Giving Headies A Head - Open letter to organisers of the Headies Awards

Please note that this article only represents the thoughts of the writer, not AHB. Read below :

I honestly wanted to stay out of this but every time I think about it I couldn’t just let go, not because I was highly disappointed or was it because I always knew it wasn’t just going make sense. I have many reasons why I couldn’t just stay quiet about this disastrous award ceremony known as the Headies but the main reason is that I am a very passionate fan of Nigerian music industry and I have this habit of enlightening people that always tend to act in a way that would jeopardize the good work others have been doing to make the industry what it is today.

I really have to give credit to Mr. Animashaun, I mean when the Hip Hop Award started it  was like the Grammys and it was really an award that was worth fighting for and that transformation got better when it changed it's name to Headies and I stand to be corrected, people like Mode 9, 2baba, 9ice, D’banj, Psqaure just to mention a few would agree that the Headies played a great role in transforming Nigerian music industry into what it is now and for that once again I salute Mr. Animashaun, I think he also deserve an award too.

I lost hope in the Headies in 2013, aside from the fact that the organization of that event was nothing to write home about, I for one didn’t even like the fact that Sean Tizzle was the winner of that year's Next Rated award. A category that has now even produce far worst non credible winners. From 2014 I only either read what twitter was saying about Headies or find a site to see the names of those who won.

It should be stated for the record that when the Lil Kesh/Reekado Banks issue happened last year I wanted to talk but I felt it wasn’t necessary, I mean na Headies now no be today dem don dey do nonsense, so I kept mute. Seeing what happened at this year's Headies I knew if I didn’t say anything then I would betraying the Nigerian music industry which I vow to protect in my own way. There were many things that went wrong with the event, from artiste not turning up for the award and also those empty seats due to the fact that people didn’t buy tickets (same flaw from last year's edition). Anyway, I just want to say the bitter truth about this year Headies and what they should do going further.

Firstly Mr. Animashaun, I would advise you suspended the Headies for now as this would help you go back to the drawing board. There is no shame in talking a pause, we would understand the fact that you are trying to restructure and if arrogance won’t let you do that then I suggest you sack everyone that was part of the organizing committee most especially those that were responsible for the nomination list. You might not have noticed it but that is where the problem always starts from but most people don’t get to react till the winners are announced. For example let us be honest, what were you thinking when you nominated Tekno as Next Rated, Mizz Kiss as Rookie of the Year and Darey as R&B of the Year? I believe you know this game like the back of your hands so why would you allow this kind of scandalous error occur in the first place.

Mr. Animashaun I am ready to work with you in other to help you put some respect back into the Headies unless you just want to keep deceiving yourself, Headies has lost its value, so yes I am willing to work with you even if na for free.

Now let’s talk about some of the questionable winners, a lot of the nomination and winners are questionable to me but I would only talk about the most embarrassing ones which to me is a slap on our music industry.

Let me start with Egbon Darey who came out all smiling when he was announced as the winner of the Best R&B Single of the Year, bros Darey I am highly disappointed in you. First of you have always said it over time that you see yourself as a soul singer but let even leave that, please can you explain to me how Pray For Me is an R&B song.  The fact the you saw yourself in that category and didn’t reject it makes me shake my head for you, shebi na person be Tekno. Then Mr. Animashaun let even say na mistake them use nominate Darey and it couldn’t be changed, how can you allow that same mistake occur when picking the winner, a category that had Banky W (Made For You), Wande Coal (Superwoman) Simi (Love Don’t Care) Shaydee (Smile) Tjan (Aduke) and somehow you miraculously gave it to Darey ft Soweto Gospel, the fact say na choir members him feature for the song self don disqualify am already?.

Wande Coal’s album Wanted, was one of the best albums in 2016 and I say that with all authority, it might not be the best overall but giving that award to Kiss Daniel, haba that is a calamity and that calamity didn’t stop there as Kiss Daniel also went on to win Best R&B/Pop album of the Year, Headies why? why?? Why??? This category had this like of Wande Coal (Wanted) Seyi Shay (Seyi Or Shay) Darey (Naked) Brymo (Klitoris) and once again you used your instrument of magic and gave it to Kiss Daniel. The only album I didn’t listen to in this category is that of Darey but I am very much abreast with the kind of sounds that was in Wanted and Seyi Or Shay which either one could have been the winner. At this point too I have to say it this, I feel the Headies has a personal beef with Wande Coal, his third nomination which I felt for sure he was going to win turned out to be another broad day light robbery, Vocal Performance,  Shalden?. Even the song way them use nominate am self no be the standard of Superwoman but then again na Headies but really that was messed up, how Shaydee ended up with the award is something I can never comprehend.

Before I go further let me just quickly say this because I know some of you might be on the defensive side and you might start to throw shots at me (not that I care), I know some of these categories are won by votes but then again let ask ourselves this, who are those that are really voting? I challenge Mr. Animashaun to show us the votes because truly I would like to know those non music listeners that voted  Pray For Me as an R&B song. I use the words non music listeners because I know for a fact that every Nigerian that truly listens to music would not even nominate Pray For Me as an R&B song to start with let alone vote for it as the winner. I no go lie Kiss Daniel try for that him album, truth has to be told, but mehn Kaki no be leather and Turkey different from Chicken, Wande Coal album was far better so yes again I would love to see the votes (if it is a voting category) make I know whether Nigerian people no sabi music again or maybe na fine face them they vote for.

My talk plenty gan but I would end it here, though the category I want I am talking about next is arguable but I just want to put a picture for us to see. No doubt Mama was a hit, in fact to me it was one of the biggest song of 2016 which is understandable why Young John won Producer of the Year but ask yourself this, If Phyno’s Fada Fada that just came out like some months ago could win Song of the Year, how come Masterkraft didn’t go home with the Producer of the Year Award considering the fact he was the producer for that song.

Written by @hafeestonova