The Headies has unveiled the nominees for its 18th edition, with Wizkid, Ayra Starr, Mavo, Davido, Burna Boy, Asake and several of Nigeria’s leading artists featuring across the categories.
The nominations were announced on Tuesday, August 25, ahead of the ceremony, which will take place on October 25 in Toronto, Canada. The 18th edition is themed “Africa to the World,” marking another international outing for the Nigerian music awards.
Wizkid is among the most nominated artists this year, picking up six nominations. His 2024 album Morayo is in contention for Afrobeats Album of the Year, while he is also nominated for Digital Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste and Headies’ Viewers’ Choice. His collaborations with Asake on “MMS” and “Jogodo” are nominated for Song of the Year and Afrobeats Single of the Year respectively.
Ayra Starr has five nominations, including Song of the Year for “Hot Body”, Digital Artiste of the Year, Best Female Artiste, Best Performer (Live) for her Global Citizen Festival 2025 performance, and Headies’ Viewers’ Choice.
The nominations also give significant recognition to Mavo, who is shortlisted for Next Rated alongside Fido, Fola, Llona and Shoday. He is also nominated for Digital Artiste of the Year and Best Male Artiste.
Fola is another prominent name among the emerging acts, earning nominations for Next Rated, Digital Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste, Best R&B Album for Catharsis, and categories recognising his songs “You” and “Who Does That?”.
Elsewhere, Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You” is nominated for Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year and Best Recording of the Year, while Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness competes for Afrobeats Album of the Year. Burna Boy is also nominated for Best Male Artiste, with “Bundle by Bundle” receiving an Afrobeats Single of the Year nomination.
The Song of the Year category brings together Kunmie’s “Arike”, “Hey Jago” by Poco Lee, Shoday and Rahman Jago, Ayra Starr’s “Hot Body”, Fido’s “Joy Is Coming”, Asake and Wizkid’s “MMS”, and Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You”.
For Afrobeats Single of the Year, the nominees are Rema’s “Fun”, Asake and Wizkid’s “Jogodo”, Shallipopi’s “Laho”, Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You”, Fola’s “You”, and Burna Boy’s “Bundle by Bundle”.
The 2026 nominations follow an eligibility period covering music released between August 1, 2024 and April 30, 2026.
The 18th Headies will hold on October 25, 2026, in Toronto, Canada.
Meeting your favourite artist can be surreal. For one Ayra Starr fan, the moment apparently required a little physical verification.
During Ayra Starr’s “Starrgirl” fan signing pop-up in Camden, London, a fan shared a TikTok showing herself embracing the singer before pinching her.
Ayra immediately winced in pain, seemingly caught off guard by the unexpected pinch, while the fan appeared to be confirming that the singer was, in fact, real.
The interaction has since made its rounds online, turning what was already a memorable fan encounter into a particularly funny one.
Ayra was in Camden for the “Starrgirl” fan signing, with footage from the event showing her meeting fans and signing copies of her latest album.
The Camden appearance forms part of the rollout for Starrgirl, Ayra’s third studio album, which was released in August 2026. The project continues the singer’s evolution from the breakout success of “Rush” into one of Afrobeats’ most recognisable young stars.
For this fan, though, meeting Starrgirl wasn’t quite enough. She needed to make sure the Starrgirl in front of her wasn’t a very convincing hologram.
And apparently, a pinch was the best way to find out.
Fenty Beauty has sent Ayra Starr a bouquet of purple flowers following the release of her third studio album, “Starrgirl.”
Ayra Starr shared the flowers from the brand which was founded by Rihanna, on her Instagram Story as the album rollout continues to centre the colour purple. The colour has featured prominently in the project’s visual campaign, including images in which her signature purple gele was digitally placed on iconic landmarks.
In one of the images shared ahead of the album’s release, the Statue of Liberty appears wearing a purple gele, while another image places the gele on the Hollywood Sign.
The purple theme has also appeared in Lagos, where purple fireworks were set off on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge following the album’s release.
“Starrgirl” is a 16-track project featuring Wizkid, Rema, Zayn Malik, Leon Thomas, Danny Ocean, Theodora and Kwin. The album includes previously released tracks such as “Gimme Dat,” “Hot Body,” “Who’s Dat Girl” and “Tornado.”
The bouquet from Fenty Beauty adds another moment to the purple-themed rollout surrounding “Starrgirl.”
Ayra Starr’s third studio album, “Starrgirl,” has been marked by a series of purple-themed visuals, including a fireworks display on Lagos’ Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.
The display follows earlier imagery shared by Ayra Starr as part of the album rollout, in which the purple gele associated with her new era was digitally placed on iconic landmarks. The Statue of Liberty was depicted wearing the gele, while another version was placed on the Hollywood Sign.
The concept has also carried into Lagos, with the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge illuminated by purple fireworks following the album’s release.
“Starrgirl” is a 16-track project featuring Wizkid, Rema, Zayn Malik, Leon Thomas, Danny Ocean, Theodora and Kwin. It includes the previously released tracks “Gimme Dat,” “Hot Body,” “Who’s Dat Girl” and “Tornado.”
The purple imagery has become one of the defining visual elements of the album rollout, connecting the international landmarks with Ayra Starr’s home city of Lagos.
Ayra Starr has released her third studio album, “Starrgirl,” a 16-track project featuring collaborations with Wizkid, Rema, Zayn Malik, Leon Thomas, Danny Ocean, Theodora and Kwin.
The album includes the previously released singles “Gimme Dat,” “Hot Body,” “Who’s Dat Girl” and “Tornado,” alongside 12 new tracks.
The release also introduces a visual identity built around the colour purple, with Ayra Starr adopting the purple gele as a signature element of the album era.
BOYRECK thinks an Ayra Starr collaboration would be a hit. The artist tells Afrobeats Head about finding his sound, the music that shaped him, his latest single “Genuine,” and why he considers himself “experimental, versatile and unrepeatable.”
Having spent time in Ibadan, Abeokuta and now Lagos, how would you describe the personality of each city? Which one feels most like home, and how have they influenced your music?
BOYRECK: Ibadan is a city I grew up in, that is home. I’d describe its personality as lovely and friendly. Abeokuta is a great city, I was born there, I am from there. I’d describe its personality as energetic and youthful especially because I am currently schooling there too. I haven’t really been to Lagos that much but from my experience while I was there, Lagos is a very interesting and energetic city.
Each city has its uniqueness which in a way has influenced my sound.
You started out as a rapper before finding your lane in Afro-fusion, R&B and Neo soul. Was there a particular moment or song that made you realise your sound was evolving?
BOYRECK: Yes! The story actually goes back to 2020, when I was hospitalized for more than a month. It was during that period Omah Lay dropped his debut album, Oxlade started getting recognition. I loved their sound so much and I said to myself that if they can pull off this kind of sound, I can surely do so too. Their songs kept me going while I was hospitalized and it became an inspiration for me during that period.
Olamide was one of your earliest influences. Who are some of the artists, past or present, that have shaped your music, and what have you learned from them?
BOYRECK: Yes, there are a few of them: Omah Lay, Oxlade, Buju.
From them, I learnt that there isn’t one way to create music. There’s always room for creativity, experimenting and improvement in whatever you do.
Give to people something they have been starved of and they will love you unconditionally and that is something I hold dearly as an artist. I want my people to be able to connect to my craft with a pure soul and love me unconditionally.
Your latest single, “Genuine,” is out now. What’s the story behind the record, and what were you feeling when you wrote it?
BOYRECK: Honestly, I had something different in mind when I heard the beat, I sang an entirely different melody on it. It was my producer, Chuksmagic, who told me to go home and rewrite the song.
I had many trials and errors before I finally managed to compose the intro of the song. I felt a different kind of peace when I composed the intro. It was like a man meeting his fated woman😂. I was in that feeling till I finished the song.
When you’re not making music, what does a perfect day off look like for BOYRECK? How do you usually relax and recharge?
BOYRECK: If I am in Ibadan, there are only a few things I do.
I usually go and help my mum at her shop. Honestly, I am not the type that goes out, if I am not at shop then I am at home😂
When I am in Abeokuta, it feels more youthful for me because I have my friends and coursemates around. There are more things to do.
Your music is full of emotion. Has love or being in a relationship influenced the way you write songs, or do you draw inspiration from other people’s experiences too?
BOYRECK: I get asked this question a lot, but I honestly think it is the way I was brought up. I have this calm, gentle and loving personality I’d say. I was brought up with love around me. And yes I draw inspiration from other people’s experiences too.
If you could collaborate with any three artists, Nigerian or international, who would make your dream collaboration list, and why?
BOYRECK: First and foremost, Olamide.
I love that man a lot, he made me fall in love with music.
Arya star, I can feel the connection in our sounds. I believe whatever song we make will be a hit. The scenes!!!
Lastly, Dave. Imagine me dropping a crazy hook and Dave coming in with those verses. It’s madness😂
You’ve been building your career steadily rather than chasing overnight success. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about patience and consistency in the music industry?
BOYRECK: “Consistency, consistency I promise to remain consistent In my positive version”
In this music industry, I have learnt that consistency cannot be underestimated. You have to keep doing your thing and improving.
Patience is a virtue but don’t overplay it, you shouldn’t be too patient, hunger has to override it but it needs to be balanced.
What’s one thing people assume about BOYRECK that isn’t actually true?
BOYRECK: People think that I am gentle because I don’t talk too much😂
As you continue to grow as an artist, what can fans expect from you over the next year? More singles, collaborations, a project, or something completely unexpected?
BOYRECK: Expect the unexpected, what if I bring Beyoncé out of retirement or I have a joint project with Drake or BTS?
Afrobeats Head Quick Fire
• Coffee or tea? Warm water
• Morning or late-night studio sessions? Late night
• Ibadan or Abeokuta? Abeokuta
• Rap or R&B? R&B
• One Nigerian artist you’d love to collaborate with? Taves
• One international artist you’d love to collaborate with? Dave
• A song you wish you had written? Honestly, there’s no particular song I wish I had written, I listen to all types of music😂 i could be jamming Fuji today, American old school tomorrow, RnB the next day, Apala, Trap, Hip hop, Beautiful Nubia, Reggae and so on…
I am not limited to one particular genre, I love exploring different sounds so it hard to say I wish I wrote a particular song.
• What’s currently on repeat in your playlist? Would I be selfish if I say Genuine? 😂 Okay seriously now “How do you do? by Beautiful Nubia”
I play the song almost every morning, I love it.
• Three words that describe BOYRECK.
Experimental, Versatile and Unrepeatable.
• What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
That I stammer a little bit, it’s been part of me since childhood but I don’t let it get the best of me.
• Finish this sentence: “In five years, BOYRECK will be a phenomenal artist, one that you get to experience once in a lifetime with a sound so unique to my identity alone.
”Genuine” by BOYRECK is out now on streaming platforms.
Nigerian Afrobeats singer-songwriter Roemeinia returns with “Elixir”, sultry and emotionally charged single that explores the desire to fully allow emotional vulnerability.
Inspired by the sounds of Tems and Ayra Starr, “Elixir” features warm electric pianos and 90s R&B synths.
Speaking on the record produced by French producer, Xoxlike, Roemeinia describes Elixir as “a song about allowing yourself to be seen emotionally, choosing connection over defense, and letting vulnerability exist without fear or apology.”
“Elixir” by Roemeinia is out now on all platforms.
The nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards were announced today and as expected, some of Afrobeats biggest names are in the running for the music industry’s biggest awards
Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness is up for the Best Global Music Award along with Youssou N’Dour’s World and The Eclairer le monde : Light the Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) album by Shakti
No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy World – Youssou N'Dour Eclairer le monde : Light the Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) – Shakti Sounds Of Kumbha- Siddhant Bhatia pic.twitter.com/3w1swOl4KC
— Afrobeats Head Loves Timothee Ideh (@AfrobeatsHead) November 7, 2025
While the nominees for Best African Music Performance include Davido, Tyla, Ayra Starr and Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo
Inspired by the likes of Ayra Starr, Gabzy, Odeal, Burna Boy, and Txmmy, his sound blends soulful melodies with smooth Afro rhythms.
Uwa’s latest release, “Tic Toc”, is a vibe-heavy track built for late nights, headphone moments, or curated chill playlists. It speaks to growth, vulnerability, and leveling up — all wrapped in infectious production and t’s the perfect vibe for summer .
Smooth, infectious, and impossible not to move to, this track is made for late- night link-ups, rooftop parties, day parties, and those sunset drives with the squad.
But what really sets this one apart is its romantic, smooth, and sensual lyrics — the Toronto-based artist prizes himself on crafting songs that aren’t just for the vibe, but for the feeling too.
“It’s got that flirtatious, chill energy to it,” UWA shares. “I wanted to make something people could vibe and groove to at a party, but also something you’d send to that person you’ve been thinking about all day.”
Afrobeats artists Tyla and Ayra Starr will headline the 2025 Global Citizen Festival which will take place on September 27, 2025 at New York’s at Central Park.
Tyla and Ayra Starr will perform at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival in New York pic.twitter.com/5UOXMxlg1H
— Afrobeats Head Loves Timothee Ideh (@AfrobeatsHead) July 22, 2025
Other performers at the event which will be hosted by Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman include The Weeknd, Shakira, and Mariah the Scientist.
Under the theme “Amplify the Movement,” this year’s festival continues Global Citizen’s mission to combat poverty, inequality, and social injustice through music and advocacy.
The Global Citizen Festival merges entertainment and activism, offering a platform for world leaders, artists, and advocates to drive progress.
