The organisers of the renowned music awards show, The Headies Awards, have announced that the 17th edition of the event will return to Nigeria after two successful editions held in the United States.
The 16th edition of The Headies took place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, serving as the venue for the award ceremony two years ago. However, the organisers made a triumphant ‘come back’ announcement on Wednesday, revealing through a post on their Instagram page that they are bringing the show “back home.”
The official announcement expressed the immense growth of Afrobeats both as a music genre and a global movement. “Over the past few years, Afrobeats as music and as a movement has exploded beyond our shores and beyond our dreams. Our songs have recorded billions of streams and sat comfortably on some of the world’s biggest charts,” the statement reads.
Acknowledging the global impact of African music, the statement continues, “Our music is the soundtrack to millions of videos online. Our stars have sold out the biggest arenas even as African collaborations do insane numbers. The Headies followed the music in honour of this explosion.”
The Headies Awards has a rich history of recognizing and celebrating the achievements of major music talents before they conquer the world stage. The 2022 and 2023 editions of The Headies took place in the US, providing a platform for global stars and future talents to showcase their prowess.
However, in a bold move, the organisers declared, “This year—2024— we are bringing the world back home. To the place that birthed the sound that has led everybody to the dancefloor, that has launched viral videos, that has put our continent right at the centre of global pop culture.“