After two years of hosting Afrobeats’ most recognised Award Ceremony, Headies, in the USA, this year, it returned to its base, Lagos Nigeria, hence this 17th edition was tagged ‘ Back 2 Base’.
And it seemed it never left as the Landmark Event venue saw some of the most relevant people from all walks of life walk the Red Carpet on the 27th of April 2025.
The CEO of Headies, Ayo Animashaun, had revealed months ago that to regulate the calendar, there will be two editions of the Headies this year, and from the massive turnout of attendees, the event remains as popular as ever. Among those who graced the Red Carpet was the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu.
Nancy Isime was the host, and ever-popular Broadcaster, Ik Osakioduwa added his expertise to the proceedings.
In an era of global popularity of African music, especially, the Headies has become even more relevant as many past winners now dominate African Music.
The likes of Wizkid, Davido, Burna, Boy, and Olamide were past winners, and some newer names, who are already doing great things internationally, won big also. Tems, Rema, to mention a few.
The night saw a lot of excitement as seen from performances of Flavour, KCEE, Qing Madi, and especially, Juma Jux, Tanzanian music icon and husband of Priscilla Ojo, Iyabo Ojo’s daughter.
A sober tribute to late Singer, Ilerioluwa Imole Aloba AKA Mohbad, with his widow and young son in attendance, had many tears. It was even more emotional when the wife, Omowunmi, son, Liam and brother, Adura, surrounded by their Imolenization Team, accepted his posthumous Awards, one of which was the hugely voted for Viewers’ Choice Category.
The Red Carpet hosts, Eni and Hawa, did justice to a very busy sector of the event and the various personalities they talked about.
Some of the highlights of the event:
Davido presented the next rated award to Odumodu Black.
This was a moment that Davido seemed to have predicted concerning Odumodu in the recent past, by telling him he would win the category.
Sophia Momodu and Annie Macaulay slayed. Sophia, in a beautiful pink gown, turned heads at the Headies. The Real Housewives of Lagos member and mother of Davido’s oldest child, Sophia Momodu, was the cynosure of most eyes. And the recently divorced wife of Tuface Idibia, Young Famous and African cast member Annie Macaulay, also slayed in colourful prints pantsuits and a lemon green floor-length jacket. Abike Dabiri-Erewa was also at the Event.
Popular Filmmaker and Director, Kunle Afolayan, used the opportunity on Stage to give a special shout-out to UK-based juggernaut of Entertainment and Owner of Afronation Concert, Adesegun Adeosun Jr, AKA Smade, who was in the audience.
There were mild dramas in various stages of the night including, headlines grabbing act, Odumodu Black refused to leave the Stage and continued his rather long speech despite the obvious reminders to do so from the announcer, not until he finished his speech which included his mention of being an only child, who was born by his mum at her 39th birthday did he exit the stage.
Cubana Chief Priest was also in some drama due to not having the appropriate invite, and it took a bit of raised voices by his team and reaching a compromise of sorts with the organisers before he was allowed in.
Shallipuppy, the self-acclaimed Pluto President who also performed on the night, has since taken to Social Media to berate the organisers for not having enough plaques to go round hence he wasn’t presented a plaque after winning Best Rap Single.
If there was anyone that had the best night,it had to be Juma Jux, husband of Priscila Ojo.
Tanzanian Bongo Flavour, as the East African beats, is popularly tagged firmly, took centre stage in Lagos that night.
Much to the delight of his wife, Priscilla, Sister, Fatimah, Show Promoter and Concert Owner, Partner of Iyabo Ojo, Paul Okoye, Layole Oyatogun, Priscilla’s Manager and the rest of his team. Jux closed the Show with an electrifying performance that has since gone viral on social media. Even on the most unforgiving platform, X, formerly called Twitter, many cannot praise Jux enough. The organisers’ gamble to have him close the show paid off in every sense of the word. Jux, who is very popular in East Africa, and keeps getting bigger on Nigerian charts since being unveiled as Priscilla Ojo’s fiancé, and now husband, has done his career and self justice by delivering one of his best performances ever. And what is a better place to introduce your music to the very competitive Nigerian audience than silencing doubters on the Headies’ Stage? He also won the Best Artiste from East Africa category, in a very competitive line-up.
The 17th Headies remains a big topic days after it held and despite a few hitches, the Nigerian Showbiz world looks forward to another edition coming up towards the end of the year.
By Titilope Akinbo Oshunlalu
