Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi, and artiste, Falz, anchored the award show, which began late night of Thursday into the early hours of Friday, 22-23 December, 2016.
The show, which was held at Eko Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, saw Kiss Daniel clinch three awards out of the five categories he was nominated in.
Wizkid won the Artist of the Year award at The Headies 2016.
However, one thing that clearly stood out at the glamourous event was the fact that Nigerian artistes boycotted the 2016 Headies in their numbers.
Notable absentees were the entire members of Mavin Records and YBNL Records, led by Don Jazzy and Olamide respectively.
Their nonappearance was so glaring with numerous nominees and awardees absent at the awards. So much so that the presenters had to collect the awards on their behalf backstage.
- Simi failed to claim her award for “Best Vocal Performance”, Kiss Daniel failed to claim an award, and so did Illblisss who was a big winner in two categories.
- Patoranking who won the Best Reggae/Dancehall single was absent, and Olamide, who won two awards, was nowhere to be seen.
Big winners on the night include Darey, Illbliss, Kiss Daniel and Mr. Eazi, who won the Next Rated category.
The Headies has been greatly termed as the Nigerian Grammy Awards since it's existence but sadly, the award is fast losing its prestige as it has been fraught with several allegations and controversies ranging from favoritism, prejudgment and indefinitely compromise.
Ahead of the awards, Nigerian music sensation, Tekno, was disqualified from the highly coveted “Next Rated” category. Tekno who was reported to have lambasted the organizers for including him in the category.
In an Instagram post made about a month ago, Tekno said, “Next rated after how many years! Let’s be honest pls”.
Clarence Peters also condemned the nominee list.
Here is a shortlist of the winners and their categories:
• Best Street Hop – Olamide
• Best Reggae/Dancehall Single – No Kissing Babe by Patoranking feat. Sarkodie
• Best Alternative Song – U Suppose Know by Bez
• Best Vocal Performance Male – Smile by Shaydee
• Best Vocal Performance Female – Love Don’t Care by Simi
• Best Pop Single – Reggae Blues by Harrysong, Kcee, Orezi, Olamide, Iyanya
• Best RnB Single – Pray For Me by Darey
• Producer of the Year – Mama by Young Jonn
• Best Music Video – Soldier by Clarence Peters
• Best Recording of the Year – Pray For Me by Darey
• Lyricist on the Roll – iLLbliss
• Best RnB Pop Album – Kiss Daniel
• Hip Hop World Revelation – Kiss Daniel
• Best Collabo – Soldier by Simi and Falz
• Song of the Year – Fada Fada by Phyno
• Next Rated – Mr. Eazi
• Album of the Year – New Era by Kiss Daniel
• Artiste of the Year – Wizkid
and Special Recognition Award – Flavour