Talented music artiste who has continued to dominate the records in the Top chart single, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, garnered three awards the 16th HEADIES held again at Atlanta, Georgia in the United States.
The 23-year-old Nigerian musician stole the show on account of his global hit song, Calm Down which was remixed with American singer, Selena Gomez.
Rema who is signed to Jonzing World Record, owned by D Prince, won the biggest award on the night, The BEST AFRICAN ARTIST, BEST MALE ARTIST and DIGITAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR.
Calm Down also won the BEST VIDEO DIRECTOR award which went to Director K. Rema who was so elated saluted all who made the song what it is today including his root, Benin City.
“I am so happy for this award. Benin City, I am so happy to put you on the global map. This belongs to you”, says the artiste. Rema rose to stardom after releasing the song “Dumebi” in 2019.
After Rema, sensational artise, Ahmed Ololade known as Asake won two awards namely the NEXT RATED ARTIST award and ALBUM OF THE YEAR award through his ‘Mr. Money With The Vibez’ debut album. Asake who is signed to Olamide’s YBNL was the cynosure of all eyes as the musician has had a wonderful year and music tour fun-filled season.
The musician whose brand of music, laced with fuji fusion has become spectacular and a reference point for Afrobeats music, genre used by the western world to categorize the music from Nigeria and West Africa.
In September 2022, his debut album Mr. Money with the Vibe was released, breaking the record for the biggest opening day for an African album on Apple Music at the time. Wearing a black luxury designed jacket, Asake who received the award himself at the HEADIES ceremony, thanked the organisers and later performed dishing out three of the songs that has earned him a cult followership in Africa and beyond.
Burnaboy who was evidently absent at the ceremony won one award, the Best SONG OF THE YEAR for his hit, ‘Last Last’. The ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award went to rapper, Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu, popularly known as Odumodublvck who also got the ‘BEST RAP SINGLE’ award category.
Oludipe Oluwasanmi David professionally known as Spyro, was one of the artistes that won at the show, earning the ‘Best Collaboration Of The Year’ award through his song remix, ‘Who’s Your Guy’ featuring Tiwa Savage. Spyro who was at the event centre in Atlanta, Georgia, acknowledged Jesus Christ as the one who made him achieve the feat, having made a breakthrough career in 2022. The young artiste who was also nominated in the Next Rated award category but lost it to man of the moment, Asake Mr Money, commended social media influencer and one-time, musician, Tunde Ednut for initiating the remix of ‘Who’s your guy’. Ednut who was visibly elated, came to the stage with Spyro to collect the Best Collaboration award category.
One of the highlights of the Headies 2023 was the late enigmatic musician and record label owner, Sound Sultan being honoured and given the SPECIAL RECOGNITION award.
Full List Of 2023 Headies Winners:
BEST RAP SINGLE:’Declan Rice’ – ODUMODUBLVCK
BEST MALE VOCAL PERFORMANCE: ‘Kpe Paso’ – Wande Coal
BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG: ‘Tinko Tinko’ – Obong Jayar
BEST VIDEO DIRECTOR: ‘Calm Down’ – Director K (Rema)
BEST RAP ALBUM: ‘Young Preacher’ by Blaqbonez
LYRICIST ON THE ROLL: ‘Flytalk Only’ by Payper Corleone
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: ‘Abracadabra’ by Rexxie
BEST MALE ARTIST: REMA (Calm Down)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: ODUMODUBLVCK
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: ‘Eze Ebube’ – Neon Adejo
AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR: ‘Last Last’ – Burna Boy
SPECIAL RECOGNITION’: Sound Sultan
DIGITAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Rema (Calm Down)
BEST STREET HOP SINGLE:’Chance’ – Seyi Vibez
NEXT RATED ARTIST: Asake
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: ‘Mr. Money With The Vibez’ – Asake
SONG OF THE YEAR: ‘Last Last’ – Burna Boy
BEST COLLABORATION: ‘Who’s Your Guy’ – Spyro featuring Tiwa Savage
BEST AFRICAN ARTIST: Rema
