Poor sound, low picture quality mar Headies 2016

A lot of people had looked forward to this year’s Headies awards with great expectations even as the organisers of the event promised to up the ante on every aspect and put the show a step ahead of previous editions. “As the countdown began, more people got frenzy, nominees of different award categories took the battle to their social media platforms to canvass for votes that would earn them the prestigious awards and put their career on the map.

Held on Thursday at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos State, Headies, which used be called Hip Hop awards, took the state by storm as fans trooped to the venue to cheer their music stars, who had been nominated in one or two categories.

All the seats were filled. Even the VIP tables that were sold forN500,000 were said to have been booked days before the award. Despite the poor economic condition, Lagos residents surely love to party and would not have missed such an event that would afford them the privilege to dance, interact and see their favourite stars closely. No one would want to miss another likely Olamide/ Don Jazzy outburst that rocked the 11th edition of the award last year.

Maybe it would be Davido versus Wizkid this time or Adekunle Gold versus Falz. There had been reports that Gold and Falz may be having a sizzling romance with X3M Music act, Simi, who incidentally emerged Best Vocal Performance (female) at the event.

Falz, who was a co-anchor at the event, was almost forced to receive Simi’s award on her behalf, when the presenter of the award, Lara George asked him to come and accept the award on behalf of Simi, who had not arrived at the venue at that time, but the Bad Baddo Baddest crooner got wind of the game plan and declined.

While the show may be adjudged to have started on a good footing, same could not be said about the production of the event. The quality of the sound was poor as those who viewed the event from home lamented the poor sound and picture quality. “If Headies awards that is rated as Nigeria’s version of the Grammy award could be this poor in terms of production, sound and picture, I think the organisers have a long way to go,” a fan reacted on twitter.

One striking feature of the evening was the absence of some of the top acts, a development that baffled most of their fans. The Mavin crew, led by Don Jazzy, was not at the event even as Olamide, Davido, and a host of others shunned the awards.

The show saw Kiss Daniel cart away three awards out of the five nominations he got. Dare Art Alade’s Pray For Me won him the best single recording just as Young John, who produced Kiss Daniel’s Mama track, emerged the Producer of the Year. Olamide’s Who You EPP track him the most popular song on the street award while Wizkid emerged Artiste of the Year, beating Tiwa Savage, Falz, Yemi Alade and Olamide to the crown. Phyno’s hard work was also rewarded as he clinched the song of the year with his Fada Fada single.

The much-anticipated Next Rated Category that was won by Reekardo Banks last year was surprisingly given to Mr Eazi, a new act, who burst into the scene less than two years ago. Tekno, Ycee, Humblesmith and Mr Eazi had been nominated in the category, but Mr Eazi emerged winner. Tekno’s nomination was said to have been withdrawn by the organisers, who felt he did not take part in some of the prerequisite roles expected of him in the buildup to the award.

Harrysong also stole the show as his Reggae Blues single, which featured Olamide, Kcee, Orezi and Iyanya won him Best Pop Single of the year. A drama ensued when Uti Nwachukwu asked Kcee, who has reportedly  fallen out with his former partner, Harrysong, to join him on stage for the award.

It will be recalled that Harrysong left Kcee’s Five Star Music about two months ago after five years to float his own Music company, Alter Plate.