The Headies 2023

The 16th Headies
The 16th Headies
Date	3 September 2023
Location	Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia
Hosted by	Osas Ighodaro & Terrence J
Most awards	Rema (3) & Burna Boy (3)
Most nominations	Burna Boy (10)
Website	theheadies.com
Television/radio coverage
Network	HipTV

The Headies 2023 was the 16th edition of Nigerian music awards The Headies. It was held at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on 3 September 2023, and hosted by Osas Ighodaro and Terrence J.^[1] The ceremony was to be aired live on HipTV. Burna Boy lead nominations with ten,^[2] Asake with eight, Rema, Omah Lay, Victony, Simi, Kizz Daniel, and Pheelz received five each.^[2] While Oxlade received four,^[2] and Ruger with three.^[2] Rema, and Burna Boy received three awards each.^[3]

Background

On 1 June 2023, the executive held a stakeholder brunch in Nigeria.^[4] On 11 July 2023, the organizers announced the Rookie category of the year, being the first batch of nominees unveiled.^[5] On 12 July 2023, the remain categories was released to the public on its website.^[2] On 28 July 2023, the United States Consulate Lagos, hosted a reception in honour of the award.^[6]^[7]

Performers

On 16 August 2023, the organizers confirmed the following acts to perform at the event.^[8]

Winners and nominees

Below list are nominees and winners.^[2] winners are listed first in bold.^[9]

Album of the Year	Song of the Year
Young Preacher - Blaqbonez Fly Talk Only - Payper Corleone Palmwine Music Vol 3 - Show Dem Camp YPSZN 3 - PsychoYP Teslìm: The Energy Still Lives in Me - Vector Billion Dollar Dream - Jeriq	"Last Last" - Burna Boy "Calm Down" - Rema "Ku Lo Sa" - Oxlade "Buga" - Kizz Daniel & Tekno "Finesse" - Pheelz Ft. Bnxn "Sungba (remix)" - Asake Ft. Burna Boy
Best Recording of the Year	Best Male Artist
"Soweto" – Victony "Alone" - Burna Boy "Stand Strong" - Davido "No Woman No Cry" - Tems "I'm a Mess" - Omah Lay "Ku Lo Sa - Oxlade	Rema Asake Kizz Daniel Ruger Omah Lay Burna Boy
Best Female Artist	Best Vocal Performance (Male)
Ayra Starr Tems Simi Tiwa Savage	"Kpe Paso" - Wande Coal "Ku Lo Sa" - Oxlade "My Only Baby" - Ric Hassani "Love Don't Cost a Dime" - Magixx "Spell (remix)" - Chike "Reckless" - Praiz
Best Vocal Performance (Female)	Afrobeats Single of the Year
"In Between" - Waje "Loyal" - Simi "Memories" - Niniola "Adua (remix)" - Liya "Red Wine" - Preye Itams "Just 4 U" - Dami Oniru	"Last Last" - Burna Boy "Rush" - Ayra Starr "Buga" - Kizz Daniel (featuring Tekno) "Finesse" - Pheelz (featuring Bnxn) "Who’s Your Guy?" - Spyro "Asiwaju" - Ruger
Best R&B Single	Best Rap Single
"For My Hand" – Burna Boy (featuring Ed Sheeran) "mmadu" - CKay "Red Wine" - Preyé "Loyal" - Simi (featuring Fave) "Just 4 U" - Dami Oniru "Hard to Find" - Chike	"Declan Rice" – Odumodublvck "Hustle" - Reminisce (featuring D Smoke & Bnxn) "Big Energy" - Ladipoe "Back in Uni" - Blaqbonez "Bando Diaries" - PsychoYP (featuring Odumodublvck) "My Bro" - Jeriq (featuring Phyno)
Best Alternative Song	Best Inspirational Single
"Earth Song" - Wizard Chan "Tinko Tinko (Don't Play Me for a Fool)" - Obongjayar "Final Champion" - Cruel Santino "The Traveller" - Basketmouth (featuring The Cavemen. & Kwabena Kwabena) "In a Loop" - BOJ (featuring Moliy & Mellissa) "Game Changer (Dike)" - Flavour	"Eze Ebube" - Neon Adejo "Stand Strong" - Davido (featuring Sunday Service Choir) "Jireh (My Provider)" - Limoblaze, Lecrae & Happi Music "This Year" - Victor Thompson & Ehis D Greatest "Tobechukwu" - Nathaniel Bassey & Mercy Chinwo "I Get Backing" – Victoria Orenze
Best Street-Hop Artiste	Best Collaboration
Seyi Vibez - "Chance (Na Ham)" Rexxie, Naira Marley & Skiibii – "Abracadabra" Asake – "Joha" Zlatan - "Astalavista" Poco Lee – "Otilo (Izz Gone)" MohBad – "Peace	"Who’s Your Guy (Remix)" - Spyro (featuring Tiwa Savage) "Sungba (Remix)" - Asake (featuring Burna Boy) "Gwagwalada" - Bnxn (featuring Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez) "Finesse" - Pheelz (featuring Bnxn) "Electricity" - Pheelz (featuring Davido) "Kpe Paso" - Wande Coal (featuring Olamide)
Producer of the Year	Songwriter of the Year
Magicsticks for "Sungba (Remix)" by Asake (featuring Burna Boy) Pheelz for "Electricity" by Pheelz (featuring Davido) Andre Vibez & London for "Calm Down" by Rema Tempoe for "Soweto" Victony & Tempoe Kel-P for "Kpe Paso" by Wande Coal (featuring Olamide) Rexxie for "Abracadabra" by Rexxie, Naira Marley & Skiibii	Simisola Ogunleye-Kosoko, Godsfavour Chidozie, Adekunle Kosoko & Marcel Akunwata for "Loyal" by Simi (featuring Fave) Stanley Didia, Adebajo Adebanjo for "I'm a Mess" by Omah Lay Temilade Openiyi, Ludwig Göransson, Robyn Fenty & Ryan Coogler for "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna Damini Ogulu, Austin Iwar Jr., Peace Oredope & Ludwig Göransson for "Alone" by Burna Boy Daniel Benson for "In My Mind" by Bnxn Fuayefika Maxwell for Earth Song by Wizard Chan
Best Music Video ^{[note 1]}	Lyricist on the Roll
Director K for "Calm Down (Remix)" by Rema & Selena Gomez Blaqbonez, Perliks for "Back in Uni" by Blaqbonez TG Omori for "Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)" by Asake Director Pink for "Spell (Remix)" Chike & Oxlade Director K for "Common Person" for Burna Boy TG Omori for "Bandana" by Fireboy DML & Asake	Payper Corleone - "Fly Talk Only" Ladipoe - "Clowns" Vector - "Clowns" Alpha Ojini - "Vigilante Bop" A-Q - "Family First" Tec - "Live Life"
Best R&B Album	Best Alternative Album
The Brother’s Keeper - Chike Home - Johnny Drille Reckless - Praiz Waje 2.0 - Waje Matter of Time - Dami Oniru To Be Honest - Simi	Gbagada Express - BOJ Horoscopes - Basketmouth Some Nights I Dream Of Doors - Obongjayar Subaru Boys: Final Heaven - Cruel Santino Heart Of The Heavenly Undeniable - Somadina Native World - NATIVE Sound System
Best Rap Album	Next Rated
Young Preacher - Blaqbonez Fly Talk Only - Payper Corleone Palmwine Music Vol 3 - Show Dem Camp YPSZN 3 - PsychoYP Teslìm: The Energy Still Lives in Me - Vector Billion Dollar Dream - Jeriq	Asake Young Jonn Seyi Vibez Victony Spyro
Rookie of the Year	Headies' Viewer's Choice
Odumodublvck Bloody Civilian Guchi Bayanni Eltee Skhillz Khaid	Victony & Tempoe – "Soweto" Ruger – "Asiwaju" Fireboy DML & Asake – "Bandana" Ayra Starr – "Rush" Asake – "Terminator" Mavins – "Overloading" Crayon – "Ijo (Laba Laba)" Oxlade – "Ku Lo Sa" Kizz Daniel & Tekno – "Buga" Pheelz & Davido – "Electricity"
Digital Artist of the Year	African Artist of the Year
Rema Burna Boy Ayra Starr Omah Lay Kizz Daniel Asake	Rema Burna Boy Marwa Loud Black Sherif Diamond Platnumz
Best West African Artist of the Year	Best East African Artist of the Year
Black Sherif Gyakie The Therapist Camidoh	Diamond Platnumz Zuchu Rayvanny Eddy Kenzo Hewan Gebrewold
Best North African Artist of the Year	Best Southern African Artist of the Year
ElGrandeToto Marwa Loud Wegz Soolking	Focalistic AKA Nasty C Costa Titch Uncle Waffles DJ Tarico
Best Central African Artist of the Year	International Artist of the Year
Libianca Fally Ipupa Gaz Mawete Matias Damasio Emma’a	Selena Gomez Drake Future Don Toliver Ed Sheeran
International Artist Recognition	Hall of Fame
Sean Combs	Youssou N'Dour
Special Recognition
Sound Sultan