On September 24, 2019, Nigeria’s biggest and most prestigious music award show, The Headies, opened its doors to receive entries for its 13th music award with this year’s edition themed ‘The Power of A Dream’. The year in review was announced as January 2018 and June 2019.
The Headies, originally called the Hip Hop World Awards is a music awards show established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.
The annual ceremony features performances by established and promising artists. It is broadcast live on HipTV to television viewers across Nigeria. The 1st and 2nd editions of The Headies were held at the Muson Center in Onikan, Lagos State. Between 2010 and 2012, the awards were held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Several media personalities in Nigeria have hosted the annual ceremony, including Darey Art Alade, D’banj, Dakore Egbuson, Banky W., Rita Dominic, M.I, Tiwa Savage and Dr SID.
The first Headie plaque was done by Jide Adewoye. It represents the “image and the shout of a young, vibrant individual whose talent can challenge that of renowned local and international artistes combined, but who has almost lost confidence in his abilities in the face of discouraging circumstances presented by the peculiar Nigerian environment.
The image of The Headies was created by Ayo Animashaun, the founder of the awards, and drawn by Matthias Aragbada. In 2008, the plaque was redone in the United Kingdom. It was plated with 21 carat gold. The new plaque is a mixture of resin, copper, steel, marble and gold.
As of 2018, The Headies is composed of over 25 categories. Open voting decides majority of the awards’ categories. However, the Best Recording of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Vocal Performance (Male), Best Vocal Performance (Female), Lyricist on the Roll, and Best Performer categories are not open to public voting.
The 13th edition of The Headies will hold today, 19th 0ctober, 2019, at the Eko Convention Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. Nigerian screen diva Nancy Isime and singer Reminisce will be our host for tonight ceremony.
Here are the list of categories and the nominees below:
1. BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the best recording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artiste or group in the year under review.
1. Adekunle Gold – Ire
2. Heal D World – Patoranking
3. Olanrewaju – Brymo
4. Uyo Meyo – Teni
5. Ye – Burna Boy
2. BEST POP SINGLE
A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group).
1. ‘Ye’ – Burna Boy
2. ‘Wetin We Gain’ – Victor AD
3. ‘Fake Love’ – Starboy ft Duncan Mighty, Wizkid
4. ‘Case’ – Teni
5. ‘Jealous’ – Fireboy DML
6. ‘Baby’ – Joeboy
3. PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
1. Phantom – ‘Ye’ by Burna Boy
2. Ozedikus – ‘Dumebi’ by Rema
3. Spellz – ‘Askamaya’ by Teni
4. Killertunes – ‘Fake Love’ by Starboy ft Duncan Mighty and Wizkid
5. Kel-P Vibes – ‘Killing Dem’ by Burna Boy ft Zlatan
4. BEST RAP ALBUM
A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review.
1. ‘Moral Instruction’ – Falz
2. ‘Crown’ – AQ and Loose Kaynon
3. ‘A Study On Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl’ – M.I Abaga
4. ‘Clone Wars, Vol. IV (These Buhari Times)’ – Show Dem Camp
5. BEST R&B/ POP ALBUM
A category for the best r&b/pop album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
1. ‘rare.’ – Odunsi (The Engine)
2. ‘Outside’ – Burna Boy
3. ‘No Bad Songz’ – Kizz Daniel
4. ‘Mayor of Lagos’ – Mayorkun
5. ‘About 30’ – Adekunle Gold –
6. BEST MUSIC VIDEO
A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.
1. ‘Dangote’ (Burna Boy) – Clarence Peters
2. ‘Available’ (Patoranking) – Clarence Peters
3. ‘Ire’ (Adekunle Gold) – Aje Films –
4. ‘Talk’ (Falz) – Prodigeezy
5. ‘Jaiye’ (Ladipoe) – 88 Factor
7. BEST R&B SINGLE
A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
1. ‘Tipsy’ – Odunsi ft. RAYE
2. ‘Serenade’ – Funbi
3. ‘Uyo Meyo’ – Teni
4. ‘Wishes and Butterflies’ – Wurld
5. ‘Gimme Love’ – Seyi Shay ft. Runtown
8. BEST COLLABO
A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).
1. ‘Like’ – Reekado Banks Ft. Tiwa Savage, Fiokee
2. ‘One Ticket’ Kiss Daniel ft. Davido
3. ‘Fake Love’ – Starboy ft Duncan Mighty, Wizkid
4. ‘Killin’ Dem – Burna Boy Ft. Zlatan
5. ‘Amaka’ – 2baba Ft. Peruzzi
9. BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.
1. ‘Talk’ – Falz
2. ‘We Don’t Do That Over Here’ – Hotyce
3. ‘40ft Container’ – Illbliss ft. Olamide
4. ‘Sacrifice’ – Payper Corleone Ft. Alpha Ojini
5. ‘Gang Gang’ – AQ and Loose Kaynon
10. BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.
1. Tay Iwar – ‘Utero’
2. Johnny Drille – ‘Finding Efe’
3. Nonso Bassey – ‘411’
4. Funbi – ‘Serenade’
5. Wurld – ‘Wishes & Butterfly’
11. BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.
1. GoodGirl LA – ‘Bless me’
2. Waje – ‘Udue’
3. Teni – ‘Uyo Meyo’
4. Tems – ‘Mr Rebel’
5. Falana – ‘Repeat’
12. NEXT RATED
This category is a voting category for the most promising act in the year under review.
1. Rema
2. Joeboy
3. Fireboy DML
4. Victor AD
5. Lyta
6. Zlatan
13. HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION
A voting category for the best new artiste with a debut album adjudged to be outstanding in terms of artistic quality and impact within the year under review.
1. Odunsi
2. Mayorkun
3. Wurld
4. Humblesmith
14. LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
A non-voting category for the rap artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album.
1. YCEE – ‘Balance’
2. Boogey – ‘Implode’
3. Paybac – ‘Implode’
4. Ghost – ‘Crown’
5. Tec – ‘Crown’
6. AQ – ‘Crown’
15. BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE
A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.
1. Erigga – ‘Motivation’
2. Chinko Ekun – ‘Able God’
3. Zlatan – ‘Leg Work’
4. Barry Jhay – ‘Aiye’
5. Lyta – ‘Time’
16. BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG
A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.
1. ‘Cash’ – Lady Donli
2. ‘Mr Rebel’ – Tems
3. ‘Finding Efe’ – Johnny Drille
4. ‘Heya’ – Brymo
5. ‘Ire’ – Adekunle Gold
17. ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).
1. About 30 – Adekunle Gold
2. Outside – Burna Boy
3. Moral Instruction – Falz
4. No Bad Songz – Kizz Daniel
18. ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste in the year under review.
1. Burna Boy
2. Wizkid
3. Davido
4. Tiwa Savage
5. Falz
19. SONG OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
1. ‘Ye’ – Burna Boy
2. ‘Dumebi’ – Rema
3. ‘Wetin We Gain’ – Victor AD
4. ‘Fake Love’ – Starboy ft Duncan Mighty, Wizkid
5. ‘Case’ – Teni
6. ‘Leg work’ – Zlatan
7. ‘Baby’ – Joeboy
8. ‘Jealous’ – Fireboy DML
20. AFRICAN ARTISTE RECOGNITION
A non-Nigerian award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review.
1. Master KG – Skeleton Moves (SOUTH AFRICA)
2. Afro B – Drogba (Joanna) (IVORY COAST)
3. Sauti Sol – Melanin (KENYA)
4. King Promise – CCTV (GHANA)
5. DJ Maphoriza – iWalk Ye Phara (SOUTH AFRICA)
21. HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE
A voting category to award the fan’s favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.
1. Mr Eazi
2. Burna Boy
3. Teni
4. Fireboy DML
5. Rema
6. Joe Boy
7. Wizkid
8. Davido
22. BEST PERFORMER
A non-voting category for the artistes whose stagecraft, showmanship and performance routines are exceptionally conceptualized and executed in the year under review with consideration of live performances.
1. Falz
2. Tiwa Savage
3. Brymo
4. Yemi Alade
5. Adekunle Gold
23. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically, with the absence of an album in the year under review.
1. Crayon
2. Buju
3. Barry Jhay
4. Oxlade
The last edition saw Nigeria’s sensational artiste, Olamide, with the highest number of nominations (10). He was closely followed by Tuface (7), Wizkid (6), Davido (4), and Clarence Peters (4).