biggest music award ceremony that celebrates Afrobeats and African culture with movers and shakers of the music industry to converge on Sunday, September 3rd, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.

Award-winning actress and producer Osas Ighodaro and American actor, TV presenter, and model Terrence J have been confirmed to host the 16th annual Headies Awards.

The show, tagged ‘Celebrating African Renaissance,’ highlights the creativity of Pan-African talent and the event honors the best in Afrobeats and African music.

The award is set to celebrate an extraordinary list of 2023 nominees that includes: Asake, Burna Boy, Simi, Wizkid, Davido, Odumodublvck, Adekunle Gold, Fireboy DML, Nathaniel Bassey, Mercy Chinwo, Victoria Orenze, Simi, Guchi, Niniola, Liya, Black Sherif, Diamond Platnumz, as well as international sensations, Black Sherif, Drake, Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, Future, and many more.

The show will be streamed live on YouTube (U.S.) and HipTV (Africa) Network.

The Headies Awards, originally called the Hip Hop World Awards, were established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.

This will mark the show’s second year at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. It was held in Lagos or Nigeria every year from 2006 to 2021 (except 2017 and 2020, when there was no ceremony).

The stage will be set ablaze by a fantastic lineup of performers, including Ayra Starr, Rema, Asake, Oxlade, Johnny Drille, Blaqbonez, Spyro, Seyi Vibez, FireBoyDML, KCee, and Victony.

The show organisers had previously unveiled the nomination list for this year’s award ceremony in June, building anticipation for the event. The eligibility period for nominations is January 2022 to March 2023.

They also introduced an exciting twist by announcing that the winner of the ‘Rookie of the Year’ category will receive a solar-powered, two-bedroom, fully furnished house.

Nominees for song of the year include hit tracks: Kizz Daniel and Tekno’s ‘Buga’ alongside Burna Boy’s ‘Last Last,’ Ku Lo Sa by Oxlade, ‘Calm Down’ by Rema, ‘Finesse’ by Pheelz ft. BNXN, and ‘Sungba (remix)’ by Asake ft. Burna Boy.

Exciting contenders for Best Recording of the Year include Tems, Burna Boy, Victony & Tempoe, Omah Lay, and Davido featuring the Sunday Service Choir.

For the album of the year category, the wonderful body of words nominated include: Burna Boy – Love, Damini, Asake – Mr. Money With The Vibe, Rema – Rave & Roses, Omah Lay – Boy Alone, Victony – Outlaw, and Davido – Timeless.

Burna Boy is the top nominee for the 2023 Headies Awards, which celebrates Pan-African and Afrobeats talent. He received 10 nominations, including African Artiste of the Year, Best Afrobeats album, Best Male Artiste, and Song of the Year.

Asake received eight nominations. The categories include Best Male Artiste, Best Collaboration, Best Album, Best Street Hop Artiste, Song of the Year, Next Rated, and Headies Viewers’ Choice.

Rema, who collaborated on the global smash hit “Calm Down” with Selena Gomez, received five nods.

Similarly, Omah Lay, Victony, Simi, Kizz Daniel, and Pheelz also received five nods. Oxlade tallied four nods, while Ruger had three.

Drake, Future, Gomez, Don Toliver and Ed Sheeran are vying for the International Artist of the Year category.

Sean “Love” Combs is slated to receive an International Artiste Recognition award while Youssou N’dour will receive a Hall of Fame award.

Late Nigerian music legend, Sound Sultan would be honoured with the ‘Headies Special Recognition Award.’

Next Rated Award

Hitmakers, Asake, Seyi Vibez, Young John, Victony, and Spyro were nominated for the much coveted Next-rated category of the 2023 Headies Award. The award is given to the most promising upcoming act in the year under review.

The award was first presented to Aṣa in 2006 and in addition to receiving the award plaque, recipients of the Next Rated Award are usually gifted a car. BNXN fka Buju last won the award as he received a brand new 2022 Bentley Bentayga, valued at over N300 million.

The prestigious award has lived up to its hype of deciding the future of the Nigerian music industry.
Previous winners of the awards since its inception in 2006 have all turned out to be superstars and this also applies to their competitors.

Past winners of the award are Asa, Overdose, Wande Coal, Omawunmi, Skuki, Wizkid, Davido, Sean Tizzle, Patoranking, Reekado Banks, Mr Eazi, Mayorkun, Rema, Omah Lay, BNXN fka Buju.

Asake is the favourite to win the award after he enjoyed a stellar and golden run in 2022. He may be ‘lonely at the top’ but he faces competition from music sensations–Young John, Victony, Seyi Vibez, and Spyro.

The ‘Omo Ope’ crooner bagged a plethora of nominations at the 2023 Headies Awards. The categories include: Best Male Artiste, Best Collaboration, Best Album, Best Street Hop Artiste, Song of the Year, Next Rated, and Headies Viewers’ Choice.

Asake adds to the list of notable YBNL superstars to earn the Next Rated Award nomination and he is in pole position to secure the laurel for his music label boss, Olamide after Fireboy DML lost to Rema in 2019, and the infamous 2015 edition which Lil Kesh lost to Reekado Banks.

Here is the full list of nominees for the 16th Headies Awards:

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

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

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

Best Male Artiste

Asake
Rema
Burna Boy
Ruger
Kizz Daniel
Omah Lay

Best Female Artiste

Tems
Simi
Tiwa Savage
Ayra Starr

Next Rated

Spyro
Seyi Vibez
Young Jonn
Asake
Victony

Songwriter of The Year

Simi – Loyal
Omah Lay – I’m a mess
Tems – Lift me Up
Burna Boy – Alone
BNXN – In my mind
Wizard Chan – Earth Song

Producer of The Year

Magicsticks – Sungba Remix
Pheelz – Electricity
Andre Vibez, London – Calm Down
Tempoe – Soweto
Kel P – Kpe Paso
Rexxie – Abracadabra Remix

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

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 Rap Single

Reminisce – Hustle
Ladipoe – Big Energy
Blaqbonez – Back in Uni
Psycho YP – Bando Diaries
OdumoduBlvck – Declan Rice
Jeriq, Phyno – My Bro

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

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

Niniola – Memories
Simi – Loyal
Liya – Adua Remix
Waje – In Between
Preye – Red wine
Dami Oniru – Just 4 U

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

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

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

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

Best West African Artiste of The Year

Gyakie (Ghana)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
The Therapist (Liberia)
Camidoh (Ghana)

Best East African artiste of the year

Zuchu (Tanzania)
Hewan Gebreworld (Ethiopia)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
Rayvanny (Tanzania)

Best North African Artiste of The Year

Marwa Loud (Morocco)
Wegz (Egypt)
El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Soolking (Algeria)

Best Southern African Artiste of The Year

AKA (South Africa)
Nasty C (South Africa)
Costa Titch (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)
Focalistic (South Africa)
DJ Tarico (Mozambique)

Best Central African Artiste of The Year

Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
Gaz Mawete (DR Congo)
Matias Damiaso (Angola)
Emma’A (Gabon)
Libianca (Cameroon)

African Artiste Of The Year

Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Marwa Loud (Morocco)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Rema (Nigeria)

Digital Artiste Of The Year

Burna Boy
Ayra Starr
Rema
Omah Lay
Kizz Daniel
Asake

International Artiste Of The Year

Drake
Future
Selena Gomez
Don Toliver
Ed Sheeran

Lyricist On The Roll

Ladipoe – Clowns
Vector – Clowns
Payper Corleone – Fly Talk Only
Alpha Ojini – Vigilante Bop
A-Q – Family First
Tec (SDC) – Live Life

Best Rap Album

Payper Corleone – Fly Talk Only
Show Dem Camp – Palmwine Music Vol. 3
Blaqbonez – Young Preacher
Psycho YP – YPSZN3
Vector – TESLIM
Jeriq – Billion Dollar Dream

Best Alternative Album

Basketmouth – Horoscopes
BOJ – Gbagada Express
Obongjayar – Some Nights I Dream of Doors
Cruel Santino – Subaru Boys: Final Heaven
Somadina – Heart of The Heavenly Undeniable
Native Sound System – Native World

Best RnB Album

Johnny Drille – Home
Chike – The Brother’s Keeper
Praiz – Reckless
Waje – Waje 2.0
Dami Oniru – Matter of Time
Simi – To Be Honest

Special Recognition Award

Sound Sultan

Entertainment

Why I Can Share My Husband With My Friend — Regina Daniels

Published

14 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

Popular Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has revealed why she can share her husband with her friend, explaining that she would be willing to do so if the friend had been single for too long.

The actress, who is married to Senator Ned Nwoko, made this revelation in a recent post via the Insta-stories section of her official Instagram page, where she has 15.3 million followers.

In the post, Regina Daniels reshared a reel of a lady who said she decided to lend her man to her best friend who had been single for over six months.

Words overlaid on the reel read: “My friend was single for over 6months so I lent her my man.”

Supporting the idea, Regina Daniels reposted the video and added her own take, stressing that she could also do the same for her friend if the situation arose.

She wrote: “Something I can do though.”

Entertainment

Why I Left Fela’s Band – Femi Kuti Reveals

Published

19 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

Femi Kuti, a popular Nigerian musician and the first son of the Afrobeat founder, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has revealed why he left his father’s band.

Femi made the disclosure during his recent appearance on Afropolitan podcast.

Speaking about his decision to part ways with Fela’s music band, Femi Kuti disclosed that he left to discover his own identity because “I did not have any possibility of my life”.

“Growing up in school, everybody would be like ‘aren’t you going to be like your dad or won’t you play music? I was pressured to be like my father.

“If I wanted to play music, I had to be Femi Kuti. I used the same mathematical thought that I cannot be Fela. I began to wear the same outfits with my father because I used to stay with my mother before I ran away to stay with him.

“I was like mini Fela because he usually dresses me like himself. I just thought I should better look for myself fast, or I’m going to be a very unhappy man. So I went back to my mother.

“The moment I formed my band, his fan base descended on me. It was very difficult to find a good write up about me then because the press hated me and at this time, there was no internet for me to defend myself.

“Being under my father, I didn’t have any possibility of my own life, including having children. I saw my life in his life,” the 63-year-old stated

Entertainment

It’s Unfair To Exclude Tems From Afrobeats Big 3 – Tiwa Savage [VIDEO]

Published

19 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

Famous Nigerian songstress Tiwa Savage has made a case for Tems after her name was excluded from Afrobeats’ top three artistes.

The term ‘Big 3’ is widely used to refer to the male trio Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid, who are celebrated as Nigeria’s most dominant global musical exports.

However, questioning the criteria used in selecting the ‘Big 3’ in the industry, Tiwa argued that the narrative turns a blind eye to the outstanding achievements of leading women in the Afrobeats genre.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, she challenged the exclusionary labelling of female singers and insisted that Tems deserves top-tier recognition.

“Think about it, Certain types of artistes get paid more. So, they get the opportunity to spend more on influencers and radio play so you are going to hear their music way more.

“Also, I feel like it is unfair to have a conversation about the Top 3 and not mention someone like Tems. Are you serious?” she asked.

Tems rose to fame in 2020 after her collaboration with Wizkid on ‘Essence’.

She earned her first Grammy in 2023 for her contribution to ‘Wait For U’ in 2022.

In 2025, Tems received her second Grammy Award in the ‘Best African Performance’ category.