Throwbacks to Afrobeats: 10 Memorable Moments in Headies History.
Since its inception in 2006, the Headies award has provided numerous spectacular moments that illustrate the rise of Afrobeats while also emphasizing the significance of the prize.
A glance back at the Headies Awards’ long history will bring back memories of the good, the terrible, and, tragically, the ugly sides of Nigeria’s premiere music honor.
In the spirit of Afrobeats nostalgia, we will relive ten outstanding moments in the Headies Award’s history.
10. D’Banj performed with a towel in 2005 and Bovi recreated it a decade later
D’banj was one of Nigeria’s top performers in 2005, with his smash hit single ‘Why Me’ sweeping the country. The celebrity has a flamboyant and contagious personality that wowed his legions of female followers while also establishing himself as a class act with a dash of Nigerian crazy.
D’banj performed his popular track ‘Why Me’ at the 2005 Headies awards wearing just a towel around his waist, as though he had been booted out of a hotel room mid-tryst. His choice of clothes perplexed the crowd, as did his performance.
When comedian Bovi walked onto the Headies stage with a towel 10 years later, audiences old enough to appreciate the joke required no explanation.
9. Burna Boy staged a walk-out after Sean Tizzle won the Next Rated Prize in 2013
Because of its prominence, the Next Rated category is by far the most hotly fought prize at the Headies. Burna Boy, Sean Tizzle, Phyno, Dammy Krane, and Seyi Shay competed for the award for Nigeria’s next big thing in 2013.
Sean Tizzle tipped fans’ choice Burna Boy to the trophy, and Burna Boy rushed out of the Oriental Hotel as Sean Tizzle was revealed as the winner.
8. Wizkid snubbed Caeser (Eva Alordiah’s Ex-Fiancee) at the 2016 Headies
Most fans who turned in to see the 2016 Headies Awards will remember this moment vividly.
Midway through the 2016 Headies, Nigerian megastar Wizkid made an unexpected visit. Wizkid halted on his approach to the front row to greet some colleagues.
He paused to hug Eva before making one of the greatest snubs in Nigerian television history by going past Caeser’s outstretched hand.
Caeser’s dangling hand became a meme as a result of the spectacle. Wizkid subsequently apologized to Caeser and stated that the snub was inadvertent. However, the majority of people rejected this explanation.
7. Wande Coal won five Headies at the 2010 Headies Awards
Mohits artist Wande Coal outperformed his previous year’s Next Rated triumph by taking home 5 prizes at the 2010 Headies Awards.
Wande Coal’s ‘Mushin to Mohits’ album was nominated for seven prizes, but only two were given to him. Wande won Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, R&B Album of the Year, and Hip Hop Revelation of the Year on a historic night.
6. A star-struck Jamopyper at the 2020 Headies
Before launching into his famous ballad ‘If No Be You,’ a star-struck Jamopyper acknowledged Wizkid’s presence in the audience before launching into a bizarre performance intended at dazzling the continent’s biggest musician.
It was lovely to witness Jamopyper transform into a schoolboy when he saw Wizkid. Similarly, his wandering falsetto intended to impress Wizkid was rather humiliating and odd even for the audience.
5. Fireboy equalling Wande Coal’s 5 awards haul at the 2019 Headies Award
At the 2020 Headies Accolades, Fireboy tied Wande Coal’s 2010 tally of five awards.
After losing the Headies Next Rated Award the previous year, Fireboy made a strong showing at the 2020 Headies, receiving a record 9 nominations and winning 5 prizes.
This achievement is spectacular and extremely tough to do, making it one of the most memorable moments in Headies history. And it’s made much more memorable by the fact that Fireboy was mysteriously left off the list of Artist of the Year candidates.
4. Bovi wore attire with the Nigerian flag covered in blood at the 2020 Headies
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\In celebration of the October 2020 END SARS protest that swept throughout the country, Nigerian comedian Bovi wore a shirt with a huge depiction of the Nigerian flag covered in blood in 2020.
The photo sparked widespread debate, with the majority of young people appreciating his bravery and elegance. Some government supporters were offended by Bovi’s forthright comments and said he violated the law by defacing the naira.
3. Bovi pulls off a Steve Harvey at the 2015 Headies
Korede Bello, Kizz Daniel, Cynthia Morgan, Reekado Banks, and Lil Kesh competed for the 2015 Next Rated Award. Bovi decided to imitate Steve Harvey’s blunder at the 2015 Miss World pageant by pondering Miss Pronouncing Reekado’s name when he proclaimed him as the winner.
The joke simply adds to the tension, but we can’t fault a comic for doing his job.
2. When Wizkid’s O2 Concert clashed with the 2019 Headies Awards
Wizkid’s sold-out O2 event conflicted with the Headies Awards in 2019, and the show dominated the night, with the bulk of the big stars choosing Wizkid’s O2 show.
That night was difficult for the Headies, who were attempting to revamp their image following years of contempt from fans and performers. The concert derailed the Headies Show, with Naira Marley’s legwork becoming the night’s most talked-about issue.
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By arranging Wizkid’s extremely special participation at the 2020 Headies Awards, the Headies will go above and beyond to avoid repetition the following year.
1. Olamide and Don Jazzy Faceoff at the 2015 Headies