Ahead of this weekend’s hosting of Nigeria’s biggest hip hop award, The Headies Music in Atlanta, US-based turntable talent, Allwell John Ibama better known as DJ Kev believes that the decision to move the award abroad is a big plus for Afrobeats.
Currently in it’s 15th year, The Headies leaves it’s traditional home of Lagos and would hold at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta, Georgia, United States on September 4, 2022.
Wizkid is top of the pack with 10 nods followed by first-timer, Ayra Starr and Tems with eight apiece. With seven nods each, the duo of Adekunle Gold and Davido at tied at third most nominated artistes.
To reflect its growth and evolution, organizers had earlier announced the expansion of the award categories by adding three new categories namely, International Artiste of The Year, Best Inspirational Single and Digital Artiste of the Year. In total, 118 artistes are gunning for 35 award categories
DJ Kev aligns with Ava Hall, the Executive Producer of the award who posited thus, “The Afrobeats movement is truly global and this show is celebrating pan-African music excellence and the collaborative connection it has made with the US music industry.”
In his separate remarks, DJ Kev who fancies himself as an Afrobeats front-row player on US soil where he is based for over a decade said, “The Headies’ journey to the United States is a big win for Afrobeats and I commend the organizers for their foresight. This is not to say there are no other Nigerian awards showcase on US soil. However, The Headies is Nigeria’s Grammy Award and taking it away from Nigeria to the United States helps to solidify the Nigerian pop-culture experience on a global scale particularly Afrobeats as its most dominant variant.
“As player in the game on US soil, I have witnessed first-hand the influence of the Afrobeats movement on mixed audience of multi-cultural races. I’m excited at the strategic-thinking of the organizers of the award and I hope this international showcase can be fully leveraged to cement the place of Afrobeats on the global music landscape. There’s no doubt that Nigerian pop music is the beautiful bride of world music nonetheless, stakeholders must not rest on their oars. More strategic avenues should be sought to push Afrobeats into new territories and culture.”