Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ scooped five prizes at the 15th edition of the Headies Awards.
American actor Anthony Anderson and Nigerian actress Osas Ighodaro hosted the event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta.
Wizkid won in the best collaboration, best Afrobeats album, album of the year, song of the year and best RnB single of the year categories.
Patoranking went home with two awards on the night (best recording of the year and best reggae and dancehall album), tracks from his ‘Three’ album.
Nigerian singer KCee took home the Headies’ best inspirational song (Cultural Prais), beating Mercy Chinwo, Nathaniel Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Timi Dakolo and Chidinma.
Ayra Starr won the voters’ choice award, despite being nominated in eight categories.
Other winners included Fireboy, BNXN, Adekunle Gold, Flavour, Waje, Olamide, A-Q, Sarz, TG Omori, Goya Menor, and Ibejii.
Special recognition awards were given to Akon, Wyclef Jean, Sunday Are, Dbanj, Sunday Are, Bose Ogulu and Efe Omorogbe for their contributions to Afrobeats.
List of winners
Best Recording of the Year
“Celebrate Me” – Patoranking – WINNER
“Essence” – Wizkid ft. Tems and
“Joy” – Falana
“Loving Is Harder” – Johnny Drille
“Meji Meji” – Brymo
“Somebody’s Son’ – Tiwa Savage ft. Brandy
Producer of the Year
Beats By Jayy – “Golden” (A-Q)
Blaise Beatz – “Sinner” (Adekunle Gold Ft. Lucky Daye)
Niphkeys – “Feel Good” (Mohbad)
P Priime – “Ozumba Mbadiwe” (Reekado Banks)
Pheelz – “High” (Adekunle Gold ft. Davido)
Sarz – “Monalisa” (Lojay & Sarz) – WINNER
Songwriter of the Year
Adekunle Gold – “Sinner” – WINNER
Ajebo Hustlers – “Loyalty”
Brymo – “Meji Meji”
Falana – “Joy”
Fireboy DML – “Peru”
Omah Lay – “Understand”
Best R&B Single
“Baby Riddim” – Fave
“Beggie Beggie” – Ayra Starr ft. CKay
“Essence” – Wizkid ft. Tems – WINNER
“Running (To You)” – Chike ft. Simi
“Promise” – Niniola
“Sinner” – Adekunle Gold ft. Luck Daye
Best Rap Single
“Breathe” – A-Q ft Chike
“Crown of Clay” – Vector & MI Abaga ft. Pheelz
“Early Momo” – Vector ft. Goodgirl LA
“Feeling” – Ladipoe ft. Bnxn – WINNER
“Tycoon” – Show Dem Camp ft. Reminisce & Mojo
“Loading” – Olamide ft. Bad Boy Timz
Best Alternative Song
“Doings” – Flavour – WINNER
“Free Your Mind” – Made Kuti
girlfriend – ruger
“Hustle” – Basketmouth, The Cavemen, Bez, Dice Ailes
“Meji Meji’ – Brymo
“Selense” – The Cavemen
Nothing Sup’’ – Scato
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
Ayra Starr – “Toxic’
Liya – “Alari”
Niniola – “6th Heaven”
Simi – “Running (To You)”
Tems – “Essence”
Waje – “Last Time” – WINNER
Lyricist on the Roll
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
“Champion” – (Fireboy DML ft. D Smoke) – Directed by TG Omori – WINNER
“Ginger” – (Wizkid ft. Burna Boy) – Directed by Meji Alabi
“Roju” – (Chike) – Directed by Pink
“Rain” – (Yemi Alade ft. Mzansi Youth Choir) – Directed by Ovie Etseyatse
“Bling” – (Blaqbonez ft. Amaarae & Bnxn) – Directed by Tg Omori
“Running” – (Ladipoe ft. Fireboy DML) – Directed by Director K
Best Collaboration
“Beggie Beggie” – Ayra Starr ft. CKay
“Bling” – Blaqbonez ft. Amaarae & Bnxn
“Early Momo” – Vector ft. Goodgirl La
“Essence” – Wizkid ft. Tems – WINNER
“Feeling” – Ladipoe ft. Bnxn
“Running (To You)” – Chike ft. Simi
Best Street-Hop Artist
Bella Shmurda – “Cash App” ft. Zlatan & Lincoln
Rexxie & Mohbad – “KPK”
Mohbad – “Feel Good”
Naira Marley – “Koleyewon”
Nektunez & Goya Menor – “Ameno Amapiano” – WINNER
Best Afrobeats Single of the Year
“Bloody Samaritan” – Ayra Starr
“Bounce” – Ruger
“High” – Adekunle Gold ft. Davido
“Monalisa” – Lojay & Sarz
“Ozumba Mbadiwe” – Reekado Banks
“Peru” – Fireboy DML – WINNER
Headies’ Viewer’s Choice
Ayra Starr – “Bloody Samaritan”- WINNER
Fireboy DML – “Peru”
Joeboy – “Sip”
Lojay & & Sarz – “Monalisa”
Nektunez & Goya Menor – “Ameno Amapiano”
Olamide ft. Omah Lay – “Infinity”
Rema – “Soundgasm”
Wizkid ft. Tems – “Essence”
Best Reggae & Dancehall Album
Gratitude – Timaya
Love is War – Prettyboy D-O
Rainbow Riddim – Shank
Three – Patoranking – WINNER
Yaadman Kingsize – Yung L
Best Alternative Album
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
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
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
“Celebrate Me” – Patoranking
“Doings” – Flavour ft. Phyno
“Essence” – Wizkid ft. Tems – WINNER
“High” – Adekunle Gold ft. Davido
“Monalisa” – Lojay & Sarz
“Peru” – Fireboy DML
Next Rated
Ayra Starr
Bnxn – WINNER
Lojay
Ruger
Zinoleesky
Best Inspirational Single
Cultural Praise – KCee – WINNER
Everything Amen – Timi Dakolo
Jehova over do – Chidinma
Onyedikagi – Mercy Chinwo ft Glory
Yah – Dunsi Oyekan
Olorun Agbaye – Nathaniel Bassey ft Chandler Moore, Oba
