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

‘There Was No Blueprint For Me’ – Wizkid Claims

Published

20 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

Nigerian singer Wizkid has sparked controversy after claiming that he had no blueprint while coming up as an artist, despite having emerged through ace singer Banky W’s imprint.

The Ojuelegba crooner made the statement in a snippet of his upcoming HBO documentary Long Live Lagos.

“There was no blueprint for me. I had to build a structure for myself,” he claimed.

His comment sparked debate on social media, with many insisting that it not only downplayed Banky W’s impact on his career but also disrespected the great Nigerian musicians who paved the way for the new generation of artists.

Wizkid, however, admitted elsewhere in the documentary that Fela Kuti inspired him to pursue music.

“Fela Kuti was instrumental to why I believe I could really make music,” he said.

Some of the reactions on X include:

Franko_Nero wrote: “I still vividly remember the day that Bankole [Banky W] announced on a show that he wants to introduce a boy wonder, a germ in the making. Today, this ungrateful child is claiming otherwise. If Banky knew that today would come, I am sure he would have chased him far away.”

Arhcent said: “This guy is erasing the role Banky W and EME played in his career. The person Banky picked from school into the studio is saying ‘I had to build a structure for myself.’ God sees all.”

Duke of Isoko wrote: “If he never built a structure, Banky probably wouldn’t have noticed him. This dude came out with his own style of music, dressing sense, etc., but I understand that English is a problem in this place.”

Sir Dickson opined: “People are debating this with reference to Banky’s impact in his life. There is no real context to that. I believe he was speaking about his style of music. He reinvented himself. Wiz has never denied Banky’s impact, nor can he. Let’s calm down.”

Entertainment

‘I Am Not Shy, I’m Just Laid Back’ – Olamide Addresses Misconception

Published

20 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

Famous Nigerian rapper Olamide Baddo has addressed the misconception that he is shy.

Speaking in a recent interview with Ada’s Room, Baddo explained that he isn’t shy but laid back.

“One thing I wish people could understand about me is I am not shy, I am just laid back,” he said.

The host asked: “What is the difference between shy and laid back?”

Olamide responded: “Shy is when you don’t have the confidence and the charisma to stand people or look them in the eye or have conversations with them.

“But being laid back is you just don’t want to be bothered. People think I am shy but I am not.”

Entertainment

Why I Stopped Going To Church – Actress Ariyiike Dimples

Published

20 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

Nigerian actress and media personality, Ariyike Owolagba, popularly known as Ariyiike Dimples, has revealed why she stopped attending church.

Featuring in a recent episode of the Open Up podcast, the movie star shared that she stopped going to church for three years after a church elder questioned her fashion sense.

She stated that the elder told her she would go to hell for wearing a pencil skirt to church, which the elder considered indecent.

The actress said she was frustrated by the experience and quit church.

“In my community church, you see only elderly people. You barely see the young ones. The young ones have gone to other churches. It was too serious. Yes, you can have your doctrines, but there is a way you can simplify it for young people and take them in without judging them.

“The reason I stopped going to church was because I wore a pencil skirt to church and an elderly woman said I will go to hell fire. I was shocked and felt wrongly judged so I stopped going to church for 3 years. And thankfully, I was already out of my parents’ house.

“The woman reported me to my dad. I had to take picture of the skirt and send to my mum to prove that I wasn’t dressing indecently. But my dad believed in the ideology of a community raising a child. So, I chose to avoid the community church so that they won’t see me,” she recalled.

Ariyiike Dimples, however, added that she is still a practicing Christian despite quitting church.