We will never have the YBNL vs Mavins Headies of 2015 back again *deep sigh* but, every year, we will surely get a controversial debate about who is supposed to be nominated in a category or who is supposed to be the winner of that category.
With the constant stream of fresh sounds and diverse talents in the Nigerian music industry, that debate is back again with the 17th edition of the Headies Awards that was held in Lagos on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
So we’ve curated a list according to arguments by fans of the most debatable and unexpected wins at the Headies 2025 Awards.
Let’s get into it!
Rookie Of The Year
Nominees:
- Taves
- Llona
- Kaestyle
- Zerry DL – Winner
The debate here is that Llona is a more deserving artiste to receive this award. But looking at the track record of both Llona and Zerry DL, the former doesn’t meet up to the number of hits Zerryl has given us in the industry for just this year alone.
Although, he also has a good number of repeat-worthy songs, according to Zerryl DL fans he sounds more like Omah Lay. Meanwhile, the industry and Nigerian music lovers generally agree that Zerryl DL brings a unique sound even different from his brother Shallipopi.
ALSO READ: Music Zone: 5 Nigerian Musicians Who Lost Their Grammy Nominations
Producer Of The Year
Nominees:
- Happiness – Sarz
- Basquiat – Magicsticks
- HEHEHE – Rema, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deatz, and Klimperboy
- Different Paterns – Dibs
- OZEBA – London – Winner
Such a hard pill to swallow for many fans and music lovers because this category was packed full of amazing songs that had really cool beats and amazing production.
Not gon’ lie, Sarz Happiness was the best bet but most fans argued that Asake’s Basquiat should’ve been the winner because of the flow of the song. Well, Headies said “nope”, Ozeba sounded better. Kudos to London!
Afrobeats Album Of The Year
Nominees:
- Stubborn – Victony
- The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
- Work Of Art – Asake
- Jiggy Forever – Young John
- HEIS – Rema – Winner
This shouldn’t come as a surprise because it’s Rema we’re talking about here. The starboy who tops charts for breakfast and sells out international shows for dinner. But you know fans must argue and most will disagree. Mostly because another starboy and a stargirl were also on the list.
Asake’s Work of Art is a banger album that could go on and on in a loop and most Nigerians can testify to this because it showed in the number of streams and its position on music charts. Same with Ayra Starr’s TYIT21; an album that peaked at home and abroad topping charts and winning hearts. But Rema’s HEIS is a worthy win because of the diversity of sounds on the album.
Afrobeats Single Of The Year
Nominees:
- Twe Twe Remix – Kizz Daniel
- Egwu – Chike (feat. Mohbad)
- Remember – Asake
- Big Big Things – Young John(feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
- Ogechi Remix – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (feat. Davido)
- Big Baller – Flavour – Winner
This wasn’t exactly a shocker, but for music fans of the artistes in this category, it definitely shocked them as Flavour Nabania won Afrobeat Single of the Year with the song that rocked every elite party.
No doubt, Flavour has a loyal following of fans, but in a category with songs like Egwu by Chike, Remember by Asake, and Big Big Things by Young John, which were also hit songs around the country it was unexpected but absolutely worth it.
Headies Next Rated
Nominees:
- Shallipopi
- Ayo Maff
- Nasboi
- Qinq Madi
- Odumodublvck – Winner
With a current trending song titled “LAHO” and a few other hit songs spanning this year alone, the debate here is that Shallipopi is more worthy of this award as he did not only bring his Benin sound to the world but also put his brother Zerry DL and other artiste on the map.
But that’s not enough reason to win this category. Odumodublvck also dropped a banger album that dominated not only Apple Music Nigeria but also made a debut on the UK Afrobeats charts and Billboard Afrobeats chart. With loads of international features and a current home music tour.
Best Street-Hop Artiste
Nominees:
- Ayo Maff – Dealer (feat. Fireboy DML)
- Seyi Vibez – Different Patterns
- Shallipopi – Cast (feat. Odumodublvck)
- Zhus Jdo – Johnbull
- Mohbad – Ask About Me – Winner
Some argued this was a sentimental win given by the 2025 Headies Awards voters while some stood on the fact that it’s a well-deserved win and that for sure is a fact. Mohbads “Ask About Me” was a banger, one of the earliest songs to pioneer the Amapiano style into afrobeat, complimented with an amazing emotional voice. And it still is an evergreen song, even after his demise.
ALSO READ: Music Zone: 5 Nigerian Actors You Didn’t Know Were Musicians
Other Headies Award Categories and Their Winners
Best Digital Artiste Of The Year
Nominees:
- Ayra Starr
- Rema
- Tems
- Asake
- Kizz Daniel
- Shallipopi
- Davido – Winner
Headies Viewers Choice
Nominees:
- Showa – Kizz Daniel
- Big Baller – Flavour
- Differnt Pattern – Seyi Vibez
- OZEBA – Rema
- Love Me Jeje – Tems
- Cast – Shallipopi (feat. Odumodublvck)
- Dealer – Ayo Maff (feat. Fireboy DML)
- Ogechi Remix – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel (feat. Davido)
- Big Big Things – Young John(feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez)
- Egwu – Chike & Mohbad – Winner
Music Video Of The Year
Nominees:
Charm – Rema, Perliks, and Folarin Oludare
Metaverse – Jyde Ajala
Like Ice Spice – Perliks, Emeka Shine Shine
Ojapiano – Mattmax
Showa – TG Omori
Na Money – Dammy Twitch
EGWU – Director Pink – Winner
Songwriter of The Year
Nominees:
Family Meeting – Emoseh Khamofu (Bloody Civilian)
Stages Of Life – Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan)
Can’t Breathe – Michael Ajuma Attah (Llona)
Stranger – Simisola Kosoko (Simi)
Vision – Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma (Qinq Madi) – Winner
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
Nominees:
Gratitude – Anendlessocean
Moving – Omah Lay
Ke Na Ke So – Timi Dakolo
For You – Johnny Drille
Billions – Lojay – Winner
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
Nominees:
Last Song Heartbreak – Ayra Starr
Tomorrow – Yemi Alade
Stranger – Simi
Level – Niniola
I’m Done – Liya – Winner
Best Recording Of The Year
Nominees:
Different Patterns – Seyi Vibez
Last Heartbreak Song – Ayra and Giveon
Higher – Burna Boy
Billions – Sarz and Lojay
Burning – Tems – Winner
Best Inspirational Single
Nominees:
Gratitude – Anendlessocean
Worthy Of My Praise – Dunsin Oyekan (feat. Lawrence Oyor)
Good God 2 – Limoblaze (feat. Naomi Raine)
Particularly – Gaise Baba (feat. Tope Alabi)
You Do This One – Mercy Chinwo – Winner
The 2025 Headies Awards has done a good job of showcasing and appreciating our talented artists. Even those who didn’t win their category had absolutely amazing songs and albums to end up on the list.
Join us in the Music for Melophiles community to tell us what you think about the winners and also join the debate and see some funny reasons why some people disagree with the winners.
