Sarkodie earns nomination for African Artiste of the year at HEADIES Awards

The highly anticipated list of nominees for Nigeria’s biggest and most prestigious music award show, The Headies is finally out and Ghana's very own talented rapper, Micheal Owusu-Addo best known by his stage name, Sarkodie has been nominated.

The 'Adonai' crooner who is the only Ghanaian artiste on the list has been given the nod to compete for the African Artiste of the year with some of the continents finest music talents.

The 2012 BET award winner will be competing with South Africa's rap heavyweights, Cassper Nyovest and Nasty C, Kenyan super group, Sauti Sol and Tanzania's Vanessa Mdee.

The awards academy released the list after shortlisting thousands of entries submitted in the year under review (from July 2016 – December 2017). In this 12th edition of the award show, we have various acts compete for the ultimate prize with over 25 categories and 77 nominees.

This edition has, Davido leading with the highest number of nomination, having been nominated in  6 different categories while Wizkid, Simi, and Olamide, followed in this win as they all have 5 nominations each.  To further celebrate and reward excellence, the Headies is introducing new categories to this year’s edition of the award show.

See full list below;

AFRICAN ARTISTE

A NON-NIGERIAN AWARD CATEGORY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OR GROUP WITH THE MOST OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT, IMPACT AND INFILTRATION INTO THE NIGERIAN MUSIC SCENE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

1. SARKODIE


2. CASPER NYOVEST


3. NASTY C


4. SAUTI SOL


5. VANESSA MDEE

(JULY 2016 – DECEMBER 2017)

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST RECORDING (THAT MEETS THE JUDGES REQUIREMENTS OF EXCELLENCE; SONGWRITING, PRODUCTION, RENDITION) BY AN ARTISTE OR GROUP IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

1. BUTTERFLIES – OMAWUMI


2. HALLELUYAH – FUNBI


3. PONMILE – REMINISCE


4. HEAVEN – BANKY W


5. JOROMI – SIMI

A CATEGORY FOR THE BEST POP SINGLE IN YEAR UNDER REVIEW (BY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP).

1. MAD OVER YOU – RUNTOWN


2. ALL OVER – TIWA SAVAGE


3. YEBA – KISS DANIEL


4. ISKABA – WANDE COAL AND DJ TUNEZ


5. IF– DAVIDO


6. FIA – DAVIDO

AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING THE MOST ACCLAIMED SONG OR ALBUM IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

1. (FALL, MAMA) KIDOMINANT


2. (ISKABA, MALO) SPELLZ


3. (IF, RARA) TEKNO


4. (MARADONA, COME CLOSER) SARZ


5. YAWA, VIRTUOUS WOMAN- MASTERKRAFT

A CATEGORY FOR THE BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW (BY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP).

1. LOVE YOU DIE – PATORANKING FT. DIAMOND PLATNUMZ


2. DANCE – TIMAYA FT. RUDEBOY


3. HOLY HOLY – 2BABA


4. ROCK YOUR BODY – BURNA BOY


5. COME CLOSER – WIZKID


6. SOFA – KISS DANIEL

A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST ALBUM BY A RAP ARTISTE OR GROUP IN YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

1. 27 – FALZ


2. TRIP TO THE SOUTH – ERIGGA


3. EL HADJ – REMINISCE


4. THE PLAYMAKER – PHYNO


5. THE GLORY – OLAMIDE


6. ROSE – AQ

A CATEGORY FOR THE BEST R&B/POP ALBUM IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW (BY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP).

1. SOUNDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE – WIZKID


2. TIMELESS – OMAWUMI


3. SIMISOLA – SIMI


4. GOLD – ADEKUNLE GOLD


5. IJELE THE TRAVELLER – FLAVOR


6. THIS IS ME – NINIOLA

A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST CONCEPTUALIST, BEST DIRECTED AND MOST EXCITING VIDEO IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW. THIS AWARD GOES TO THE VIDEO DIRECTOR.

1. MA LO – TIWA SAVAGE FT WIZKID (MEJI ALABI)


2. FOCUS- HUMBLE SMITH (CLARENCE PETERS)


3. COME CLOSER – WIZKID (DAPS)


4. BEEN CALLING – MALEEK BERRY (MEJI ALABI)


5. YOLO – SEYI SHAY (MEJI ALABI)


6. LIKE DAT – DAVIDO (DAPS)

A CATEGORY FOR THE BEST R&B SINGLE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW (BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP).

1. TONIGHT – NONSO AMADI


2. FOLASHADE – PRAIZ


3. LET ME KNOW – MALEEK BERRY


4. ROMEO & JULIET – JOHHNY DRILLE


5. LOVE YOU BABY – BANKY W


6. SMILE FOR ME – SIMI

A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST R&B, POP OR HIP-HOP COLLABORATIVE TRACK (INCLUDING CAMEOS).

1. MA LO – TIWA SAVAGE FT WIZKID


2. TEMPER REMIX – SKALES FT BURNA BOY


3. JUICE – YCEE FT MALEEKBERRY


4. NO FORGET – ADEKUNLE GOLD FT. SIMI


5. COME CLOSER – WIZKID FT. DRAKE

A VOTING CATEGORY FOR A SINGLE (RELEASED ON-AIR) RECORDING OF A RAP SONG.

1. YOU RAPPERS SHOULD FIX UP YOUR LIVES – MI


2. SOMETHING LITE – FALZ FT YCEE


3. LINK UP – PHYNO FT. BURNA BOY, M.I.


4. UP TO YOU – SHOW DEM CAMP FT FUNBI


5. ME VERSUS ME – ICE PRINCE

A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE SINGLE MALE ARTISTE WITH THE MOST OUTSTANDING VOCAL PERFORMANCE ON A SINGLE SONG OR ALBUM.

1. PERFECT WOMAN – FAZE


2. FOLASHADE – PRAIZ


3. ROMEO & JULIET – JOHNNY DRILLE


4. TONIGHT – NONSO AMADI


5. LOVE YOU BABY – BANKY W

A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE SINGLE FEMALE ARTISTE WITH MOST OUTSTANDING VOCAL PERFORMANCES ON A SINGLE SONG OR ALBUM.

1. IN THE AIR – WAJE


2. GONE FOR GOOD – SIMI


3. JOWO – ARAMIDE


4. SARO – NINIOLA


5. WHERE’S THE LOVE – NIYOLA FT. ADEKUNLE GOLD


6. BUTTERFLIES – OMAWUMI

THIS CATEGORY IS A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE MOST PROMISING ACT IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

1. MALEEK BERRY


2. MAYORKUN


3. DICE AILES


4. JOHNNY DRILLE


5. ZORO 

A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST NEW ARTISTE WITH A DEBUT ALBUM ADJUDGED TO BE OUTSTANDING IN TERMS OF ARTISTIC QUALITY AND IMPACT WITHIN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

1. NINIOLA


2. ADEKUNLE GOLD


3. MR. EAZI


4. REEKADO BANKS

A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE RAP ARTISTE WITH THE BEST LYRICAL DEPTH AND PERFORMANCE ON A SINGLE SONG OR ALBUM.

1. YOU RAPPERS SHOULD FIX UP YOUR LIVES – MI


2. POLITICAL SCIENCE – AQ


3. LIQUOR NIGHT – BOOGEY


4. INDUSTRY NITE – ERIGGA

A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE ARTISTE WHOSE SONGS ARE INSPIRED BY THE STREETS. SUCH SONG SHOULD CAPTAIN LINGUA, WHICH MAY ALSO BE ORIGINATED BY THE ARTISTE AND POPULAR ON THE STREET.

1. PENALTY – SMALL DOCTOR


2. WO – OLAMIDE


3. SAI BABA – CDQ


4. SHEPETERI – IDOWEST FT. DAMMY KRANE, SLIM CASE


5. PASS THE AGBARA – SKUKI


6. LEGBEGBE – MR REAL FT. IDOWEST, KELVIN CHUKS, OBADICE

A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE ARTISTE WHOSE SONGS REFLECT ANY FORM OR STYLE OF MUSIC WHICH FALLS OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM OF RECENT OR PAST POPULAR MUSICAL TRENDS.

1. MONEY – ADEKUNLE GOLD


2. RADIO – NONSO AMADI


3. ROMEO & JULIET – JOHNNY DRILLE


4. PONMILE – REMINISCE


5. FUN MI LOWO MI – ARAMIDE FT. SOUND SULTAN £& KOKER


6. LAGOS BARBIE – BANTU

A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE BEST ALBUM (SOLO OR GROUP) IN YEAR UNDER REVIEW, THAT MEETS JUDGES’ REQUIREMENTS OF EXCELLENCE (SONGWRITING, PRODUCTION, RENDITION AND IMPACT).

1. SIMISOLA – SIMI


2. GOLD – ADEKUNLE GOLD


3. KLITORIS – BRYMO


4. IJELE THE TRAVELER – FLAVOUR


5. SOUNDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE – WIZKID


6. THE PLAYMAKER – PHYNO

MOST CRITICALLY AND COMMERCIALLY ADJUDGED ARTISTE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW. OVERALL MOST SUCCESSFUL ARTISTE IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

1. DAVIDO


2. WIZKID


3. OLAMIDE


4. SIMI


5. TIWA SAVAGE

A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE MOST POPULAR SONG IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

1. PENALTY – SMALL DOCTOR


2. WO – OLAMIDE


3. IF- DAVIDO


4. YEBA – KISS DANIEL


5. MAD OVER YOU – RUNTOWN


6. FIA – DAVIDO

A VOTING CATEGORY TO AWARD THE FAN’S FAVOURITE ARTISTE WITH THE MOST DIGITAL TRACTIONS (DOWNLOADS, VIEWS, STREAMS) IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

1. COME CLOSER- WIZKID


2. IF- DAVIDO


3. WO -OLAMIDE


4. MAD OVER YOU – RUNTOWN


5. YEBA- KISS DANIEL


6. YAWA -TEKNO

THIS IS TO SAY THANK YOU TO BRANDS THAT HAVE MADE THE MOST IMPACT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. AN AWARD TO RECOGNIZE BRANDS WHO ARE SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRY AT A TIME WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARE SCARCE

1. MTN


2. PEPSI


3. GLO


4. HENNESSY


5. FIRS


6. NIGERIA BREWERIES


7. LAGOS STATE

A NON-VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE ARTISTES WHOSE STAGECRAFT, SHOWMANSHIP AND PERFORMANCE ROUTINES ARE EXCEPTIONALLY CONCEPTUALIZED AND EXECUTED IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW WITH CONSIDERATION OF LIVE PERFORMANCES.

1. FLAVOUR


2. FALZ


3. M.I.


4. 2BABA


5. YEMI ALADE


6. TIWA SAVAGE

A VOTING CATEGORY FOR THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WHO HAS HAD A SUCCESFUL YEAR MUSICALLY, WITH THE ABSENCE OF AN ALBUM IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.

KIDI

AIR BOY

TENI

JUNIOR BOY

PERUZZI

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

KAFFY

HALL OF FAME

CHRIS UBOSI