Selena Gomez is the headies of the international class…
The 2023 Headies Awards have been doled out, with the 31-year-old Mexican American singer claiming an award.
Gomez beat out Drake, Ed Sheeran, Future and Don Toliver to win International Artiste of the Year at the awards show, which celebrates Pan-African and Afrobeats talent.
In August 2022, Gomez teamed up with Rema, who won three awards, on the global hit “Calm Down.” The new version reached number one on both the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs for a record-setting 45 weeks and the Billboard Global Excl. US charts, and peaked at number three on the Global 200 chart. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Rema’s first top-ten hit and Gomez’s ninth.
In the US, it topped the Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and all-genre Radio Songs charts, becoming Rema’s first number one song on each chart and Gomez’s first number one on the latter two charts.
The 2023 Headies Awards were held on Sunday (Sept. 3) at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.
In the past year, three major, all-genre music awards shows have introduced Afrobeats or African music categories. The American Music Awards were the first major music awards show to add such a category. They added favorite Afrobeats artist at the show that aired November 20, 2022. Wizkid was the inaugural winner, beating Burna Boy, CKay, Fireboy DML and Tems.
The MTV Video Music Awards added a new category this year — best Afrobeats. The front-runner is Rema & Gomez’s “Calm Down,” which is nominated in two other categories, best song and best collaboration.
The Grammys added a similar category, best African music performance, this year (for the awards that will be presented on February 4, 2024). Grammy nominations will be announced on November 10.
Here’s the full list of winners for the 2023 Headies Awards.
Hall of Fame: Youssou N’dour
Special Recognition: Sound Sultan
International Artiste Recognition Award: Sean “Love” Combs
International Artist of the Year: Selena Gomez
Album of the Year: Mr Money With the Vibe – Asake
Song of the Year: “Last Last” – Burna Boy
Best Female Artiste: Ayra Starr
Best Male Artiste: Rema
Rookie of the Year: Odumodublvck
Best Recording of the Year: “Soweto” – Victony & Tempoe
Producer of the Year: Rexxie – “Abracadabra” (Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii & Wizkid)
Songwriter of the Year: Simi Kosoko, Godsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata – “Loyal” (Simi)
Best R&B Single: “For My Hand” – Burna Boy Ft. Ed Sheeran
Best Rap Single: “Declan Rice” – Odumodublvck
Best Alternative Song: “Earth Song” – Wizard Chan
Best Vocal Performance (Female): Waje – “In Between“
Best Vocal Performance (Male): Wande Coal – “Kpe Paso”
Best Music Video: Director K – “Calm Down” (Rema)
Best Collaboration: Spyro Ft. Tiwa Savage – “Who’s Your Guy Remix”
Best Street-Hop Artiste: Seyi Vibez – “Chance (Na Ham)”
Afrobeats Single of the Year: “Last Last” – Burna Boy
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice: Victony & Tempoe – “Soweto”
Best West African Artiste of the Year: Black Sherif (Ghana)
Best East African Artiste of the Year: Diamond Platinumz
Best North African Artiste of the Year: El Grande Toto – Morocco
Best Southern African Artiste of the Year: Focalistic – South Africa
Best Central African Artiste of the Year: Libianca – Cameroon
Best R&B Album: The Brother’s Keeper – Chike
Best Alternative Album: Gbagada Express – BOJ
Best Rap Album: Young Preacher – Blaqbonez
Next Rated: Asake
African Artiste of the Year: Rema (Nigeria)
Lyricist on the Roll: Payper Corleone – “Fly Talk Only”
Best Inspirational Single: “Eze Ebube” – Neon Adejo
Digital Artiste of the Year: Rema