Last night was The Headies award show; Nigeria’s biggest and longest-standing music award show. In the next couple of days, the internet is going to be flooded with think pieces on how much of a shitty show the Headies is and to be very honest, they deserve all the heat they will receive. The industry and artists have grown over the years, while we still need to work on building structures, there has been noticeable growth, with everyone aiming for global standards and recognition. Everyone except The Headies award.
Organising an event of that magnitude takes a lot, which is understandable, from planning, logistics, sponsorship, having a fixed period for review to budget and time management. The Headies has had 14 years to get things right, but they’ve constantly failed to do so in any aspect. It has been fourteen years of being plagued with the same poor video and sound quality, poor time management and publicity. The nominations were already controversial, from the year in review (July 2019 to August 2020) to it not including very obvious choices like Patoranking’s Abule.
This year was meant to be different; aiming to be one of the most attended virtual events in Nigeria, the Headies was to be shown live on Hip TV and the Headies social media channels, but that didn’t go exactly as planned. From Hip TV switching to showing Taylor Swift at one point and the YouTube live stream ending and sending everyone to MC Rhelax’s Instagram live.
For a brand that has the reach, history and connection despite its constant let downs, the Headies need to get their act together and give fresh and younger hands the opportunity to organise an award show that tells how far we have come and grown as an industry.
One of the best things to come out of this year’s Headies award was the strong statement on police brutality, by starting with a dance performance of Fela’s Zombie and Bovi wearing a shirt with a blood-stained Nigerian flag, which has come to be associated with #ENDSARS.
Seeing Fireboy DML swooping five awards on his debut at the Headies was also a beauty to watch, coupled with the glimpses of Wizkid who attended and somehow sprinkled his star shine on the camera quality every time it showed him.
This year also featured virtual performances from other African acts: Stonebwoy and Master KG.
Here’s the list of all the winners from last night:
Best R&B Album
Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps – Fireboy DML
I like girls with trobul – Sarz (featuring Wurld)
King – Praiz
Boo of the Booless – Chike
Celia – Tiwa Savage
Best Rap Album
God’s Engineering – A-Q
Illy Chapo X – Illbliss
YPSZN2 – Psycho YP
Cult! – Paybac Iboro
The Erigma 2 – Erigga
Best R&B Single
Tatoo – Fireboy DML
Under the sky – Praiz
Duduke – Simi
Bad Influence – Omah Lay
Dangerous love – Tiwa Savage
Best Pop Single
Nobody – DJ Neptune (featuring Joeboy and Mr Eazi)
Billionaire – Teni
Lady – Rema
FEM – Davido
Joro – Wizkid
Skeletun – Tekno
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
Praiz – Under the sky
Wurld – Ghost Town
Chike – Forgive
Cobhams – We plenti
Nonso Amadi – What makes you sure
Johnny Drille – Count on you
Best Vocal Performance (Female)
Niniola – Addicted
Simi – No longer beneficial
Lindsey Abudei – One on the outside
J’dess – Chi Efo
Yemi Alade – Lai Lai
Imanse – Ajala
Best Rap Single
Bop daddy – Falz(featuring Ms Banks)
OGB4IG – Reminisce
Shut Up – Blaqbonez
Country – Illbliss
Get the Info – Phyno(featuring Falz,Phenom)
Best Street Hop Artiste
Mayorkun – Geng
Naira Marley & Young John – Mafo
Reminisce (featuring Olamide, Naira Marley) – Instagram
Rudeboy – Audio Money
IVD & Zlatan – Bolanle
Olamide – Pawon
Best Collabo
Know You – Ladipoe(featuring Simi)
Nobody – DJ Neptune(featuring Joeboy, Mr Eazi)
Sweet in the middle – Davido(featuring Naira Marley, Zlatan & Wurld)
Totori – ID Cabasa(featuring Wizkid, Olamide)
Get the Info – Phyno(featuring Phenom, Falz)
Lyricist on the Roll
Illbliss – Country
A-Q – Eunice
Blaqbonez – Define Rap 2
M.I Abaga – Trinity
Phenom – Get the Info
Phyno – Speak Life
Song of the Year
FEM – Davido
Nobody – DJ Neptune(featuring Joeboy, Mr Eazi)
Joro – Wizkid
Mafo – Naira Marley
Duduke – Simi
Best Recording of the Year
Ozymandias– Brymo
Smile – Wizkid(featuring H.E.R.)
Wonderful – Burna Boy
Dreamer – Fireboy DML
Ghost Town – Wurld
Album of the Year
Apollo – Fireboy DML
African Giant – Burna Boy
Afro Pop Vol. 1 – Adekunle Gold
Yellow – Brymo
Boo of the Booless – Chike
Artiste of the Year
Wizkid
Davido
Burna Boy
Mayorkun
Tiwa Savage
Producer of the Year
Pheelz – Billionaire by Teni
SPAX – Away by Oxlade
Kel P – Pull Up by Burna Boy
Sarz – Mad by Sarz, Wurld
Best Music Video
1 Milli by Davido – Director K
Eli by Fireboy DML – Clarence Peters
Smile by Wizkid – Meji Alabi
Billionaire by Teni – TG Omori
Shekere by Yemi Alade – Ovie Etseyatse
Next Rated
Omah Lay
Tems
Oxlade
Bella Shmurda
African Artiste Recognition
South Africa – Master KG
Ghana – Kuami Eugene
Kenya – Sauti Sol
Ghana – Shatta Wale
Ghana – Stonebwoy
Viewer’s Choice
Wizkid
Davido
Omah Lay
Burna Boy
Falz
Fireboy DML
Mayorkun
DJ Neptune
Songwriter of the Year
Simisola Bolatito Ogunleye – Duduke by Simi
Adedamola Adefolahan – Dreamer by Fireboy DML
Damini Ogulu – Way too big by Burna Boy
Stanley Omah Didia – Bad Influence by Omah Lay
Sadiq Onifade – Ghost Town by Wurld
Adekunle Kosoko – 1 Milli by Davido
Best Alternative Album
Roots – The Cavemen
Yellow – Brymo
Lucid – Aṣa
The Light – Bez
Pioneers – DRB LasGidi
Best Alternative Song
I wonder – Moelogo
Corner – Lady Donly(featuring VanJess, The Cavemen)
Bitter – Deena Ade
Anita – The Cavemen
Money Devotion – Gbasky
God Save The Queen – Olu
Rookie of the Year
Bad Boy Timz
Olakira
Alpha P
Jamopyper
Zinoleesky
Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year
Fireboy DML
Victor AD
Joeboy
Teni
Rema
Chike
Special Recognition Award
Eedris Abdulkareem
Timaya
Headies Hall of Fame
King Sunny Ade
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