By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The 17th edition of the prestigious Headies Awards lit up Lagos on Sunday night, celebrating remarkable achievements in Nigeria’s dynamic music scene and beyond.
The ceremony, held at Landmark Event Centre, saw a parade of talents take center stage, with Odumodublvck emerging as one of the biggest winners of the night.
The rapper was crowned Next Rated Artist, beating strong contenders Qing Madi, Shallipopi, and Ayo Maff.
Odumodublvck also secured Best Rap Single for “Cast,” a collaboration with Shallipopi.
Among the early winners, Zerry DL was named Rookie of the Year, a significant recognition for the rising star.
Davido, one of Africa’s leading music exports, clinched the Digital Artist of the Year award, further cementing his influence in the digital music landscape.
Rema added to his growing list of accolades by winning Afrobeats Album of the Year for his project HEIS, while Tems was awarded Best Recording of the Year for her soul-stirring track Burning.
In a particularly emotional moment, the late Mohbad, alongside Chike, won Headies’ Viewers’ Choice for their song “Egwu.”
Mohbad was also posthumously awarded Best Street-Hop Artist for his hit “Ask About Me,” a recognition that brought tears and applause from the audience in memory of the beloved singer.
The night also featured the presentation of Special Recognition Awards to notable figures for their contributions to the industry and society at large.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Alex Okosi, and former NFF President Amaju Pinnick were among those honored.
Other major winners included:
Best Vocal Performance (Male): Lojay – Billions
Best Vocal Performance (Female): Liya – I’m Done
Song of the Year: Asake – Lonely at the Top
Afrobeats Single of the Year: Flavour – Big Baller
Music Video of the Year: Director Pink – EGWU
Producer of the Year: London – OZEBA
Best East African Artiste: Juma Jux (Tanzania)
Best Central African Artiste: Innoss’B (DRC)
This year’s event marked the first of two editions scheduled for 2025, with the 18th edition set for December to realign the awards calendar following the absence of the show in 2024.
