Entertainment
16th Edition: Headies Award Announces Nominees [See Full List]

The nominees for the voting and non-voting categories of the 16th edition of the Headies Awards have been released by the organizers.
Earlier this week, the nominees for the “Rookie of the Year” category were unveiled, and today, the organizers announced the nominees for the remaining categories.
Burna Boy has secured the highest number of nominations, with a total of ten nominations.
The nomineea are:
Best Recording of The Year
Burna Boy – Alone
Victony, Tempoe – Soweto
Omah Lay – I’m a mess
Oxlade – Ku Lo Sa
Davido, SSC – Stand Strong
Tems – No Woman, No Cry
Album Of The Year
Burna Boy – Love, Damini
Asake – Mr. Money With The Vibe
Rema – Rave & Roses
Omah Lay – Boy Alone
Victony – Outlaw
Davido – Timeless
Song of The Year
Rema – Calm Down
Burna Boy – Last Last
Oxlade – Ku Lo Sa
Kizz Daniel, Tekno – Buga
Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse
Asake, Burna Boy – Sungba Remix
Best Male Artiste
Asake
Rema
Burna Boy
Ruger
Kizz Daniel
Omah Lay
Best Female Artiste
Tems
Simi
Tiwa Savage
Ayra Starr
Next Rated
Spyro
Seyi Vibez
Young Jonn
Asake
Victony
Songwriter of The Year
Simi – Royal
Omah Lay – I’m a mess
Tems – Lift me Up
Burna Boy – Alone
BNXN – In my mind
Wizard Chan – Earth Song
Producer of The Year
Magicsticks – Sungba Remix
Pheelz – Electricity
Andre Vibez, London – Calm Down
Tempoe – Soweto
Kel P – Kpe Paso
Rexxie – Abracadabra Remix
Afrobeats Single of The Year
Burna Boy – Last Last
Ayra Starr – Rush
Kizz Daniel, Tekno – Buga
Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse
Spyro – Who’s Your Guy
Ruger – Asiwaju
Best RnB Single
Burna Boy, Ed Sheeran – For my mind
Ckay – Mmadu
Dami Oniru – Just 4 U
Preye – Red Wine
Chike, Flavour – Hard to find
Simi, Fave – Loyal
Best Rap Single
Reminisce – Hustle
Ladipoe – Big Energy
Blaqbonez – Back in Uni
Psycho YP – Bando Diaries
OdumoduBlvck – Declan Rice
Jeriq, Phyno – My Bro
Best Alternative Song
Wizard Chan – Earth song
Cruel Santino – Final champion
Basketmouth, The Cavemen – The Traveller
Boj, Moliy, Mellissa – In a loop
Flavour – Game Changer (Dike)
Obongjayar – Tinko Tinko
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
Wande Coal – Kpe Paso
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
Niniola – Memories
Simi – Loyal
Liya – Adua Remix
Waje – In Between
Preye – Red wine
Dami Oniru – Just 4 U
Best Music Video
Blaqbonez, Perliks – Back in Uni
TG Omori – PBUY
Director Pink – Spell Remix
Director K – Common Person
TG Omori – Bandana
Director K – Calm Down
Best Collaboration
Asake, Burna Boy – Sungba Remix
BNXN, Kizz Daniel, Seyi Vibez – Gwagwalada
Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse
Spyro, Tiwa Savage – Who’s Your Guy Remix
Pheelz, Davido – Electricity
Wande Coal, Olamide – Kpe Paso
Best Street-Hop Artiste
Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii – Abracadabra
Seyi Vibez – Chance (Na Ham)
Asake – Joha
Poco Lee, HotKid – Otilo
Zlatan, Young Jonn – Astalavista
Mohbad – Peace
Headies Viewers’ Choice
Ruger – Asiwaju
Victony, Tempoe – Soweto
Fireboy DML, Asake – Bandana
Ayra Starr – Rush
Asake – Terminator
Mavins – Overloading (Overdose)
Crayon – Ijo (Laba Laba)
Oxlade – Ku Lo Sa
Kizz Daniel, Tekno – Buga
Pheelz, Davido – Electricity
Best West African Artiste of The Year
Gyakie (Ghana)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
The Therapist (Liberia)
Camidoh (Ghana)
Best East African artiste of the year
Zuchu (Tanzania)
Hewan Gebreworld (Ethiopia)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
Rayvanny (Tanzania)
Best North African Artiste of The Year
Marwa Loud (Morocco)
Wegz (Egypt)
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 (Eswatini)
Focalistic (South Africa)
DJ Tarico (Mozambique)
Best Central African Artiste of The Year
Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
Gaz Mawete (DR Congo)
Matias Damiaso (Angola)
Emma’A (Gabon)
Libianca (Cameroon)
African Artiste Of The Year
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Marwa Loud (Morocco)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Rema (Nigeria)
Digital Artiste Of The Year
Burna Boy
Ayra Starr
Rema
Omah Lay
Kizz Daniel
Asake
International Artiste Of The Year
Drake
Future
Selena Gomez
Don Toliver
Ed Sheeran
Lyricist On The Roll
Ladipoe – Clowns
Vector – Clowns
Payper Corleone – Fly Talk Only
Alpha Ojini – Vigilante Bop
A-Q – Family First
Tec (SDC) – Live Life
Best Rap Album
Payper Corleone – Fly Talk Only
Show Dem Camp – Palmwine Music Vol. 3
Blaqbonez – Young Preacher
Psycho YP – YPSZN3
Vector – TESLIM
Jeriq – Billion Dollar Dream
Best Alternative Album
Basketmouth – Horoscopes
BOJ – Gbagada Express
Obongjayar – Some Nights I Dream of Doors
Cruel Santino – Subaru Boys: Final Heaven
Somadina – Heart of The Heavenly Undeniable
Native Sound System – Native World
Best RnB Album
Johnny Drille – Home
Chike – The Brother’s Keeper
Praiz – Reckless
Waje – Waje 2.0
Dami Oniru – Matter of Time
Simi – To Be Honest
Special Recognition Award
Sound Sultan
Entertainment
I Want To Fight Anthony Joshua – Portable

Nigerian street-hop sensation Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has withdrawn from his planned celebrity boxing match with fellow artist Darlington Achakpo Okoye, aka Speed Darlington.
The controversial singer made the announcement in a video shared on his Instagram, where he declared that he no longer wished to face Speed Darlington, calling the rapper an unworthy opponent.
Portable took it a step further by challenging former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, to a match, demanding a prize purse of 100 million naira.
READ ALSO: Singer Portable Arraigned In Ogun Court Over Alleged Assault On Officials
“I’m not fighting Speed Darlington again; I want Anthony Joshua with 100m,” Portable boldly declared in the viral clip, which quickly gained traction online.
In the video, Portable also accused Speed Darlington of using the planned boxing match as a publicity stunt to promote his upcoming show set for April.
He further asserted that his standing in the Nigerian music scene is far superior to that of Speed Darlington, who had recently made headlines after his release from Kuje Prison in January, where he was detained for allegedly defaming Afrobeat star Burna Boy.
The announcement comes just days after Speed Darlington began training for the match.
In a mocking video, the rapper was seen buying a coffin, which many interpreted as a taunt toward Portable, before heading to the gym with his trainer to work on his fitness for the planned showdown.
The boxing event was originally scheduled to take place on April 18, 2025, at the Balmoral Convention Center in Lagos State.
However, Portable’s sudden withdrawal has cast doubt on the future of the fight, leaving fans uncertain about the prospect of seeing the two entertainers in the ring.
For now, the anticipated celebrity clash seems to be off the table — at least until another twist in this ongoing drama emerges.
Entertainment
‘God Instructed Me Not To Cut My Dreadlocks’ — Jimmy Odukoya Reveals Spiritual Reason Behind His Hair

Controversial cleric Jimmy Odukoya has revealed that his decision to keep dreadlocks was based on a direct instruction from God — a move that, according to him, ultimately saved a life.
In a sermon shared on Facebook Wednesday, the lead pastor of The Fountain of Life Church explained that the hairstyle, which has drawn both criticism and support, is not a fashion statement but a spiritual mandate.
“Before I came back, one of the things I asked the Lord was whether or not I should cut my hair. And the Lord told me not to cut my hair,” Odukoya said. “I said, ‘Lord, you sure?’ He said, ‘Don’t cut it.’ I said, ‘Alright. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I’m crazy enough to follow you, let’s do it together.’”
READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu Expresses Sympathy To Pastor Odukoya’s Family
He recounted how his sister and fellow pastor, Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun, initially questioned his appearance, urging him to consider how it might affect his outreach.
“She said, ‘This your hair… To clean a fish, you must first catch it,’” he recalled. “In other words, if you’re going to reach people and bring about change, you must first be relatable and accepted.”
Odukoya, however, insisted on following divine instruction. “Sis, I hear you, but go and pray. God will speak to you,” he told her.
According to him, she later returned with a revelation of her own. “She saw me preaching with my hair and came back to say, ‘You’re not supposed to cut it.’ And I said, ‘I know. He already told me.’”
The most striking part of his testimony came as he described a woman from Zimbabwe who traveled to Nigeria just to attend his service after recognizing him from a vision she had nine years ago.
“She said, ‘People think I’m crazy. I told everybody I am coming to Nigeria for the next three to four weeks. I’m just coming to church,’” Odukoya shared.
He explained that the woman had seen him in a 2016 vision while in New York during Thanksgiving. At the time, she said she was burdened by personal struggles and saw a man with long hair and a sword speaking words that released her from her pain.
“There was this dog on my shoulder. I knew the dog represented the weight I was carrying and you had this long sword. You began speaking to me and it looked like thunder and lightning was coming out of the sword and it burnt the dog into ashes,” she told him.
The woman said she had no knowledge of Odukoya at the time and assumed the man in the vision wasn’t real. Years later, in 2025, while battling depression after a divorce and the loss of her mother, she stumbled upon a sermon on YouTube — and recognized him instantly.
“She said, ‘I screamed. This is the man I saw. I didn’t know any pastor would have long hair. It’s him!’”
Odukoya noted that the timing of her vision in 2016 was particularly significant because he did not have dreadlocks then, highlighting how obeying God’s instruction played a role in what he believes was a divinely orchestrated moment.
“In 2016, I didn’t even have dreads. But the God who sees, hears, and knows, knew that in February 2025, one of His children would have to see a man preaching,” he said. “If He did not ask me to keep my hair, I would have cut it. And when I popped up on the screen, she would have seen me with no hair and it would have meant nothing.”
Odukoya, who succeeded his late father Pastor Taiwo Odukoya in 2023, has previously defended his appearance, stating that his mode of dressing is spiritually guided.
Entertainment
I’m Done Cheating, I Have Five Kids With Four Women – Davido Declares

Nigerian music icon, David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, has made a public declaration about his personal growth and commitment to fidelity, stating that he’s done with cheating.
In a recent interview on the Breakfast Club podcast, the Afrobeats star spoke candidly about his past and how personal experiences have reshaped his outlook on relationships.
“I’m not cheating again. I don’t want wahala. I don’t want any wahala. I have five kids with four women,” Davido admitted, shedding light on his journey toward a more disciplined and peaceful lifestyle.
READ MORE: ‘If Anything Happens To Me, Hold Davido Responsible – Radiogad
He reflected on the influence of family, particularly the polygamous experiences of two of his uncles. “My uncle that’s a governor has two wives. Another of my uncles: all his wives lived with him, and they played with each other. But upon all the money, there’s still wahala,” he explained.
Davido suggested that witnessing the emotional and logistical complications in those homes helped him make up his mind.
“Maybe because I’ve had bad experiences. Sometimes experience is the best teacher,” he added.