The 16th Headies Award took place in Atlanta Georgia for the second consecutive year last night Sunday, September 3, 2023.
The show, with the theme ‘Celebrating African Renaissance,’ saw A-list artistes from the continent of Africa converge to celebrate the creativity of Pan-African talent at the event that honors the best in Afrobeats.
On the night, Mavin star, Rema, was perhaps the biggest winner, going home with three gongs. Clips of his Nigerian music renaissance speech has also continued to trend on social media.
Other big winners include Asake who won the coveted Next Rated Award; Burna Boy who picked up the Afrobeats Single of the Year and the Best R&B Song.
See full list of winners below:
BEST RAP SINGLE
‘Declan Rice’ – ODUMODUBLVCK
BEST MALE VOCAL PERFORMANCE
‘Kpe Paso’ – Wande Coal
BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG
‘Tinko Tinko’ – Obong Jayar
BEST VIDEO DIRECTOR
‘Calm Down’ – Director K (Rema)
BEST RAP ALBUM
‘Young Preacher’ by Blaqbonez
LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
‘Flytalk Only’ by Payper Corleone
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
‘Abracadabra’ by Rexxie
BEST MALE ARTIST
Rema (Calm Down)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
ODUMODUBLVCK
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SONG
‘Eze Ebube’ – Neon Adejo
AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR
‘Last Last’ – Burna Boy
SPECIAL RECOGNITION’
Sound Sultan
DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Rema (Calm Down)
BEST STREET HOP SINGLE
‘Chance’ – Seyi Vibez
NEXT RATED ARTIST
Asake
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
‘Mr. Money With The Vibez’ – Asake
SONG OF THE YEAR
‘Last Last’ – Burna Boy
WEST AFRICAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Black Sheriff
BEST COLLABORATION
‘Who’s Your Guy Remix’ by Spyro, Tiwa Savage
AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Rema (Nigeria)
BEST R&B Album
‘The Brother’s Keeper’ by Chike
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Selena Gomez
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
‘Soweto’ by Victony, Tempoe
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
In Between by Waje
BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Libianca (Cameroon)
HEADIES VIEWERS’ CHOICE
‘Soweto’ by Victony
BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Diamond Platinumz (Tanzania)
BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
El Grande Toto (Morocco)
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
‘Loyal’ by Simi Kosoko, Goodsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata
BEST R&B SINGLE
“For my hand’ by Burna Boy
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE
Ayra Starr
BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Focalistic (South Africa)
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
‘Gbagada Express’ by BOJ
HALL OF FAME
Youssou N’dour
