Rema and Burna Boy ascended the pinnacle of recognition, securing three coveted accolades each, at the illustrious 2023 Headies Awards.
This exultant celebration of Pan-African and Afrobeats virtuosity unfolded its grandeur on a Sunday evening, precisely September 3rd, 2023 within the resplendent confines of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, ensconced in Atlanta.
Rema, with his artistry that resonates profoundly, clinched the titles of Best Male Artiste, Digital Artiste of the Year, and the crowning jewel, African Artiste of the Year.
Noteworthy to mention, the collaborative masterpiece “Calm Down,” with the internationally acclaimed Selena Gomez, garnered the International Artiste of the Year honor. The maestro behind the visual symphony of the “Calm Down” remix, Director K, seized the laurels for Best Music Video.
Burna Boy’s sonic prowess and lyrical finesse were celebrated with fervor as he emerged triumphant in the categories of Afrobeats Single of the Year, Song of the Year, both for the enchanting “Last Last,” and the resonant Best R&B Single for his harmonious opus “For My Hand,” featuring the illustrious Ed Sheeran.
Other 2023 Headies Awards winners also included Odumodublvck, Asake, Victony & Tempoe, who secured a pair of coveted awards each, reflecting their exemplary contributions to the musical tapestry during the eligibility span from January 2022 to March 2023.
Guiding the audience through this euphonic soiree were the charismatic Terrence J, a luminary in the world of entertainment, and the beguiling Nigerian actress, Osas Ighodaro.
The 2023 Headies Awards was made accessible to music enthusiasts worldwide through live streams on YouTube (U.S.) and the HipTV (Africa) Network.
A fierce competition for the Rookie of the Year title ensued, featuring Bayanni, Khaid, Guchi, Bloody Civilian, Odumodublvck, and Eltee Skhillz. The ultimate winner, Odumodublvck, reaps not only the glory but also an enviable prize—a solar-powered, two-bedroom, fully furnished apartment.
The international luminary, Sean “Love” Combs, had been previously announced as the recipient of the International Artiste Recognition Award. Although absent from the proceedings, the organizers pledge the delivery of his well-deserved plaque.
The Headies Awards, originally named the Hip Hop World Awards, was inaugurated in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria, with the noble mission of commending exceptional accomplishments within the Nigerian music realm.
This 2023 Headies Awards marked the second consecutive year hosted at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Prior to this, it was an annual pilgrimage to Lagos or Nigeria, a tradition adhered to religiously from 2006 to 2021, with only two exceptions in 2017 and 2020, when the festival remained dormant.
Over the past year, three prestigious all-genre music awards ceremonies made significant strides by introducing Afrobeats or African music categories.
The American Music Awards led this evolution by including the category of Favorite Afrobeats Artist in their November 20, 2022 gala.
Wizkid, an artist of prodigious talent, was the inaugural laureate, prevailing over formidable contenders like Burna Boy, CKay, Fireboy DML, and Tems.
The MTV Video Music Awards, an indomitable titan in the music awards panorama, adapted to the times by introducing a fresh category—Best Afrobeats.
The formidable contender in this category is none other than Rema & Gomez’s “Calm Down,” a composition that has also found its place in the Best Song and Best Collaboration categories.
The illustrious Grammy Awards, known for their discerning recognition of musical excellence, introduced a parallel category—Best African Music Performance.
This category will assume its rightful place at the awards ceremony slated for February 4, 2024, with the nominees set to be unveiled on November 10. Let’s look at the full winners of the 2023 Headies Awards.
2023 Headies Awards Winners
In the annals of the 2023 Headies Awards, history was etched, and the luminaries who graced the occasion were duly celebrated. Below is the exhaustive list of laureates in various categories:
Hall of Fame: (WINNER: Youssou N’dour)
Special Recognition: (WINNER: Sound Sultan)
International Artist of the Year: Drake Future (WINNER: Selena Gomez) Don Toliver Ed Sheeran
Album of the Year Love: Damini – Burna Boy (WINNER: Mr Money With the Vibe – Asake) Rave And Roses – Rema Boy Alone – Omah Lay Outlaw – Victony Timeless – Davido
Best Female Artiste: Tems Simi (WINNER: Ayra Starr) Tiwa Savage
Song of the Year: (WINNER: “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 Male Artiste: Asake (WINNER: Rema) Kizz Daniel Ruger Omah Lay Burna Boy
Best Recording of the Year: “Alone” – Burna Boy (WINNER: “Soweto” – Victony & Tempoe) “I’m A Mess” – Omah Lay “Ku Lo Sa” – Oxlade “Stand Strong” – Davido Ft. Sunday Service Choir “No Woman, No Cry” – Tems
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Producer of the Year: Magicsticks – “Sungba Remix” (Asake) P.Prime, Tmxo & Pheelz – “Electricity” (Pheelz Ft. Davido) Andre Vibez & London – “Calm Down” (Rema) Tempoe – “Soweto” (Victony & Tempoe) Kel-P – “Kpe Paso” (Wande Coal & Olamide) (WINNER: Rexxie – “Abracadabra” Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii & Wizkid)
Best R&B Single (WINNER: “For My Hand” – Burna Boy Ft. Ed Sheeran) “Mmadu” – Ckay “Just 4 U” – Dami Oniru “Red Wine” – Preye “Hard To Find” – Chike – Ft. Flavour “Loyal” – Simi Ft. Fave
Best Rap Single: “Hustle” – Reminisce “Big Energy” – Ladipoe “Back In Uni” – Blaqbonez “Bando Diaries” – Psychoyp (WINNER: “Declan Rice” – Odumodublvck) “My Bro” – Jeriq Ft. Phyno
Best Alternative Song: (WINNER: “Earth Song” – Wizard Chan) “Final Champion” – Cruel Santino “The Traveller” – Basketmouth Ft The Cavemen “In A Loop” – Boj Ft Moliy & Mellissa “Game Changer” (Dike) – Flavour “Tinko Tinko” – Obongjayar
Best Vocal Performance: (Female) Niniola – “Memories” Simi – “Loyal” (WINNER: Waje – “In Between”) Liya – “Adua Remix” Preye – “Red Wine” Dami Oniru – “Just 4 U”
Best Vocal Performance: (Male) Oxlade – “Ku Lo Sa” Ric Hassani – “My Only Baby” Magixx – “Love Don’t Cost A Dime” Chike – “Spell Remix” Praiz – “Reckless” (WINNER: Wande Coal – “Kpe Paso”)
Rookie of the Year: Bayanni Khaid Guchi Bloody Civilian (WINNER: Odumodublvck) Eltee Skhillz
Best Music Video: Blaqbonez & Perliks – “Back In Uni” (Blaqbonez) Tg Omori – “Pbuy” (Asake) Director Pink– “Spell Remix” (Chike & Oxlade) Tg Omori – “Bandana” (Fireboy & Asake) Director K – “Common Person” (Burna Boy) (WINNER: Director K – “Calm Down”-Rema)
Best Collaboration: Asake Ft. Burna Boy – “Sungba Remix” Bnxn Ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – “Gwagwalada” Pheelz Ft. Bnxn – “Finesse” (WINNER: Spyro Ft. Tiwa Savage – “Who’s Your Guy Remix”) Pheelz Ft. Davido – “Electricity” Wande Coal Ft. Olamide – “Kpe Paso”
Best Street-Hop Artiste: Rexxie Ft. Naira Marley & Skiibii – “Abracadabra” (WINNER: Seyi Vibez – “Chance (Na Ham)” Asake – “Joha” Zlatan Ft. Young Jonn – “Astalavista” Poco Lee & Hotkid – “Otilo” Mohbad – “Peace”
Afrobeats Single of the Year: (WINNER: “Last Last” – Burna Boy) “Rush” – Ayra Starr “Buga” – Kizz Daniel & Tekno “Finesse” – Pheelz Ft Bnxn “Who’s Your Guy?” – Spyro “Asiwaju” – Ruger
Best West African Artiste of the Year: Gyakie (Ghana) (WINNER: Black Sherif-Ghana) The Therapist (Liberia) Camidoh (Ghana)
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice: Ruger – “Asiwaju” (WINNER: Victony & Tempoe – “Soweto”) Fireboy Dml & Asake – “Bandana” Ayra Star – “Rush” Asake – “Terminator” Mavins – “Overloading (Overdose)” Crayon – “Ijo (Laba Laba)” Oxlade – “Ku Lo Sa” Kizz Daniel & Tekno – “Buga” Pheelz & Davido – “Electricity”
Best East African Artiste of the Year: Zuchu (WINNER: Diamond Platinumz) Rayvanny Eddy Kenzo Hewan Gebreworld
Songwriter of the Year (WINNER: Simi Kosoko) Godsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata – “Loyal” (Simi) Stanley Didia, Adebajo Adebanjo – “I’m A Mess” (Omah Lay) Tems, Ludwig Goransson, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Ryan Coogler – “Lift Me Up” (Rihanna) Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Austin Jnr Iornongu Iwar, Peace Oredope, Ludwig Goransson – “Alone” (Burna Boy) Daniel Benson “In My Mind” (Bnxn) Fuayefika Maxwell – Earth Song (Wizard Chan)
Best North African Artiste of the Year: Marwa Loud – Morocco Wegz – Egypt (WINNER: El Grande Toto – Morocco) Soolking – Algeria
Best Southern African Artiste of the Year: Aka (South Africa) Nasty C – South Africa Costa Titch – South Africa Uncle Waffles – South Africa (WINNER: Focalistic – South Africa) Dj Tarico – Mozambique
Lyricist on the Roll: Ladipoe – “Clowns” Vector – “Clowns” (WINNER: Payper Corleone – “Fly Talk Only”) Alpha Ojini – “Vigilante Bop” A-Q – “Family First” Tec (Sdc) – “Live Life”
Best Central African Artiste of the Year: Fally Ipupa – Democratic Republic of Congo Gaz Mawete – Democratic Republic of Congo Matias Damasio – Angola Emma’a – Gabon (WINNER: Libianca – Cameroon)
International Artiste Recognition Award: (WINNER: Sean “Love” Combs)
Best R&B Album: Home: Johnny Drille (WINNER: The Brother’s Keeper – Chike) Reckless – Praiz Waje 2.0 – Waje Matter of Time – Dami Oniru To Be Honest (Tbh) – Simi
Best Alternative Album: Horoscopes – Basketmouth (WINNER: Gbagada Express – BOJ) Some Nights I Dream of Doors – Obongjayar Subaru Boys: Final Heaven – Cruel Santino Heart of the Heavenly Undeniable – Somadina Native World – Native Sound System
Next Rated: Young Jonn, Seyi Vibez (WINNER: Asake) Victony, Spyro
Best Rap Album: Fly Talk Only – Payper Corleone Palmwine Music Vol 3 – Show Dem Camp (WINNER: Young Preacher – Blaqbonez) Ypszn3 – Psychoyp Teslim: The Energy Still Lives in Me – Vector Billion Dollar Dream – Jeriq
African Artiste of the Year: (WINNER: Rema-Nigeria) Burna Boy (Nigeria) Marwa Loud (Morocco) Black Sherif (Ghana) Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Best Inspirational Single: “Stand Strong” – Davido Ft Sunday Service Choir “Jireh (My Provider)” – Limoblaze, Lecrae & Happi Music “This Year” – Victor Thompson & Ehis ‘D’ Greatest (WINNER: “Eze Ebube” – Neon Adejo) “Tobechukwu” – Nathaniel Bassey And Mercy Chinwo “I Get Backing” – Victoria Orenze
Digital Artiste of the Year: Burna Boy Ayra Starr (WINNER: Rema) Omah Lay Kizz Daniel Asake
In this jubilant crescendo of artistic brilliance, the 2023 Headies Awards forged an indelible legacy, honoring the luminaries who have illuminated the tapestry of music with their unique talents and unwavering dedication.