Headies return to Nigeria after US stint

Founded by the Hip Hop World Magazine in 2006, the scheme was, until two years ago, held annually in the West African country. The 2022 edition, held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, US, marked the first time the awards were hosted outside Nigeria. Last year’s edition also took place in the US, with awards presented in more than 30 categories.

In a press statement made public last week, organisers explained that the decision to take the awards abroad was to honour Afrobeats’ global explosion in recent years. “As the event that recognised the arrival of our major music talents way before they conquered the world, we understand the importance of taking the good news of great music to new frontiers,” the organisers said. “The world got a chance to see our global stars and our future stars alike.

“For the 2024 edition, the awards are returning to Nigeria to celebrate the place that birthed the sound that has led everybody to the dancefloor, that has launched viral videos, that has put our continent right at the centre of global pop culture.”

A roadmap for this year’s ceremony, including the date for the main event, is expected to be published in the coming weeks. Activities curated around the Headies typically include a conference and music festival, as well as the Mic Check show for undiscovered young talent.

Last year’s Headies saw Rema and Burna Boy emerge as the biggest winners, each receiving three awards. There, the ‘Calm Down’ star advocated for support for local institutions.

“I’m here because it is important to support our institutions, the bodies that support you to be able to achieve these major successes,” Rema said. “We are in a very sensitive period. If we don’t give our attention to our institutions, we will miss this chance that we have, and we will never have this chance again.”