Rema, among this year’s biggest winners, took home three awards.
Now in their 16th edition, the awards were founded by Hip Hop World Magazine in 2006 to honour musical accomplishments by mainly Nigerian artists. The 2023 Headies, held in the US for a second consecutive year, rewarded works released between January 2022 and March 2023, with trophies presented in more than 30 categories.
Among the biggest winners on the night were Rema and Burna Boy, both walking away with an impressive tally of three awards each. Asake, who recently sold out the 20 000-capacity O2 Arena in London, secured two accolades, including the coveted Album of the Year Award for Mr Money With the Vibe. Rapper Odumodublvck and singer Victony also clinched two awards each.
Below are all the winners:
Best Recording of the Year
‘Alone’ by Burna Boy
‘Soweto’ by Victony and Tempoe
‘I’m a Mess’ by Omah Lay
‘Ku Lo Sa’ by Oxlade
‘Stand Strong’ by Davido
‘No Woman, No Cry’ by Tems
Producer of the Year
Magicstickz (Sungba Remix)
Pheelz (Electricity)
Andrevibez & London (Calm Down)
Tempoe (Soweto)
Kel-P (Kpe Paso)
Rexxie (Abracadabra)
Songwriter of the Year
‘Loyal’ by Simi
‘I’m a Mess’ by Omah Lay
‘Lift Me Up’ by Tems
‘Alone’ by Burna Boy
‘In My Mind’ by BNXN fka Buju
‘Earth Song’ by Wizard Chan
Best R&B Single
‘For My Hand’ by Bruna Boy ft. ED Sheeran
‘Mmadu’ by CKay
‘Just 4 u’ by Dami Oniru
‘Red Wine’ By Preye
‘Hard to Find’ by Chike ft. Flavour
‘Loyal’ by Simi ft. Fave
Best Rap Single
‘Hustle’ by Reminisce ft. BNXN
‘Big Energy’ by Ladi Poe
‘Back in Uni’ by Blaq Bonez
‘Bando Diaries’ by Psycho YP ft. Odumodublvck
‘Declan Rice’ by Odumodublvck
‘My Bro’ by Jeriq the Hussla ft. Phyno
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
‘Loyal’ Simi
‘In Between’ by Waje
‘Memories’ by Niniola
‘Adua Remix’ by Liya
‘Red Wine’ by Preye Itams
‘Just 4 U’ by Dami Oniru
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
‘Ku Lo Sa’ by Oxlade
‘My Only Baby’ Ric Hassani
‘Love Don’t Cost a Dime’ by Magixx
‘Spell Remix’ by Chike
‘Reckless’ by Praiz
‘Kpe Paso’ by Wande Coal
Best Alternative Song
‘Earth Song’ by Wizard Chan
‘Final Champion’ by Cruel Santino
‘The Traveller’ by Basketmouth and The Cavemen
‘In a Loop’ By BOJ ft. Mellissa
‘Game Changer’ by Flavour
‘Tinko Tinko’ by Obongjayar
Best Music Video
‘Back in Uni’ by Blaq Bonez Perliks
‘PBUY’ by TG Omori
‘Spell (Remix)’ by Director Pink
‘Common Person’ By Director K
‘Bandana’ by TG Omori
‘Calm Down (Remix)’ by Director K
Best Collaboration
‘Sungba Remix’ by Asake ft. Burna Boy
‘Gwagwalada’ by Bnxn ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
‘Finesse’ by Pheelz ft. Bnxn
‘Who’s Your Guy Remix’ by Spyro ft. Tiwa Savage
‘Electricity’ By Pheelz ft. Davido
‘Kpe Paso’ By Wande Coal ft. Olamide
Best Street-Hop Artist
Rexxie ft. Naira Marley & Skiibii – ‘Abracadabra’
Seyi Vibez – ‘Chance’
Asake – ‘Joha’
Zlatan ft. Young Jonn – ‘Astalavista’
Poco Lee & Hotkid – ‘Otilo’
Mohbad – ‘Peace’
Rookie of the Year
Odumodu Blvck
Bayyani
Guchi
Eltee Skhillz
Bloody Civilian
Khaid
Digital Artist of the Year
Burna Boy
Ayra Starr
Rema
Omah Lay
Kizz Daniel
Asake
International Artist of the Year
Drake
Future
Selena Gomez
Don Toliver
Ed Sheeran
Afrobeats Single of the Year
‘Last Last’ by Burna Boy
‘Rush’ by Ayra Starr
‘Buga’ by Kizz Daniel & Tekno
‘Finesse’ by Pheelz ft. Bnxn
‘Who’s Your Guy?’ by Spyro
‘Asiwaju’ by Ruger
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice
Ruger – ‘Asiwaju’
Victony & Tempoe – ‘Soweto’
Fireboy DML & Asake – ‘Bandana’
Ayra Star – ‘Rush’
Asake – Terminator’
Mavins – ‘Overloading’
Crayon – ‘Ijo (Laba Laba)’
Oxlade – ‘Ku Lo Sa’
Kizz Daniel & Tekno – ‘Buga’
Pheelz & Davido – ‘Electricity’
Best West African Artist of the Year
Gyakie (Ghana)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
The Therapist (Liberia)
Camidoh (Ghana)
Best East African Artist of the Year
Zuchu
Diamond Platnumz
Rayvanny
Eddy Kenzo
Hewan Gebreworld
Best North African Artist of the Year
Marwa Loud (Morocco)
Wegz (Egypt)
El Grande Toto ( Morocco)
Soolking ( Algeria)
Best Southern African Artist of the Year
AKA (South Africa)
Nasty C ( South Africa)
Costa Titch (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
Focalistic (South Africa)
DJ Tarico (Mozambique)
Best Central African Artist of the Year
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Gaz Mawete (DRC)
Matias Damasio (Angola)
Emma’a ( Gabon)
Libianca (Cameroon)
African Artist of the Year
Rema (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Marwa Loud (Morocco)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Best R&B Album
Home by Johnny Drille
The Brother’s Keeper by Chike
Reckless by Praiz
Waje 2.0 by Waje
Matter of Time by Dami Oniru
To Be Honest by Simi
Best Alternative Album
Horoscopes by Basketmouth
Gbagada Express by BOJ
Some Nights I Dream Of Doors by Obongjayar
Subaru Boys: Final Heaven by Cruel Santino
Heart Of The Heavenly Undeniable by Omadina
Native World by Native Sound System
Best Rap Album
Fly Talk Only by Payper Corleone
Palmwine Music Vol 3 by Show Dem Camp
Young Preacher by Blaqbonez
YP SZN 3 by Psycho YP
Teslim: The Energy Still Lives In Me by Vector
Billion Dollar Dream by Jeriq
Lyricist on the Roll
Ladipoe
Vector
Payper Corleone
Alpha Ojini
A-Q
TEC (SDC)
Best Inspirational Single
‘Stand Strong’ by Davido ft. Sunday Service Choir
‘Jireh (My Provider)’ by Limoblaze, Lecrae & Happi Music
‘This Year’ by Victor Thompson & Ehis D’ Greatest
‘Eze Ebube’ by Neon Adejo
‘Tobechukwu’ by Nathaniel Bassey & Mercy Chinwo
‘I Get Backing’ – Victoria Orenze
Album of the Year
Love, Damini by Burna Boy
Mr Money With the Vibe by Asake
Rave & Roses by Rema
Boy Alone by Omah Lay
Outlaw by Victony
Timeless by Davido
Song of the Year
‘Calm Down’ by Rema
‘Last Last’ by Burna Boy
‘Ku Lo Sa’ by Oxlade
‘Buga’ by Kizz Daniel & Tekno
‘Finesse’ by Pheelz ft. Bnxn
‘Sungba Remix’ by Asake ft. Burna Boy
Best Female Artist
Tems
Simi
Ayra Starr
Tiwa Savage
Best Male Artist
Asake
Rema
Kizz Daniel
Ruger
Omah Lay
Burna Boy
Next Rated
Young Jonn
Seyi Vibez
Asake
Victony
Spyro
International Artist Recognition
Sean ‘Love’ Combs
Hall of Fame
Youssou N'Dour
Special Recognition
Sound Sultan
