Organisers of The Headies, the global awards for Afrobeats music, are yet to confirm a date for the ceremony, which will be hosted in Nigeria this year.
The 17th edition of the awards would return to its home country, Nigeria, after two successive ceremonies held abroad. The 2022 edition, held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, US, was the first time the awards were hosted outside Nigeria.
The 2023 edition took place in the US, where awards were presented in more than 30 categories. The scheme was founded by Hip Hop World Magazine in 2006.
Organisers said the decision to host two different editions 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 world got a chance to see our global stars and our future stars alike,” officials said.
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Safe to call it the Home Coming edition, organisers said the return to Nigeria was to “celebrate the place that birthed the sound that has led everybody to the dancefloor…Putting the continent right at the centre of global pop culture.”
Other details of the ceremony, including the date for the main event, are expected to be announced in the weeks ahead. The celebration usually includes a conference and music festival, as well as an open mic session for undiscovered young talent.
In 2023, Rema and Burna Boy emerged as the biggest winners, taking home three awards each. Rema, at the ceremony, called for institutions to help the music industry thrive.
“We are in a susceptible period. If we don’t give our attention to our institutions, we will miss this chance, and we will never have this chance again,” he stated.