By Jimmy
The entertainment industry is all about awards and recognitions, and none are as big as the Headies in Nigeria. Originally called the Hip Hop World Awards, the Headies was established in 2006 by Nigeria’s Hip Hop World Magazine.
It aims to recognize phenomenal achievements and talents within the music industry. It is broadcast live on HipTV annually and features performances by both established and upcoming artists.
Ayo Animashaun, the awards’ founder, created the image of The Headies, and Matthias Aragbada drew it. Jide Adewoye crafted the first Headies plaque; it represents the image and the shout of a young, vibrant individual whose talent can challenge that of renowned local and international artistes combined but who has almost lost confidence in his abilities in the face of discouraging circumstances presented by the peculiar Nigerian environment.
The first edition of the Headies was held at the Shell Hall of the Muson Center in Onikan, Lagos State, on March 10, 2006, and was hosted by Darey Art Alade. It was tagged The Revolution is here.
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The Headies Awards categories
The Headies is now composed of 29 categories, with open voting deciding the majority of the awards’ categories. However, the awards for Best Vocal Performance (both male and female), Best Performer, Best Recording of the Year, and Best Rap Album are not open to public voting.
The following is a list of all categories:
- ARTISTE OF THE YEAR: A voting category for the most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. This artiste is judged to be the overall most successful for the entire year, either male or female.
- SONG OF THE YEAR: A voting category for the award of the most popular song in the year under review.
- ALBUM OF THE YEAR: A voting category awards the best album (solo or group) in the year under review. It must meet the judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition, and impact).
- BEST MUSIC VIDEO: A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed, and most electrifying video in the year under review. The video director receives the award.
- NEXT RATED: This category is voting for the most promising act in the year under review.
- ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically, sans an album in the year under review.
- SONG-WRITER OF THE YEAR
- BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR: This is a non-voting category that awards the best recording by an artiste or group in the year under review. It must meet the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition
- PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: An individual behind the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
- BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE: A category awarding the best reggae/dancehall single in the year under review, either by a single individual or group.
- BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE): A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.
- BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE): A non-voting category to award a single female artiste with the most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.
- BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG: A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music outside the conventional recent or past popular musical trends.
- LYRICIST ON THE ROLL: A non-voting category that awards a rap artiste whose single song or album contains the best performance and lyrical depth.
- ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
- BEST RAP SINGLE: A voting category for a single rap song recording. The track must be released on-air.
- BEST RAP ALBUM: A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in the year under review.
- BEST R&B SINGLE: A category for the best R&B single in the year under review, either by a single individual or group.
- BEST R&B/POP ALBUM: A category for the best R&B/pop album in the year under review, either by a single individual or group.
- BEST POP SINGLE: A category awarding the best pop single by an individual or group in the year under review.
- AFRICAN ARTISTE RECOGNITION: A non-Nigerian award category that recognizes an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact, and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review.
- BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE: A voting category for an artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. The artiste’s songs should contain vernacular or lingua, either coined or popular on the streets.
- BEST COLLABO: A voting category for the best R&B, pop, or hip-hop collaborative track. This includes cameos.
- HIP-HOP WORLD REVELATION: A voting category for the best new artiste whose debut album is adjudged to be exceptional in terms of artistic quality and impact within the year under review.
- HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE: A voting category to award the fan’s favourite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.
- INDUSTRY BRAND SUPPORTER: An appreciative award to brands that have made the most impact in the music industry in the years under review.
- BEST PERFORMER: A non-voting category for the artistes whose stagecraft, showmanship, and performance routines are exceptionally conceptualized and executed in the year under review. Live performances are also considered.
- SPECIAL RECOGNITION
- HALL OF FAME
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The Headies’ highest winners
Over the years, a few individuals have managed to either steal the spotlight in a single ceremony or accumulate an enviable amount of awards through consistent output and sheer class.
Most awards winners
Wizkid is the most awarded artiste in the Headies award history with 20 total awards. He has won three Artiste of the Year, Two Best R&B/pop Awards, two Viewer’s Choice Awards, and one Next Rated, Hip Hop World Revelation, Best Collabo, and Song of the Year Awards.
He is followed by Olamide with 16 awards, Mode 9 with 9, and 2face Idibia and Davido with 8 awards respectively. Wande Coal has 7; P-square and MI Abaga have 6; and Timi Dakolo and 9ice, all with 5 each, complete the top 10.
Song of the Year
Along with D’banj, Davido has won more “Song of the Year” Awards than any other artiste. Davido and D’banj are the only acts to have won the “Song of the Year” award more than once. P-square, Olu Maintain, 9ice, Bracket, Ice Prince, Wizkid, Kcee, Phyno, DJ Neptune, and Burna Boy have each won the award once.
P-square and Davido also have the most nominations, with 4 each.
Artiste of the Year
Wizkid has won the award three times, again more than anyone else. He won in 2012, 2016, and 2020 (held in 2021). Davido comes second with two awards coming in 2014 and 2018. 2face, Olamide, Burna Boy, 9ice, Wande Coal, D’banj, Paul Play, Iyanya, and Psquare have won the award once.
Album of the Year
Olamide has won the “Album of the Year” Award more times than anyone else, with three back-to-back awards for “YBNL“, “Baddest Guy Ever Liveth” and “Street OT” in 2013, 2014, and 2015 respectively. P-square comes second with two awards, while 2face, Asa, 9ice, Wande Coal, Simi, Paul Play, Kizz Daniel, Fireboy DML, and Falz have all won the award once.
Best Vocal Performance
Praiz and Timi Dakolo have each won this award twice, more than anyone else. For the female category, Omawunmi holds the record with two wins.
Lyricist on the Roll
This award celebrates the rapper with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album in the year under review. Mode 9 dominates this category with seven wins. Vector and Illbliss have each won the award twice, while Jesse Jagz, M.I Abaga, and AQ have one win each.
