Like every major award ceremony, the unveiling of the 17th Headies nominations came with its share of surprises and debates, especially concerning artists and records that many expected to be cut.
The eligibility period for this year’s awards spanned from April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, during which numerous Nigerian artists released remarkable projects—some of which were recognized, while others were surprisingly overlooked.
However, the Headies faces unique challenges, notably its recurring scheduling delays and execution issues. In this article, we examine some of the most striking omissions from the 17th Headies nomination list.
(Note: This analysis assumes that all omitted works were submitted for consideration.)
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Best Recording of the Year
Nominated:
– TEMS—“Burning”
– SEYI VIBEZ—’Different Pattern’
– BURNA BOY—’Higher‘
– AYRA STARR & GIVEON—’Last Heartbreak Song’
– SARZ feat. LOJAY – ‘Billions‘
Notable Snubs:
– Asake—“Lonely At The Top”
– OdumoduBlvck—”Blood On The Dance Floor”
Asake’s ‘Lonely At The Top‘ was arguably the defining track from his sophomore album ‘Work of Art,’ boasting a refined composition that stood out during the review period. OdumoduBlvck’s ‘Blood On The Dance Floor’ was another masterfully crafted record, making its omission surprising.
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Producer of the Year
Nominated:
– SARZ—’ Happiness‘
– LONDON—’Ozeba’
– MAGICSTICKS—’Basquiat‘
– REMA/PRODUCER X/CUBEATZ/DEATZ/KLIMPERBOY—’Hehehe‘
– DIBS—’Different Pattern‘
Notable Snubs:
– P.Priime
– Jay Synths
– Blaise Beatz
– KZITO
P.Priime had an exceptional year, contributing significantly to Rema’s ‘HEIS‘ album. Jay Synths, who crafted Flavour’s ‘Big Baller‘ (nominated for Song of the Year), and Kizz Daniel’s ‘Ojapiano,’ also deserved consideration. Blaise Beatz’s work on ‘Twe Twe‘ and KZITO’s contributions to Victony’s ‘Pier 46′ further highlight the gap in the nominations.
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Best Collaboration
Nominated:
– Tiwa Savage feat. Asa—’Emotions‘
– OdumoduBlvck, Bloody Civilian & Wale—’Blood On The Dance Floor’
– Shallipopi feat. OdumoduBlvck—’Cast‘
– Chike & Mohbad—’Egwu‘
– Qing Madi & BNXN—’Ole‘
– Kizz Daniel & Davido – ‘Twe Twe Remix‘
– Wizkid feat. Zlatan—’IDK‘
Notable Snubs:
– BNXN & Ruger – “Poe”
The collaborative track ‘Poe‘ by BNXN and Ruger was a standout hit, making its absence from this category quite unexpected.
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Afrobeats Single of the Year
Nominated:
– Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez—’Big Big Things‘
– Kizz Daniel—’Twe Twe Remix’
– Chike feat. Mohbad—’Egwu‘
– Asake—’Remember‘
– Hyce, Boypee & Brown Joel feat. Davido—’Ogechi Remix‘
– Flavour—’Big Baller’
Notable Snub:
– Kcee—”Ojapiano”
As one of the biggest Afrobeats hits of the eligibility period, Kcee’s ‘Ojapiano‘ had a significant cultural and commercial impact. Its omission is arguably one of the most glaring oversights.
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Lyricist on the Roll
Nominated:
– A-Q—’Mogadishu”
– M.I Abaga—’Chocolate City Cypher‘
– Blaqbonez—’Chocolate City Cypher’
– Ladipoe—’Hallelujah‘
– Alpha Ojini—’Efeleme‘
Notable Snub:
– OdumoduBlvck
With tracks like ‘MC Oluomo’ and ‘Saint Obi,’ OdumoduBlvck demonstrated superior lyricism, making his exclusion from this category quite puzzling.
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Rookie of the Year
Nominated:
– Llona
– Kaestyle
– Taves
– ZerryDL
Notable Snubs:
– TML Vibez
– Muyeez
Both artists made an impact in the Nigerian mainstream with their breakout projects, and many expected at least one to secure a nomination.
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Best Street-Hop Artist
Nominated:
– Seyi Vibez—’Different Patterns’
– Ayo Maff feat. Fireboy DML – ‘Dealer’
– Shallipopi feat. OdumoduBlvck—’Cast‘
– Zhus Jdo—’Johnbull‘
– Mohbad—’Ask About Me’
Notable Snub:
– Kashcoming
With ‘How Low’ and his DJ YK-assisted ‘Oblee,’ Kashcoming left a mark on the street-hop scene, making his exclusion surprising.
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Song of the Year
Nominated:
– Kizz Daniel—’Showa‘
– Ayra Starr—’Commas‘
– Chike & Mohbad—’Egwu‘
– Asake—’Lonely At The Top’
– Rema—’Ozeba‘
– Flavour—’Big Baller’
Notable Snub:
– Kcee—”Ojapiano”
Given its immense popularity, ‘Ojapiano’s‘ absence is particularly notable. The track revitalized Kcee’s career and introduced the Igbo flute (Oja) into the Amapiano wave.
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Artiste of the Year
Nominated:
– Davido
– Ayra Starr
– Asake
– Rema
– Tems
– Burna Boy
Notable Snubs:
– Seyi Vibez
– Kizz Daniel
Seyi Vibez and Kizz Daniel had stellar years, with their projects delivering some of the biggest Nigerian hits. Their exclusion raises questions about the selection criteria.
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Final Thoughts
The Headies, while an essential platform for recognizing musical excellence, continues to grapple with issues of execution and timing. The lack of a fixed calendar year creates eligibility confusion, resulting in inconsistencies.
For instance, Omah Lay’s ‘Moving‘ was nominated despite falling outside the window, and Phyno’s ‘Full Time Job’ was initially listed, then removed after backlash.
Additionally, while new categories were introduced, others—such as Alternative/Traditional Song & Album—were axed without explanation, sidelining a significant portion of Nigerian talent.
For the Headies to maintain credibility and grow in prestige, the organizers must refine their processes, adhere to a structured timeline, and ensure transparency in their selections.
Only then can it truly serve as a definitive reflection of Nigeria’s evolving music landscape.