Headies returns to Lagos, celebrates, holds two editions in one year

After holding the last two editions abroad, the organisers of The Headies, Nigeria’s prestigious music awards have decided to bring the event back home with not one, but two editions planned for the year.

The founder and Executive Producer of The Headies, Ayo Animashuan, announced the return with a twist on Tuesday at an event in Victoria Island, Lagos. He revealed that the 17th edition of The Headies with focus on the music of 2024, will hold April 5 at a yet to be disclosed venue in Lagos.

After hosting the 2022 and 2023 editions respectively in the United States, the award organisers had in February 2024, disclosed that the 17th edition of the award would return to Nigeria. The 15th and the 16th Headies held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

According to Animashaun, the nominations list for the 17th edition will be released on February 12, while the 18th edition of The Headies will hold in December, celebrating music from 2025, though the exact date is yet to be disclosed.

He stated that festivities will begin on March 29, with The Headies Stakeholders Brunch and the Nominees’ Party, featuring a lineup of events that will culminate in a week-long celebration of the industry’s growth and artistic ingenuity

The move marks a significant shift in the awards’ tradition, as it will be the first time the Headies held twice in a single year.

According to Animashaun, the decision to hold two editions was made to ensure that artists don’t have to wait too long to be recognized for their work. “The Headies is back home where it belongs. This award that is happening in April was meant to happen last year. For some reason, it didn’t happen last year. The artistes are waiting to be rewarded for the music material in the year under review. We do not want to miss that. So the next is going to happen in December, and it is going to be part of the Detty December trend,” he explained.

Since its inception in 2006, The Headies has been a benchmark of excellence in the Nigerian music industry. With its return to Lagos, music fans can expect an exciting celebration of Nigerian music and culture.