Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ scooped five prizes at the 15th edition of the Headies Awards.

American actor Anthony Anderson and Nigerian actress Osas Ighodaro hosted the event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta.

Wizkid won in the best collaboration, best Afrobeats album, album of the year, song of the year and best RnB single of the year categories.

Patoranking went home with two awards on the night (best recording of the year and best reggae and dancehall album), tracks from his ‘Three’ album.

Nigerian singer KCee took home the Headies’ best inspirational song (Cultural Prais), beating Mercy Chinwo, Nathaniel Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Timi Dakolo and Chidinma.

Ayra Starr won the voters’ choice award, despite being nominated in eight categories.

Other winners included Fireboy, BNXN, Adekunle Gold, Flavour, Waje, Olamide, A-Q, Sarz, TG Omori, Goya Menor, and Ibejii.

Special recognition awards were given to Akon, Wyclef Jean, Sunday Are, Dbanj, Sunday Are, Bose Ogulu and Efe Omorogbe for their contributions to Afrobeats.

List of winners

Best Recording of the Year

• “Celebrate Me” – Patoranking – WINNER 
• “Essence” – Wizkid ft. Tems and
• “Joy” – Falana
• “Loving Is Harder” – Johnny Drille
• “Meji Meji” – Brymo
• “Somebody’s Son’ – Tiwa Savage ft. Brandy

Producer of the Year

• Beats By Jayy – “Golden” (A-Q)
• Blaise Beatz – “Sinner” (Adekunle Gold Ft. Lucky Daye)
• Niphkeys – “Feel Good” (Mohbad)
• P Priime – “Ozumba Mbadiwe” (Reekado Banks)
• Pheelz – “High” (Adekunle Gold ft. Davido)
• Sarz – “Monalisa” (Lojay & Sarz) – WINNER 

Songwriter of the Year

• Adekunle Gold – “Sinner” – WINNER 
• Ajebo Hustlers – “Loyalty”
• Brymo – “Meji Meji”
• Falana – “Joy”
• Fireboy DML – “Peru”
• Omah Lay – “Understand”

Best R&B Single

• “Baby Riddim” – Fave
• “Beggie Beggie” – Ayra Starr ft. CKay
• “Essence” – Wizkid ft. Tems – WINNER 
• “Running (To You)” – Chike ft. Simi
• “Promise” – Niniola
• “Sinner” – Adekunle Gold ft. Luck Daye

Best Rap Single

• “Breathe” – A-Q ft Chike
• “Crown of Clay” – Vector & MI Abaga ft. Pheelz
• “Early Momo” – Vector ft. Goodgirl LA
• “Feeling” – Ladipoe ft. Bnxn – WINNER
• “Tycoon” – Show Dem Camp ft. Reminisce & Mojo
• “Loading” – Olamide ft. Bad Boy Timz

Best Alternative Song

• “Doings” – Flavour – WINNER 
• “Free Your Mind” – Made Kuti
• girlfriend – ruger
• “Hustle” – Basketmouth, The Cavemen, Bez, Dice Ailes
• “Meji Meji’ – Brymo
• “Selense” – The Cavemen
• Nothing Sup’’ – Scato

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

• Ayra Starr – “Toxic’
• Liya – “Alari”
• Niniola – “6th Heaven”
• Simi – “Running (To You)”
• Tems – “Essence”
• Waje – “Last Time” – WINNER

Lyricist on the Roll

• A-Q – “The Last Cypher” – WINNER
• Blaqbonez – “The Last Cypher”
• Jesse Jagz – “Vipers”
• Ladipoe – “Providence”
• Payper Corleone – “In Don We Trust”
• Vector – “Crown of Clay”

Best Music Video

• “Champion” – (Fireboy DML ft. D Smoke) – Directed by TG Omori – WINNER 
• “Ginger” – (Wizkid ft. Burna Boy) – Directed by Meji Alabi
• “Roju” – (Chike) – Directed by Pink
• “Rain” – (Yemi Alade ft. Mzansi Youth Choir) – Directed by Ovie Etseyatse
• “Bling” – (Blaqbonez ft. Amaarae & Bnxn) – Directed by Tg Omori
• “Running” – (Ladipoe ft. Fireboy DML) – Directed by Director K

Best Collaboration

• “Beggie Beggie” – Ayra Starr ft. CKay
• “Bling” – Blaqbonez ft. Amaarae & Bnxn
• “Early Momo” – Vector ft. Goodgirl La
• “Essence” – Wizkid ft. Tems – WINNER 
• “Feeling” – Ladipoe ft. Bnxn
• “Running (To You)” – Chike ft. Simi

Best Street-Hop Artist

• Bella Shmurda – “Cash App” ft. Zlatan & Lincoln
• Rexxie & Mohbad – “KPK”
• Mohbad – “Feel Good”
• Naira Marley – “Koleyewon”
• Nektunez & Goya Menor – “Ameno Amapiano” – WINNER 

Best Afrobeats Single of the Year

• “Bloody Samaritan” – Ayra Starr
• “Bounce” – Ruger
• “High” – Adekunle Gold ft. Davido
• “Monalisa” – Lojay & Sarz
• “Ozumba Mbadiwe” – Reekado Banks
• “Peru” – Fireboy DML – WINNER 

Headies’ Viewer’s Choice

• Ayra Starr – “Bloody Samaritan”- WINNER 
• Fireboy DML – “Peru”
• Joeboy – “Sip”
• Lojay & & Sarz – “Monalisa”
• Nektunez & Goya Menor – “Ameno Amapiano”
• Olamide ft. Omah Lay – “Infinity”
• Rema – “Soundgasm”
• Wizkid ft. Tems – “Essence”

Best Reggae & Dancehall Album

• Gratitude – Timaya
• Love is War – Prettyboy D-O
• Rainbow Riddim – Shank
• Three – Patoranking – WINNER
• Yaadman Kingsize – Yung L

Best Alternative Album

• 9: Esan – Brymo
• Intermission – Ibejii – WINNER
• Legacy + – Femi Kuti & Made Kuti
• Love And Highlife – The Cavemen
• P.S. Thank You For Waiting – Wavy The Creator
• Yabasi – Basketmouth

Best Rap Album

• Carpe Diem – Olamide – WINNER
• Clone Wars Vol. 5 – The **Algorhythm – Show Dem Camp
• Golden – A-Q
• Mafia Culture, Vol. 2.0 – Idowest
• Providence – Ladipoe
• Sex Over Love – Blaqbonez

Album of the Year

• 9: Esan – Brymo
• 19 & Dangerous – Ayra Starr
• Carpe Diem – Olamide
• Legacy + – Femi Kuti & Made Kuti
• Made In Lagos (Deluxe Edition) – Wizkid – WINNER
• Yabasi – Basketmouth

Song of the Year

• “Celebrate Me” – Patoranking
• “Doings” – Flavour ft. Phyno
• “Essence” – Wizkid ft. Tems – WINNER 
• “High” – Adekunle Gold ft. Davido
• “Monalisa” – Lojay & Sarz
• “Peru” – Fireboy DML

Next Rated

• Ayra Starr
• Bnxn – WINNER
• Lojay
• Ruger
• Zinoleesky

Best Inspirational Single 

• Cultural Praise – KCee – WINNER
• Everything Amen – Timi Dakolo
• Jehova over do – Chidinma 
• Onyedikagi – Mercy Chinwo ft Glory
• Yah – Dunsi Oyekan 
• Olorun Agbaye – Nathaniel Bassey ft Chandler Moore, Oba