# The Headies 2023

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. The ceremony was to be aired live on HipTV. Burna Boy lead nominations with ten, Asake with eight, Rema, Omah Lay, Victony, Simi, Kizz Daniel, and Pheelz received five each. While Oxlade received four, and Ruger with three. Rema, and Burna Boy received three awards each.

## Background

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

## Performers

On 16 August 2023, the organizers confirmed the following acts to perform at the event.
* Rema
* Asake
* Ayra Starr
* Johnny Drille
* Fireboy DML
* Seyi Vibez
* Wande Coal
* Kcee
* Oxlade
* Victony
* Spyro
* Blaqbonez

## Winners and nominees

Below list are nominees and winners. winners are listed first in bold.
| Afrobeats Single of the Year | Best Recording of the Year |
| "Last Last" - Burna Boy "Rush" - Ayra Starr "Buga" - Kizz Daniel & Tekno "Finesse" - Pheelz Ft. Bnxn "Who’s Your Guy?" - Spyro "Asiwaju" - Ruger | "Soweto" – Victony "Alone" - Burna Boy "Stand Strong" - Davido "No Woman No Cry" - Tems "I'm a Mess" - Omah Lay "Ku Lo Sa - Oxlade |
| Producer of the Year | Songwriter of the Year |
| Magicsticks – "Sungba (remix)" (Asake Ft. Burna Boy) Pheelz - "Electricity" - (Pheelz) Andre Vibez & London - "Calm Down" (Rema) Tempoe - "Soweto" (Victony Ft. Tempoe) Kel-P - "Kpe Paso" (Wande Coal) Rexxie - "Abracadabra" (Rexxie Ft. Naira Marley & Skiibi) | Simi, Fave, Adekunle Gold, Blaise Beatz – "Loyal" Bnxn - "In My Mind" Wizard Chan - "Earth Song" Omah Lay, Niphkeys - "I'm a Mess" Rihanna, Tems, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson - "Lift Me Up" Omah Lay - I'm a Mess Burna Boy, Tay Iwar, Ludwig Göransson, P.Priime - "Alone" |
| Best R&B Single | Best Rap Single |
| "For My Hand" – Burna Boy ft. Ed Sheeran "mmadu" - CKay "Red Wine" - Preyé "Loyal" - Simi Ft. Fave "Just 4 U" - Dami Oniru "Hard to Find" - Chike | "Declan Rice" – Odumodublvck "Hustle" - Reminisce ft. D Smoke & Bnxn "Big Energy" - Ladipoe "Back in Uni" - Blaqbonez "Bando Diaries" - PsychoYP Ft. Odumodublvck "My Bro" - Jeriq Ft. Phyno |
| Best Alternative Song | Best Street-Hop Artiste |
| "Earth Song" - Wizard Chan "Tinko Tinko (Don't Play Me for a Fool)" - Obongjayar "Final Champion" - Cruel Santino "The Traveller" - Basketmouth Ft. The Cavemen. & Kwabena Kwabena "In a Loop" - BOJ Ft. Mellissa "Game Changer (Dike)" - Flavour | Seyi Vibez - "Chance (Na Ham)" Rexxie, Naira Marley & Skiibii – "Abracadabra" Asake – "Joha" Zlatan - "Astalavista" Poco Lee – "Otilo (Izz Gone)" MohBad – "Peace" |
| Best Vocal Performance (Male) | Best Vocal Performance (Female) |
| "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 | "In Between" - Waje "Loyal" - Simi "Memories" - Niniola "Adua (remix)" - Liya "Red Wine" - Preye Itams "Just 4 U" - Dami Oniru |
| Best Music Video | Best Collaboration |
| Director K - "Calm Down (remix)" (Rema & Selena Gomez) Blaqbonez, Perliks - "Back in Uni" (Blaqbonez) TG Omori - "Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)" (Asake) Director Pink - "Spell (Remix)" (Chike & Oxlade) Director K - "Common Person" (Burna Boy) TG Omori - "Bandana" (Asake & Fireboy DML) | "Who’s Your Guy (remix)" - Spyro Ft. Tiwa Savage "Sungba (remix) - Asake Ft. Burna Boy "Gwagwalada" - Bnxn Ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez  "Finesse" - Pheelz Ft. Bnxn  "Electricity" - Pheelz Ft. Davido "Kpe Paso" - Wande Coal Ft. Olamide |
| Rookie of the Year | Next Rated |
| Odumodublvck Bloody Civilian Guchi Bayanni Eltee Skhillz Khaid | Asake Young Jonn Seyi Vibez Victony Spyro |
| Digital Artist of the Year | International Artist of the Year |
| Rema Burna Boy Ayra Starr Omah Lay Kizz Daniel Asake | Selena Gomez Drake Future Don Toliver Ed Sheeran |
| Best Male Artist | Best Female Artist |
| Rema Asake Kizz Daniel Ruger Omah Lay Burna Boy | Ayra Starr Tems Simi Tiwa Savage |
| Best West African Artist of the Year | Best East African Artist of the Year |
| Black Sherif (Ghana) Gyakie (Ghana) The Therapist (Sierra Leonean) Camidoh (Ghana) | Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) Zuchu (Tanzania) Rayvanny (Tanzania) Eddy Kenzo (Uganda) Hewan Gebrewold (Ethiopian) |
| Best North African Artist of the Year | Best Southern African Artist of the Year |
| ElGrandeToto ( Morocco) Marwa Loud (Morocco) Wegz (Egypt) Soolking (Algeria) | Focalistic (South Africa) AKA (South Africa) Nasty C (South Africa) Costa Titch (South Africa) Uncle Waffles (South Africa) DJ Tarico (Mozambique) |
| Best Central African Artist of the Year | African Artist of the Year |
| Libianca (Cameroon) Fally Ipupa (DRC) Gaz Mawete (DRC) Matias Damasio (Angola) Emma’a (Gabon) | Rema (Nigeria) Burna Boy (Nigeria) Marwa Loud (Morocco) Black Sherif (Ghana) Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) |
| 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 | Album 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 | Mr. Money with the Vibe - Asake Love, Damini - Burna Boy Rave & Roses - Rema Boy Alone - Omah Lay Outlaw - Victony Timeless by Davido |
| Headies' Viewer's Choice | Song of the Year |
| 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" | "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 Inspirational Single | Lyricist on the Roll |
| "Eze Ebube" - Neon Adejo "Stand Strong" - Davido Ft. 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 | Payper Corleone - "Fly Talk Only" Ladipoe - "Clowns" Vector - "Clowns" Alpha Ojini - "Vigilante Bop" A-Q - "Family First" Tec - "Live Life" |
| International Artist Recognition | Hall of Fame |
| Sean Combs | Youssou N'Dour |
| Special Recognition |
| Sound Sultan |