The 17th Headies Awards, held on April 27, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, was a night of celebration and controversy. While the event honored excellence in Nigerian music, it also sparked conversations about its organization.
One of the night’s biggest winners, Shallipopi, took home the Best Rap Song award for his hit single Cast featuring OdumoduBlvck. However, despite his victory, the rapper expressed dissatisfaction with the ceremony. In a post on his X account, Shallipopi hinted that he would not be attending future Headies events, citing poor organization, delays, and a lack of professionalism.
His frustration was further emphasized when he stated that he didn’t even want the award for Best Rap Single, suggesting that it should have gone to artists considered more traditional rappers. Shallipopi’s remarks have reignited discussions about the declining prestige of the Headies, with many fans and industry insiders questioning the event’s execution.
The 17th Headies, themed Back To Base, marked the award’s return to Nigeria after two years in the United States. The ceremony featured performances from Next Rated winner OdumoduBlvck, Special Recognition recipient KCEE, Lifetime Achievement recipient Flavour, and rising stars Qing Madi and Ayo Maff. Other notable performances included Tanzanian singer Juma Jux and DR Congo star Innoss B.
Despite the star-studded lineup, Shallipopi’s comments have added to the ongoing debate about the Headies’ ability to maintain its reputation as Nigeria’s premier music award show.
