Encomium
+The most fabulous dresses of the evening
The organizers of The Headies, Nigeria’s biggest and most prestigious music awards, Ayo Animashaun-led Smooth Promotions have delivered yet another successful event, celebrating the best of Nigerian songs.
Held on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at the Expo Centre of the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, the sold-out event featured spectacular performances from some of Nigeria’s music stars.
By 5pm, music disciples thronged the beautifully decorated venue. The crowd was much, as ENCOMIUM Weekly observed long queues at the ticket selling points. The Headies traffic officials were on ground to control free flow of cars as they drove in. No parking space. Everywhere was jam-parked.
VVIP and Premium guests were treated like kings and queens, as they were picked in unregistered limo from the car park to the red carpet, from where they proceeded to the palatial carpet near the pool side for the pre-award cocktails. It was a wholesome experience meant for the most important personalities in the entertainment industry.
For other guests in the Regular and VIP categories, there was no really fanfair. From the selling point to the mini-red carpet created for them to take photograph, they headed to the main arena.
At 9: 07 pm, the Headies awards, which was expected to kick start by 9pm didn’t start. When the show could have started, the organizers was busy setting the stage and doing sound checks. This got most of the audience angry, as some expressed disappointment over the late commencement.
“This is the 9th edition and the problem of late commencement has been there for long. I expect the organizers to have passed through this level”, an embittered music fan lamented, while reacting to the late commencement.
Finally, the moment everybody was expecting came, and The Headies 2014 commenced with the pre-event performances by 11:35 pm (approximately three hours behind schedule) and ended the following day at exactly 5am.
ENCOMIUM Weekly presents some of the most interesting moments of The Headies, 2014…
PRE-EVENT PERFORMANCES
The pre-event performances started at 11:35 pm with about five performances from up and coming artistes, including Slyde, Young GreyC, Reakado Banks and Lil Kesh who gave a brilliant dance step of the monstrous hit dance step, Shoki. Interestingly, these young artistes, who were performing on The Headies for the first time, thrilled; before the Better Pikin crooner, Harrysong and gospel singer, Niki Laoye rounded off the pre-event performances by 12:05am.
THE SHOW OFFICIALLY DECLARED OPENED BY THE HOSTS
After waited for hours, the show finally started. The hosts of the night’s event, one of the Nigeria’s funniest comedians, Basketmouth and eloquent radio presenter, Toke Makinwa gorgeously appeared on stage to officially declare the show opened. As usual, as they welcomed guests, they apologized for starting the event very late. It was by around 12:20am.
WHY BOVI SHUNNED THE HEADIES AS CO-HOSTS
Originally, comedian Bovi was billed to host the awards alongside Toke Makinwa. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be found on that night. No official release from the organizers on why Bovi, who was later replaced by Basketmouth, couldn’t make it. However, sources said the humour merchant pulled out few days before the awards without any reason. Thank God, Basketmouth came to the rescue and he was perfectly a good complement for Toke Makinwa.
2FACE WON BEST R&B SINGLE OF THE YEAR
– Missed the event, as Mrs. Annie Idibia Picked award
Chocolate City artiste, Victoria Kemani and DJ Xclusive kicked started the presentation of the awards for the Best RnB category, which was won by the living legend and multiple awards winning 2Face Idibia.
2Face defeated Timi Dakolo, Wande Coal and others to pick the award, which was received by his beautiful wife, Mrs. Annie Idibia. She gave a short speech, thanking the organisers, adding, “2Face will appreciate it.” However, 2Baba was absent at the star-studded awards.
DOROBUCCI IS THE BEST POPSONG OF THE YEAR
– Don Jazzy absent
It was a difficult decision for the jury to come with the winner of this category, considering the caliber of songs nominated. The Pop song of the year had Dorobucci by Don-Jazzy’s led Mavin crew; Aye by Davido; Jonny by Yemi Alade; Pull-Over by KCee; Double Wahala by Oritshafemi; and Caro by Wizkid and Starboy crew. Dorobucci was eventually announced the Best Pop. All the crew came on stage to pick up the plaque, except Don Jazzy, who was absent at The Headies. Dr. Sid appreciated fans’ supports for accepting the song as a hit, promised to give them more.
INTERLUDE: STOP THE VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN CLIP AIRED
At 12:37, a clip on stop the violence was aired, where notable TV personalities and celebrities voiced their support against violence. Some of the victims of rape also related their experience in the clip that lasted for about 10 minutes.
PHYNO BEATS OLAMIDE, ICE PRINCE, OTHERS TO WIN BEST RAP SINGLE
Best Rap Single was another tight category featuring Phyno, Olamide, Posly TD, Eva, Illbliss and Ice Prince. The time was already 12:50 am, the tension came down among their fans when Ouch! Boss, Uche Nnaji and Tosin Bucknor announced Phyno’s Parcel as the Best Rap single. The indigenous rapper was filled with joy as he came to the stage to receive his award. In his acceptance speech, the Ghost Mode crooner specially thanked the producer of the award-winning Parcel, Major Bang, who was also on stage with him.
WHEN TOKE MAKINWA’S OUTFIT BECAME SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION
– Appeared in 8 classic outfits
Around 1am, Toke Makinwa appeared in another outfit alone without her co-host, Basketmouth. She invited Julius Agwu on stage to entertain the excited crowd. Before she announced the next performance, Toke Makinwa’s outfit became the subject of discussion and the look on the faces of the audience weren’t pleasant. When she appeared in the third outfit, ENCOMIUM Weekly overhead some of the guests saying, “This one is better than the one that made her look like a clown” The beautiful media personality rocked in eight outfits reportedly made by Toyin Lawani.
KCEE’S PERFORMANCE EXCITEDTHE CROWD
– joined by Nollywood acts, Saka and Dawuda to perform Pull Over
One of the fantastic performances of the night was by the Limpopo crooner, KCee, who appeared in police uniform with Nollywood actors, Afeez Oyetoto (Simply Saka) and Dawuda to perform one of his hit songs, Pull Over. It was a repeat of what the trio did in the song’s music video. It was very dramatic, but the fun didn’t last for long, as KCee performed only Pull-Over alone without Wizkid, who collaborated in it. The performance ended 1:05am.
BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE AWARD GOES TO ORITSEFEMI
…Gets another car
DJ Spinall and delectable radio presenter, Funmi honoured Ortisefemi with the award of the Best Street-Hop Artiste of this year’s Headies. The elated singer stormed the stage with his crew, did a special performance of Double Wahala, the song that earned him the award, before he received the plaque. He dedicated the award to God, relating how his manager was involved in an accident with his new Range Rover.
He also informed the audience that he already got another car, courtesy of one Mazi.
TIMI DAKOLO’S IYAWO MI WON BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
– co-starring wife, Busola, during his performance
At 1:12am, Nollywood actor, Annie Idibia and comedian, Okey Bakassi presented the award of the Best Vocal Performance (Male) to Timi Dakolo, whose Iyawo Mi, outshone songs in that category. He came on stage with his beautiful wife, Busola to receive the award. Timi thanked the organizers and fans, saying, “There is no me without God.” Thereafter, he faced his wife, “Thank you to my beautiful wife for allowing me to do the song for you.”
…Timi later came on stage to give us the taste of Iyawo Mi in a dramatic way. Guess who she featured? His wife, Busola, to replicate what he did in the romantic My Wife video.
SEAN TIZZLE’S THE JOURNEY WON BEST R&B/POP ALBUM
– Defeated KCEE, TIWA Savage, Burna Boy
The award for the Best RnB/Pop Album was definitely a birthday gift for talented singer, Sean Tizzle’s. He wasn’t expecting it because the category was a tight one with Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, KCee nominated; until Kayode Akintemi and Pasuma Wonder announced Sean Tizzle’s The Journey album as the Best RnB/Pop Album of the Year.
PATORANKING AND TIWA SAVAGE PERFORM GIRLIE O
– How Tiwa Savage joined Patoranking on stage
It’s definitely one of the biggest performances of the night. The memory of Tiwa Savage and Patoranking’s mind-blowing performance of Girlie O (remix) on that night will be with the music pundits for a long time. The music diva joined Patoranking in a spectacular way to ignite the crowd, who didn’t only sing, but danced along. What a wholesome performance, and obviously the audience wanted more, but no time to do just that.
PATORANKING WINS BIG
– excited about winning Next Rated
Buzzing dancehall act Patoranking was the cynosure of all eyes at The Headies 2014. Shortly after his performances, he received his first award, Best Reggae/Dancehall with the Girlie O. The fast rising act went home with two other awards; namely, his collaborative effort inEmergency as the Best Collabo featuring WizzyPro, Skales and Runtown; and the biggest award of the night, Next Rated category where he defeated Orezi, Yemi Alade, Skales, among others; the award that came with a brand new Hyundai jeep.
…OLAMIDE, DAVIDO ALSO WIN BIG
Omo Baba Olowo, Davido and YBNL CEO, Olamide also emerged the biggest winners of the prestigious award as they picked two awards. Davido won the Best Artiste of the Year and his popular hit single, Aye, won the best song of the year. As for Olamide, he maintained his dominance as the best rapper in Nigeria, when he received his award in the Best Rap Album of the Year. Interestingly, the same album, Baddest Boy Ever Liveth also won the Best Album of the Year.
MAVIN CREW TOO…
The Mavin crew got three nomination and luckily, they clinched two; Producer of the Year, Don Jazzy (who produced Dorobucci); and Rookie of the Year won by the sensational Reakodo Banks…However, the MAVIN first lady, Tiwa Savage lost the Best Vocal Performance (Female) to Niyola.
…IN HONOUR OF KEFEE, GOLDIE, FATAI ROLLING DOLLAR, FATHER-U-TURN, MC LOPH
– Taiwo Oshadipe’s name missing
Few minutes was set aside to honour the fallen heroes and heroines of Nigeria’s entertainment industry. The likes of Kefee, Goldie, Fatai Rolling Dollars, Father-U-Turn and MC Loph were remembered for their contribution to the growth of music. This was a good initiative but audience observed that one of the Oshadipe Twins, Taiwo, who died few months ago, was not among the music stars honoured.
THE SHOW ENDS 5AM
The curtain for the 2014 edition of The Headies was drawn on Monday morning by 5am, December 15, 2015. Asidethe late commencement, it was a fantastic show, and this goes to prove that The Headies remains the mother of all musical awards in Nigeria.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
- Rookie of the Year: Reekado Banks
- Best R and B single: 2Face (Let somebody love you)
- Best Pop Single: Mavins (Dorobucci)
- Best Rap Single: Pyhno (Parcel)
- Best Street Hop: Oritsefemi (Double Wahala)
- Best Vocal Performance (Male): Timi Dakolo (Iyawo Mi)
- Best R and B Pop Album: Sean Tizzle (The Journey)
- Best Vocal Performance (Female): Niyola
- Best Rap album: Olamide (Baddest Guy Ever Liveth)
- Best Reggae Dancehall Single: Patoranking (Girlie O)
- Best Collabo: Wizzy Pro (Emergency)
- Hip-hop World Revelation: Kcee
- Recording of the Year: Cobhams Asuquo (Ordinary People)
- Best Alternative Song: Bolaji (BOJ)
- Producer of the Year: Don Jazzy
- Lyricist on the roll: Jesse Jagz
- Next Rated: Patoranking
- Best African Artiste of the year: Sarkodie
- Best Music Video Director: Clarence Peters
- Song of the Year: Davido (Aye)
- Album of the Year: Olamide
-MICHAEL NWOKIKE
