The Headies predictions and banter is on, and the big question is simple: who’s taking home the awards?
The nominations are out and lots of debates have started amongst fans, but instead of relying only on hot takes, you can now see what the crowd thinks through Octupus prediction markets.
The Headies Predictions: Catch Who’s Winning at the Polls on Octupus Markets
Octupus lets you follow prediction markets around some of the biggest conversations in Nigerian entertainment.
For predictions on The Headies, you can take positions on four major categories:
- The Headies: Best Rap Single
- The Headies: Best R&B Single
- The Headies: Songwriter of the Year
- The Headies: Best Recording of the Year
The market price changes as people take different positions, giving you a real-time view of where the crowd is leaning.
Best Rap Single
Nominees: Odumodublvck – 2:02 PM in London, Blaqbonez – ACL, Dremo – Man2Man, PDSTRN – Moshood, Tuff King – Nkemakonam, Zaylevelten & Mavo – Wuse Tu, Zhus Jdo – John Wick.
This is probably one of the more difficult categories to call because the nominees aren’t all competing from the same position.
Odumodublvck comes in with the biggest obvious argument. 2:02 PM in London fits the kind of rap record that has become synonymous with his run: personality, quotability and a very recognisable sound. He also carries the advantage of being one of the most established names in the category.
But Blaqbonez has a serious case with ACL, especially as it was a well written diss track that fueled the beef between him and Odumodublvck, and fans absolutely love it and we never got a response from the other party. Beyond beef, Blaqbonez has been one of the more technically consistent rappers in the mainstream conversation.
Then there is Dremo’s Man2Man, while PDSTRN, Tuff King, Zaylevelten & Mavo and Zhus Jdo represent the more disruptive end of the category.
Our read: Odumodublvck has the strongest obvious case, but this isn’t a category where the result feels completely locked.
Best R&B Single
Nominees: Layefa – 6:35, Amaeya – How Do You?, Amma – I Love You, Tems – What You Need, Magixx – Winter & Summer, Tiwa Savage – You4Me.
This is where things get interesting.
Tems is the obvious heavyweight. What You Need gives her the combination of an established global profile and the kind of polished R&B sound that fits this category naturally.
But writing off Tiwa Savage would be a mistake. You4Me gives her the veteran argument: she knows exactly how to make a record that lands emotionally, and the Headies have rewarded that kind of longevity before.
Magixx’s Winter & Summer is another interesting contender, he doesn’t have the same weight as Tems or Tiwa, but that’s precisely what makes him dangerous in a category where the song itself has to carry the argument.
Amaeya and Layefa also have genuine cases, particularly if the judges lean towards vocal performance and songwriting rather than simply the biggest record.
Our read: Tems probably starts as the favourite, but Tiwa is the obvious threat. Magixx is the kind of outsider who could make this much closer than expected.
Best R&B Single Headies Market
Songwriter of the Year
Nominees: Adekunle Gold – Many People, Victony – Cough Syrup, Wizard Chan – Time Traveler, Fola – Who Does That?, Kunmie – Arike, Amaeya – How Do You?.
This category is arguably harder to predict because it isn’t simply about which song was the biggest.
The Headies define Songwriter of the Year around the quality of the writing itself, which changes the conversation.
Adekunle Gold has the experience and songwriting pedigree. Victony’s Cough Syrup gives him a strong contemporary case, while Wizard Chan continues to build a reputation around a more introspective and unconventional approach to songwriting.
Then there is Fola, whose Who Does That? puts him firmly in the conversation after a major breakout period. Kunmie and Amaeya are the less obvious names, but both have records that make the category difficult to dismiss as a two-horse race.
Our read: Adekunle Gold has the experience, but this is probably the category where the market could diverge most sharply from the obvious name.
Songwriter of the Year Headies Market
Best Recording of the Year
Nominees: Kunmie – Arike, Amaeya – How Do You?, Rema – Baby (Is It a Crime), Omah Lay & Elmah – Coping Mechanism, Davido & Omah Lay – With You, Fola – You.
This might be the most fascinating race of the four.
Rema’s Baby (Is It a Crime) has the biggest superstar argument. When Rema is nominated for a major category, you can’t ignore the combination of reach, songwriting and production behind the record.
Then there’s With You. Davido and Omah Lay already have one of the most recognisable collaborations in the category, and the song’s presence across several major Headies categories. It is also nominated for Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Collaboration and Viewers’ Choice.
Additionally, Arike has become one of the breakout records of the eligibility period, while Fola’s You has helped establish him as one of the newer names capable of competing alongside much bigger stars.
Finally, Omah Lay’s Coping Mechanism is another serious contender. He doesn’t need the biggest commercial record in the category to win this particular award; the argument can simply be that the recording itself is the strongest piece of work.
Our read: Rema and With You have the biggest-name advantage, but Arike and You are the records that could make this race uncomfortable for the favourites.
Best Recording of the Year Headies Market
Don’t Just Predict. See Where the Crowd Is Leaning.
That’s what makes Octupus prediction markets interesting.
You’re not just reading someone’s prediction and taking their word for it. You’re looking at a live market where people are taking different positions based on what they believe will happen.
The Headies predictions are about to give music fans something to argue about.
The market is already talking. See who’s winning before the big event.
