The 15th annual Headies Awards are coming to America from Nigeria for the first time. The star-studded event will take place live from Atlanta\u2019s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on Sept. 4.<\/p>\n
With categories including rookie of the year, best West African artiste and best R&B single, the Headies will honor some of the most notable acts in the globally rising Afrobeats genre. Wizkid is the most nominated artist for the big night, with 10 nods; followed by Ayra Starr (a first-time nominee) and Tems, each with eight nominations. Adekunle Gold and Davido are tied as the third most-nominated artists, with seven nods each.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter 14 years, I\u2019m thrilled the show is expanding beyond Nigeria,\u201d Headies Awards co-executive producer Ava L. Hall tells Billboard. \u201cThe Afrobeats movement is truly global and this show is celebrating Pan-African music excellence and the collaborative connection it has made with the U.S. music industry. Art has always been an entry point to culture and connection. This genre certainly helps to solidify that even more. I\u2019m honored that the founder, Ayo Animashaun, reached out to me help bring the 15th Annual Headies to fruition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Billboard recently partnered with Afro Nation, a music festival and global Afrobeats brand, to launch the first-ever U.S. chart for Afrobeats music. The Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart went live on March 29, and has since spotlighted hit artists including CKay, Tems, WizKid, Omah Lay, Burna Boy and Fireboy DML.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s awards ceremony introduces three new categories: international artiste of the year, best inspirational single and digital artiste of the year.<\/p>\n
See the complete list of nominees below:<\/p>\n
Rookie of the Year
\nAv
\nFave
\nMagixx
\nPortable
\nUgoccie<\/p>\n
Best Recording of the Year
\n\u201cCelebrate Me\u201d \u2013 Patoranking
\n\u201cEssence\u201d \u2013 Wizkid Feat. Tems
\n\u201cJoy\u201d \u2013 Falana
\n\u201cLoving Is Harder\u201d \u2013 Johnny Drille
\n\u201cMeji Meji\u201d \u2013 Brymo
\n\u201cSomebody\u2019s Son\u201d \u2013 Tiwa Savage Feat. Brandy<\/p>\n
Producer of the Year
\nBeats By Jayy \u2013 \u201cGolden\u201d (A-Q)
\nBlaise Beatz \u2013 \u201cSinner\u201d (Adekunle Gold Feat. Lucky Daye)
\nNiphkeys \u2013 \u201cFeel Good\u201d (Mohbad)
\nP Priime \u2013 \u201cOzumba Mbadiwe\u201d (Reekado Banks)
\nPheelz \u2013 \u201cHigh\u201d (Adekunle Gold Feat. Davido)
\nSarz \u2013 \u201cMonalisa\u201d (Lojay & Sarz)<\/p>\n
Songwriter of the Year
\nAdekunle Gold \u2013 \u201cSinner\u201d
\nAjebo Hustlers \u2013 \u201cLoyalty\u201d
\nBrymo \u2013 \u201cMeji Meji\u201d
\nFalana \u2013 \u201cJoy\u201d
\nFireboy Dml \u2013 \u201cPeru\u201d
\nOmah Lay \u2013 \u201cUnderstand\u201d<\/p>\n
Best R&B Single
\n\u201cBaby Riddim\u201d \u2013 Fave
\n\u201cBeggie Beggie\u201d \u2013 Ayra Starr Feat. Ckay
\n\u201cEssence\u201d \u2013 Wizkid Feat. Tems
\n\u201cRunning (To You)\u201d \u2013 Chike Feat. Simi
\n\u201cPromise\u201d \u2013 Niniola
\n\u201cSinner\u201d \u2013 Adekunle Gold Feat. Luck Daye<\/p>\n
Best Rap Single
\n\u201cBreathe\u201d \u2013 A-Q Feat Chike
\n\u201cCrown Of Clay\u201d \u2013 Vector & Mi Abaga Feat. Pheelz
\n\u201cEarly Momo\u201d \u2013 Vector Feat. Goodgirl La
\n\u201cFeeling\u201d \u2013 Ladipoe Feat. Bnxn
\n\u201cTycoon\u201d \u2013 Show Dem Camp Feat. Reminisce & Mojo
\n\u201cLoading\u201d \u2013 Olamide Feat Bad Boy Timz<\/p>\n
Best \u2018Alternative\u2019 Song
\n\u201cDoings\u201d \u2013 Flavour
\n\u201cFree Your Mind\u201d \u2013 Made Kuti
\n\u201cGonto\u201d \u2013 Ibejii
\n\u201cHustle\u201d \u2013 Basketmouth, The Cavemen, Bez, Dice Ailes
\n\u201cMeji Meji\u201d \u2013 Brymo
\n\u201cSelense\u201d \u2013 The Cavemen<\/p>\n
Best Vocal Performance ( Female )
\nAyra Starr \u2013 \u201cToxic\u201d
\nLiya \u2013 \u201cAlari\u201d
\nNiniola \u2013 \u201c6th Heaven\u201d
\nSimi \u2013 \u201cRunning (To You)\u201d
\nTems \u2013 \u201cEssence\u201d
\nWaje \u2013 \u201cLast Time\u201d<\/p>\n
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
\nBrymo \u2013 \u201cMeji Meji\u201d
\nJohnny Drille \u2013 \u201cLoving Is Harder\u201d
\nOxlade \u2013 \u201cOjuju\u201d
\nRic Hassani \u2013 \u201cWhen I\u2019m Gone\u201d
\nTay Iwar \u2013 \u201cPeaking\u201d<\/p>\n
Lyricist on the Roll
\nA-Q \u2013 \u201cThe Last Cypher\u201d
\nBlaqbonez \u2013 \u201cThe Last Cypher\u201d
\nJesse Jagz \u2013 \u201cVipers\u201d
\nLadipoe \u2013 \u201cProvidence\u201d
\nPayper Corleone \u2013 \u201cIn Don We Trust\u201d
\nVector \u2013 \u201cCrown Of Clay\u201d<\/p>\n
Best Music Video
\n\u201cChampion\u201d \u2013 (Fireboy Dml Feat. D Smoke) Directed By Tg Omori
\n\u201cGinger\u201d \u2013 (Wizkid Feat. Burna Boy) Directed By Meji Alabi
\n\u201cRoju\u201d \u2013 (Chike) Directed By Pink
\n\u201cRain\u201d \u2013 (Yemi Alade Feat. Mzansi Youth Choir) Directed By Ovie Etseyatse
\n\u201cBling\u201d \u2013 (Blaqbonez Feat. Amaarae & Bnxn) Directed By Tg Omori
\n\u201cRunning\u201d \u2013 (Ladipoe Feat. Fireboy Dml) Directed By Director K<\/p>\n
Best Collaboration
\n\u201cBeggie Beggie\u201d \u2013 Ayra Starr Feat. Ckay
\n\u201cBling\u201d \u2013 Blaqbonez Feat. Amaarae & Bnxn
\n\u201cEarly Momo\u201d \u2013 Vector Feat. Goodgirl La
\n\u201cEssence\u201d \u2013 Wizkid Feat. Tems
\n\u201cFeeling\u201d \u2013 Ladipoe Feat. Bnxn
\n\u201cRunning (To You)\u201d \u2013 Chike Feat. Simi<\/p>\n
Best Street-Hop Artiste
\nBella Shmurda \u2013 \u201cCash App\u201d Feat. Zlatan & Lincoln
\nRexxie & Mohbad \u2013 \u201cKpk\u201d
\nMohbad \u2013 \u201cFeel Good\u201d
\nNaira Marley \u2013 \u201cKoleyewon\u201d
\nNektunez & Goya Menor \u2013 \u201cAmeno Amapiano (Remix)\u201d
\nPoco Lee, Portable & Olamide \u2013 \u201cZazoo Zehh\u201d<\/p>\n
Best Afrobeats Single of the Year
\n\u201cBloody Samaritan\u201d \u2013 Ayra Starr
\n\u201cBounce\u201d \u2013 Ruger
\n\u201cHigh\u201d \u2013 Adekunle Gold Feat. Davido
\n\u201cMonalisa\u201d \u2013 Lojay & Sarz
\n\u201cOzumba Mbadiwe\u201d \u2013 Reekado Banks
\n\u201cPeru\u201d \u2013 Fireboy Dml<\/p>\n
Headies\u2019 Viewer\u2019s Choice
\nAyra Starr \u2013 \u201cBloody Samaritan\u201d
\nFireboy \u2013 \u201cPeru\u201d
\nJoeboy \u2013 \u201cSip\u201d
\nLojay & Sarz \u2013 \u201cMonalisa\u201d
\nNektunez & Goya Menor \u2013 \u201cAmeno Amapiano (Remix)\u201d
\nOlamide Feat. Omah Lay \u2013 \u201cInfinity\u201d
\nRema \u2013 Soundgasm
\nWizkid Feat. Tems \u2013 \u201cEssence\u201d<\/p>\n
Best West African Artiste of the Year
\nAmaarae (Ghana)
\nAngelique Kidjo (Benin)
\nAya Nakamura (Mali)
\nGyakie (Ghana)
\nKidi (Ghana)
\nNelson Freitas (Cape Verde)<\/p>\n
Best East African Artiste of the Year
\nDiamond Platinumz (Tanzania)
\nEddy Kenzo (Uganda)
\nHarmonize (Tanzania)
\nMeddy (Rwanda)
\nNikita Kering (Kenya)
\nZuchu (Tanzania)<\/p>\n
Best North African Artiste of the Year
\nEmel Mathlouthi (Tunisia)
\nElgrandetoto (Morocco)
\nLatifa (Tunisia)
\nManal (Morocco)
\nMuhamad Ramadan (Egypt)
\nSoolking (Algeria)<\/p>\n
Best Southern African Artiste of the Year
\nBlack Coffee (South Africa)
\nDj Tarico (Mozambique)
\nElaine (South Africa)
\nFocalistic (South Africa)
\nJah Prayzah (Zimbabwe)
\nSha Sha (Zimbabwe)<\/p>\n
Best Central African Artiste of the Year
\nCalema (Sao Tome & Principe)
\nBlanche Bailly (Cameroon)
\nDadju (Dr Congo)
\nFally Ipupa (Dr Congo)
\nInnoss\u2019b (Dr Congo)
\nSoraia Ramos (Cape Verde)<\/p>\n
Best Afrobeats Album
\n19 And Dangerous \u2013 Ayra Starr
\nA Better Time \u2013 Davido
\nBarnabas \u2013 Kizz Daniel
\nMade In Lagos (Deluxe Edition) \u2013 Wizkid
\nKpos Lifestyle \u2013 Ajebo Hustlers
\nWondaland \u2013 Teni<\/p>\n
Best Reggae & Dancehall Album
\nGratitude \u2013 Timaya
\nLove Is War \u2013 Prettyboy D-O
\nRainbow Riddim \u2013 Shank
\nThree \u2013 Patoranking
\nYaadman Kingsize \u2013 Yung L<\/p>\n
Best R&B Album<\/p>\n
Before We Fall Asleep \u2013 Johnny Drille
\nIf Orange Was a Place \u2013 Tems
\nLove Deep High Life \u2013 Omawumi
\nRising \u2013 Falana
\nThe Prince I Became \u2013 Ric Hassani
\nWater And Garri \u2013 Tiwa Savage<\/p>\n
Best Alternative Album<\/p>\n
9: Esan \u2013 Brymo
\nIntermission \u2013 Ibejii
\nLegacy + \u2013 Femi Kuti & Made Kuti
\nLove and Highlife \u2013 The Cavemen
\nP.S. Thank You for Waiting \u2013 Wavy The Creator
\nYabasi \u2013 Basketmouth<\/p>\n
Best Rap Album<\/p>\n
Carpe Diem \u2013 Olamide
\nClone Wars Vol. 5 \u2013 The Algorhythm \u2013 Show Dem Camp
\nGolden \u2013 A-Q
\nMafia Culture, Vol. 2.0 \u2013 Idowest
\nProvidence \u2013 Ladipoe
\nSex Over Love \u2013 Blaqbonez<\/p>\n
Album of the Year<\/p>\n
9: Esan \u2013 Brymo
\n19 & Dangerous \u2013 Ayra Starr
\nCarpe Diem \u2013 Olamide
\nLegacy + \u2013 Femi Kuti & Made Kuti
\nMade In Lagos (Deluxe Edition) \u2013 Wizkid
\nYabasi \u2013 Basketmouth<\/p>\n
Song of the Year<\/p>\n
\u201cCelebrate Me\u201d \u2013 Patoranking
\n\u201cDoings\u201d \u2013 Flavour Feat. Phyno
\n\u201cEssence\u201d \u2013 Wizkid Feat. Tems
\n\u201cHigh\u201d \u2013 Adekunle Gold Feat. Davido
\n\u201cMonalisa\u201d \u2013 Lojay & Sarz
\n\u201cPeru\u201d \u2013 Fireboy Dml<\/p>\n
Best Female Artiste<\/p>\n
Simi
\nTems
\nTiwa Savage
\nTeni
\nNiniola<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tems, Ayra Starr, Davido and Adekunle Gold are this year’s other leading nominees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":13012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,31],"tags":[7,14,32],"class_list":{"0":"post-13015","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"category-music","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-music"},"yoast_head":"\n