The highly anticipated 17th edition of The Headies took place last night at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos. As expected, it was an event full of chaos, confusion, and—above all—bewilderment. But despite the drama, the most memorable moments were undeniably the awards handed to our favorite artists.

Odumodublvck clinched the prestigious Next Rated award, edging out fierce competition from Shallipopi, Qing Mdi, Nasboi, and Ayo Maff. The award was presented by Davido, who also took home two trophies for Artiste of the Year and Digital Artiste of the Year. Rema, Chike, and the late Mohbad were the only other artists to walk away with multiple accolades on the night.

But who else bagged a Headies trophy, and who left empty-handed? Here’s a look at the biggest winners of the night (in bold):

Artiste of the year

• Davido
• Ayra Starr
• Asake
• Rema
• Tems
• Burna Boy

Song of the year

• “Lonely at the Top” – Asake
• “Showa” – Kizz Daniel
• “Commas” – Ayra Starr
• “Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
• “Ozeba” – Rema
• “Big Baller” – Flavour

Album of the year

• Heis – Rema
• Born in the Wild – Tems
• The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
• Stubborn – Victony
• Work of Art – Asake

Rookie of the year

• Zerry Dl
• Taves
• Kaestyle
• Llona

Best recording of the year

• Tems – “Burning”
• Seyi Vibez – “Different Pattern”
• Burna Boy – “Higher”
• Ayra Starr & Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”
• Sarz featuring Lojay – “Billions”

Best vocal performance (female)

• Liya – “I’m Done”
• Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song”
• Niniola – “Level”
• Simi – “Stranger”
• Tomorrow – “Yemi Alade”

Best vocal performance (male)

• Lojay – “Billions”
• Omah Lay – “Moving”
• Anendlessocean – “Gratitude”
• Johnny Drille – “For You”
• Timi Dakolo – “Ke Na Ke So”

Best collaboration

• “Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
• “Emotions” – Tiwa Savage Feat. Asa
• “Blood on the Dance Floor” Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian and Wale
• “Cast” – Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck
• “Ole” – Qing Madi and Bnxn
• “Twe Twe” Remix – Kizz Daniel and Davido
• “IDK” – Wizkid feat. Zlatan

International artiste of the year

• Travis Scott – “Active” (Asake)
• Wale – “Blood on the Dance Floor” (Odumodublvck)
• Skepta – “Tony Montana” (feat. Portable)
• Chris Brown – “Hmmm” (feat. Davido)
• Chloe Bailey – “Vision” remix (Qing Madi)

Music video of the year

• “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad (Director Pink)
• “Charm” – Rema (Rema X Perliks X Folarin Oludare)
• “Metaverse” – Olamide (Jyde Ajala)
• “Like Ice Spice” – Blaqbonez (Perliks & Emeka Shine Shine)
• “Ojapiano” – Kcee (Mattmax)
• “Showa” – Kizz Daniel (Tg Omori)
• “Na Money” – Davido feat. Cavemen, Angelique Kidjo (Dammy Twitch)

Songwriter of the year

• Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma – “Vision” (Qing Madi)
• Simisola Kosoko – “Stranger” (Simi)
• Michael Ajuma Attah – “Can’t Breathe” (Llona)
• Emoseh Khamofu – “Family Meeting (Bloody Civilian)
• Fuayefika Maxwell – Stages of Life” (Wizard Chan)

Producer of the year

• London – “Ozeba”
• Sarz – “Happiness”
• Magicstick – “Basquiat”
• Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Kilmberboy – “Hehehe”
• Dibs – “Different Pattern”

Best rap single

• “Cast” feat. Odumodublvck – Shallipoppi
• “Blood on the Dance Floor” feat. Bloody Civilian & Wale – Odumodublvck
• “Hallelujah” – Ladipoe, Rozzz & Morrelo
• “Canada” – Magnito
• “Ije Nwoke” – Jeriq

Best street-hop artiste

• Mohbad – “Ask About Me”
• Seyi Vibez – “Different Patterns”
• Ayo Maff – “Dealer” (feat. Fireboy Dl)
• Shallipopi – “Cast” (feat. Odumodublvck)
• Zhus Jdo – “Johnbull”

Afrobeats single of the year

• “Big Baller” – Flavor
• “Big Big Things” – Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez
• “Twe Twe Remix” – Kizz Daniel
• “Egwu” feat. Mohbad – Chike
• “Remember” – Asake
• “Ogechi” remix – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel feat. Davido

Best inspirational single

• “You Do This One” – Mercy Chinwo
• “Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
• “Worthy of My Praise” – Dunsin Oyekan feat. Lawrence Oyor
• “Good God 2” – Limoblaze feat. Naomi Raine
• “Particularly” – Gaise Baba feat. Tope Alabi

Headies’ viewers’ choice

• “Egwu” – Chike & Mohbad
• “Big Big Things” feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez – Young Jonn
• “Ogechi” remix feat. Davido – Hyce, Boypee, And Brown Joel
• “Showa” – Kizz Daniel
• “Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez
• “Ozeba” – Rema
• “Love Me Jeje” – Tems
• “Cast” feat. Odumodublvck – Shallipopi
• “Dealer” feat. Fireboy Dml – Ayo Maff
• “Big Baller” – Flavour

Best West African artiste of the year

• Himra (Ivory Coast) – “Coulibaly & Diabaté”
• Black Sherif (Ghana) – “January 9th”
• King Promise (Ghana) – “Terminator”
• Josey (Ivory Coast) – “Venez Bouger”
• Toofan (Togo) – “Tone”

Best East African artiste of the year

• Juma Jux (Tanzania) – “Enjoy”
• Bien (Kenya) – “Wahala”
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – “Mapoz”
• Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – “When She’s Around”
• Azawi (Uganda) – “Masavu”

Best North African artiste of the year

• Soolking (Algeria) – “Tiki Taka”
• Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt) – “Arabi”
• Elgrande Toto (Morocco) – “Maghribi”
• Balti (Tunisia) – “Dima Mechi”
• Abu (Eygpt) – “Hollela”

Best Southern African artiste of the year

• Titom (South Africa) –“Tshwala Bam”
• Yuppe (South Africa) – “Tshwala Bam”
• Tyla (South Africa) – “Water”
• Kelly Kay (Malawi) – “Bana Pwanya”
• Plutonio (Mozambique) – “Acordar”
• Zee Nxumalo (South Africa) – “Thula Mabota”

Best Central African artiste of the year

• Innoss’b (DRC) – “Sete”
• Gaz Mawete (DRC) – “Dendisa”
• Emma’a (Gabon) – “Biso Mibale”
• Eboloko (Gabon) – “Satanana”
• Singuila. (Central African Republic) – “Sin Saison”
• Kocee (Cameroun) – “Credit Alert”

Best rap album

• Family Time – Erigga
• Sideh Kai – Illbliss
• Eziokwu – Odumodublvck
• Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 – Reminisce
• Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine

Soundtrack of the year

• Tribe Called Judah soundtrack – TCJ & Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah)
• Eledumare – Teledalese (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
• Lose to Gain – Kaline (Breath of Life)
• Kill Boro – Native Filmworks & Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)
• Orisa – Beriola (Orisa)
• Emotions – Tiwa Savage & Asa (Water and Garri)

Next rated

• Odumodublvck
• Qing Madi
• Shallipopi
• Ayo Maff
• Nasboi

Afrobeats album of the year

• Heis – Rema
• Stubborn – Victony
• Work of Art – Asake
• The Year I Turn 21 – Ayra Starr
• Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn

Best performer (live)

• Burna Boy – African Giant Live From London
• Rema – Ravage Uprising: Rema Live From The O2, London
• Omah Lay – Live at L’olympia Paris
• Flavour – Celebrating You 2023
• Wizard Chan – Live in Concert Port Harcourt
• Femi Kuti & The Positive Force – Nuits De Fourvière (Arte Concert)

Digital artiste of the year

• Davido
• Ayra Starr
• Rema
• Shallipopi
• Tems
• Kizz Daniel
• Asake

Special recognition

Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo A.K.A Kcee