Headies 2022: Checkout Full List of Winners

The Headies Awards held its 15th edition in Atlanta USA on 4th September 24, 2022. The show was hosted by Emmy-nominated actor Anthony Anderson and award-winning Nigerian actress Osas Ighodoro.

Here’s a list of winners as announced by the Headies;

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.

• AV 
• FAVE (WINNER)
• MAGIXX 
• PORTABLE 
• UGOCCIE 

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.

• “CELEBRATE ME” – PATORANKING (WINNER)
• “ESSENCE” – WIZKID FEAT. TEMS
• “JOY” – FALANA 
• “LOVING IS HARDER” – JOHNNY DRILLE
• “MEJI MEJI” – BRYMO
• “SOMEBODY’S SON” – TIWA SAVAGE FEAT. BRAND

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

An individual is responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

• BEATS BY JAYY – “GOLDEN” (A-Q)
• BLAISE BEATZ – “SINNER” (ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. LUCKY DAYE)
• NIPHKEYS – “FEEL GOOD” (MOHBAD)
• P PRIIME – “OZUMBA MBADIWE” (REEKADO BANKS)
• PHEELZ – “HIGH” (ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. DAVIDO)
• SARZ – “MONALISA” (LOJAY & SARZ) (WINNER)

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:

A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition) in the year under review.

• ADEKUNLE GOLD – “SINNER” (WINNER)
• AJEBO HUSTLERS – “LOYALTY”
• BRYMO – “MEJI MEJI”
• FALANA – “JOY” 
• FIREBOY DML – “PERU” 
• OMAH LAY – “UNDERSTAND

BEST R&B SINGLE

A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

• “BABY RIDDIM” – FAVE 
• “BEGGIE BEGGIE” – AYRA STARR FEAT. CKAY 
• “ESSENCE” – WIZKID FEAT. TEMS (WINNER)
• “RUNNING (TO YOU)” – CHIKE FEAT. SIMI 
• “PROMISE” – NINIOLA 
• “SINNER” – ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. LUCK DAYE

BEST RAP SINGLE

A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.

• “BREATHE” – A-Q FEAT CHIKE 
• “CROWN OF CLAY” – VECTOR & MI ABAGA FEAT. PHEELZ 
• “EARLY MOMO” – VECTOR FEAT. GOODGIRL LA 
• “FEELING” – LADIPOE FEAT. BNXN (WINNER)
• “TYCOON” – SHOW DEM CAMP FEAT. REMINISCE & MOJO 
• “LOADING” – OLAMIDE FEAT BAD BOY TIMZ

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.

• “DOINGS” – FLAVOUR (WINNER)
• “FREE YOUR MIND” – MADE KUTI
• “GONTO” – IBEJII 
• “HUSTLE” – BASKETMOUTH, THE CAVEMEN, BEZ, DICE AILES
• “MEJI MEJI” – BRYMO 
• “SELENSE” – THE CAVEMEN

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

A non-voting category for the single female artiste with the most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.

• AYRA STARR – “TOXIC”
• LIYA – “ALARI” 
• NINIOLA – “6TH HEAVEN” 
• SIMI – “RUNNING (TO YOU)”
• TEMS – “ESSENCE”
• WAJE – “LAST TIME” (WINNER)

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.

• BRYMO – “MEJI MEJI” 
• JOHNNY DRILLE – “LOVING IS HARDER” 
• OXLADE – “OJUJU” (WINNER)
• RIC HASSANI – “WHEN I’M GONE” 
• TAY IWAR – “PEAKING”

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.

• A-Q – “THE LAST CYPHER” (WINNER)
• BLAQBONEZ – “THE LAST CYPHER”
• JESSE JAGZ – “VIPERS”
• LADIPOE – “PROVIDENCE”
• PAYPER CORLEONE – “IN DON WE TRUST”
• VECTOR – “CROWN OF CLAY”

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.

• “CHAMPION” – (FIREBOY DML FEAT. D SMOKE) DIRECTED BY TG OMORI (WINNER)
• “GINGER” – (WIZKID FEAT. BURNA BOY) DIRECTED BY MEJI ALABI 
• “ROJU” – (CHIKE) DIRECTED BY PINK 
• “RAIN” – (YEMI ALADE FEAT. MZANSI YOUTH CHOIR) DIRECTED BY OVIE ETSEYATSE
• “BLING” – (BLAQBONEZ FEAT. AMAARAE & BNXN) DIRECTED BY TG OMORI
• “RUNNING” – (LADIPOE FEAT. FIREBOY DML) DIRECTED BY DIRECTOR K 

BEST COLLABORATION

A voting category for the best r&b, pop, or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

• “BEGGIE BEGGIE” – AYRA STARR FEAT. CKAY 
• “BLING” – BLAQBONEZ FEAT. AMAARAE & BNXN  
• “EARLY MOMO” – VECTOR FEAT. GOODGIRL LA 
• “ESSENCE” – WIZKID FEAT. TEMS (WINNER)
• “FEELING” – LADIPOE FEAT. BNXN
• “RUNNING (TO YOU)” – CHIKE FEAT. SIMI

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such a song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.

• BELLA SHMURDA – “CASH APP” FEAT. ZLATAN & LINCOlN 
• REXXIE & MOHBAD – “KPK” 
• MOHBAD – “FEEL GOOD” 
• NAIRA MARLEY – “KOLEYEWON”
• NEKTUNEZ & GOYA MENOR – “AMENO AMAPIANO (REMIX)” (WINNER)
• POCO LEE, PORTABLE & OLAMIDE – “ZAZOO ZEHH” 

BEST AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in the year under review (by single individual or group).

• “BLOODY SAMARITAN” – AYRA STARR
• “BOUNCE” – RUGER
• “HIGH” – ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. DAVIDO
• “MONALISA” – LOJAY & SARZ
• “OZUMBA MBADIWE” – REEKADO BANKS 
• “PERU” – FIREBOY DML (WINNER)

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.

• AYRA STARR – “BLOODY SAMARITAN” (WINNER)
• FIREBOY – “PERU”
• JOEBOY – “SIP” 
• LOJAY & SARZ – “MONALISA” 
• NEKTUNEZ & GOYA MENOR – “AMENO AMAPIANO (REMIX)”
• OLAMIDE FEAT. OMAH LAY – “INFINITY”
• REMA – “SOUNDGASM” 
• WIZKID FEAT. TEMS – “ESSENCE” 

BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Western African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• AMAARAE (GHANA)
• ANGELIQUE KIDJO (BENIN)
• AYA NAKAMURA (MALI)
• GYAKIE (GHANA) (WINNER)
• KIDI (GHANA)
• NELSON FREITAS (CAPE VERDE)

BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Eastern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• DIAMOND PLATINUMZ (TANZANIA) (WINNER)
• EDDY KENZO (UGANDA)
• HARMONIZE (TANZANIA)
• MEDDY (RWANDA)
• NIKITA KERING (KENYA)
• ZUCHU (TANZANIA)

BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Northern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• EMEL MATHLOUTHI (TUNISIA)
• ELGRANDETOTO (MOROCCO)
• LATIFA (TUNISIA) (WINNER)
• MANAL (MOROCCO)
• MUHAMAD RAMADAN (EGYPT)
• SOOLKING (ALGERIA)

BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Southern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• BLACK COFFEE (SOUTH AFRICA)
• DJ TARICO (MOZAMBIQUE)
• ELAINE (SOUTH AFRICA)
• FOCALISTIC (SOUTH AFRICA) (WINNER)
• JAH PRAYZAH (ZIMBABWE)
• SHA SHA (ZIMBABWE)

BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Central African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

• CALEMA (SAO TOME & PRINCIPE)
• BLANCHE BAILLY (CAMEROON)
• DADJU (DR CONGO)
• FALLY IPUPA (DR CONGO)
• INNOSS’B (DR CONGO) (WINNER)
• SORAIA RAMOS (CAPE VERDE)

BEST AFROBEATS ALBUM

A category for the best Afrobeats album in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

• “19 AND DANGEROUS” – AYRA STARR 
• “A BETTER TIME” – DAVIDO 
• “BARNABAS” – KIZZ DANIEL
• “MADE IN LAGOS (DELUXE EDITION)” – WIZKID  (WINNER)
• “KPOS LIFESTYLE” – AJEBO HUSTLERS 
• “WONDALAND” – TENI 

BEST REGGAE & DANCEHALL ALBUM

A voting category for the Best Reggae & Dancehall album (solo or group) in the year under review.

• “GRATITUDE” – TIMAYA 
• “LOVE IS WAR” – PRETTYBOY D-O
• “RAINBOW RIDDIM” – SHANK
• “THREE” – PATORANKING (WINNER)
• “YAADMAN KINGSIZE” – YUNG L 

BEST R&B ALBUM

A category for the best r&b album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

• “BEFORE WE FALL ASLEEP” – JOHNNY DRILLE
• “IF ORANGE WAS A PLACE” – TEMS (WINNER)
• “LOVE DEEP HIGH LIFE” – OMAWUMI 
• “RISING” – FALANA
• “THE PRINCE I BECAME” – RIC HASSANI 
• “WATER AND GARRI” – TIWA SAVAGE 

BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM

A category for the best Alternative album in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

• “9: ESAN” – BRYMO 
• “INTERMISSION” – IBEJII (WINNER)
• “LEGACY +” – FEMI KUTI & MADE KUTI 
• “LOVE AND HIGHLIFE” – THE CAVEMEN
• “P.S. THANK YOU FOR WAITING” – WAVY THE CREATOR 
• “YABASI” – BASKETMOUTH 

BEST RAP ALBUM

A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in the year under review.

• “CARPE DIEM” – OLAMIDE (WINNER)
• “CLONE WARS VOL. 5 – THE ALGORHYTHM” – SHOW DEM CAMP
• “GOLDEN” – A-Q 
• “MAFIA CULTURE, VOL. 2.0” – IDOWEST 
• “PROVIDENCE” – LADIPOE
• “SEX OVER LOVE” – BLAQBONEZ 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in the year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition, and impact).

• “9: ESAN” – BRYMO 
• “19 & DANGEROUS” – AYRA STARR 
• “CARPE DIEM” – OLAMIDE 
• “LEGACY +” – FEMI KUTI & MADE KUTI
• “MADE IN LAGOS (DELUXE EDITION)” – WIZKID (WINNER)
• “YABASI” – BASKETMOUTH

SONG OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

• “CELEBRATE ME” – PATORANKING 
• “DOINGS” – FLAVOUR FEAT. PHYNO 
• “ESSENCE” – WIZKID FEAT. TEMS (WINNER)
• “HIGH” – ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. DAVIDO 
• “MONALISA” – LOJAY & SARZ
• “PERU” – FIREBOY DML

BEST FEMALE ARTISTE

Overall most successful female artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.

• SIMI 
• TEMS
• TIWA SAVAGE
• TENI
• NINIOLA

BEST MALE ARTISTE

Overall most successful male artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.

• ADEKUNLE GOLD 
• BURNA BOY (WINNER)
• DAVIDO 
• FLAVOUR
• OLAMIDE
• WIZKID 

NEXT RATED

This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with an EP or Album) in the year under review.

• AYRA STARR 
• BNXN (WINNER)
• LOJAY 
• RUGER 
• ZINOLEESKY 

AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact, and infiltration into the International music scene within the year under review.

• BLACK COFFEE (NIGERIA)
• BURNA BOY (NIGERIA) (WINNER)
• DAVIDO (NIGERIA)
• DIAMOND PLATINUMZ (TANZANIA)
• SOOLKING (ALGERIA)
• WIZKID (NIGERIA)
• AYA NAKAMURA (MALI/FRANCE)

BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE

KCee & Okwesili Eze Group – ‘Cultural Praise Vol-1’ (WINNER)

Timi Dakolo – ‘Everything (Amen)’

Chidinma – ‘Jehova Overdo’

Mercy Chinwo – ‘Onyedikagi’

Dunsin Oyekan – ‘Yah’

Nathaniel Bassey – ‘You’re The Mighty God/Olorun Agbaye’

BEST DIGITAL ARTIST

• Burna Boy
• CKay
• Davido (WINNER)
• Joeboy
• Rema
• Wizkid

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Beyonce
• Chris Brown
• Drake
• Ed Sheeran
• Justin Bieber
• Nas

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE RECOGNITION

Special award recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact on the Nigerian entertainment industry within a specific period and/or the year under review.

• WYCLEF JEAN 
• AKON
• P DIDDY

SPECIAL RECOGNITION:

Award recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact on the entertainment industry within the year under review.

• BOSE OGULU 
• SUNDAY ARE 
• EFE OMOROGBE 

HALL OF FAME:

Special recognition to an individual of African Descent, for excellence and outstanding impact on the African entertainment industry, home and abroad.

• ANGELINA KIDJO  

HUMANITARIAN AWARD OF THE YEAR

A voting category to recognize and Award extraordinary individuals and/or groups who have positively impacted the lives of people, nature, and society within the year in review.

• 2FACE IDIBIA
• RUGGEDMAN 
• DAVIDO (WINNER)
• DON JAZZY