The Headies Awards is facing backlash after organisers confirm it will hold its 18th edition on October 25 in Toronto, Canada.
The announcement was made on Monday, June 15, by Ayo Animashaun, founder and Executive Producer of The Headies and CEO of Smooth Promotions and Hip TV. According to him, the ceremony will take place in Toronto while a live watch party and selected award presentations will be held simultaneously in Lagos.
“The first thing is that we’re going to Toronto for the 18th Headies. The second thing is that we’re not leaving Nigeria behind. We’re going to have a watch party and a watch show between Toronto and Lagos. For the first time, we’re also having a training and investment summit,” Animashaun said.
The Headies, launched in 2006 as The Hip Hop World Award, marks its 20th anniversary with this edition. The 18th edition had originally been scheduled to hold in December 2025 as part of the Detty December festivities but did not take place. It is the third time the ceremony will be staged outside Nigeria, following the 15th and 16th editions held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2022 and 2023.
Responding to criticism, Animashaun said The Headies is built as a global platform for Afrobeats and that hosting it abroad does not reduce its commitment to Nigeria.
“Afrobeats is now a global movement, and part of our responsibility is to take the culture to audiences around the world. We were back in Nigeria last year, and we remain committed to celebrating and investing in the industry at home. Hosting the awards internationally does not diminish our commitment to Nigeria; it expands the reach and influence of the music and artists we represent,” he said.
He added that Toronto was chosen for practical reasons. “Toronto offers the partnerships, infrastructure, international visibility, and economic support required to deliver The Headies at the scale that African music deserves. Lagos will always be home,” he said, noting that the awards were “born in Nigeria, built in Nigeria.”
The 56-year-old media entrepreneur also urged critics to focus on supporting local initiatives. “Rather than look for what we’re not doing right, see the things we can do better and support us on this journey,” he said.
The decision prompted comments on X, one user wrote: “There is something fundamentally wrong with every aspect of the Nigerian music industry. AMVCA is now considered a prestigious award in Africa, but just look at this Agbaya called Headies.”
Other reactions were satirical. One fan wrote: “At this rate, the next Headies will be held on a cruise ship somewhere between Iceland and Greenland. Why stop in Canada?”
Another fan argued that artists who avoid the ceremony in Nigeria would likely attend in Canada. “Watch how almost every Afrobeats artist will troop out and attend the event just because it will be held in Canada. But if it’s held in Nigeria, they won’t attend,” the user wrote.
Not all reactions placed blame on the organisers alone. One fan wrote: “I know we all like to bash Headies awards, including me. But the most crucial part of the problem is our artists; they don’t give a shit about it. It’s different from the AMVCA. Actors treat it like the Oscars. Funding is also crucial for Headies.”
Separately, organisers confirmed during a Headies Big Announcement event at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, that disc jockey DJ Obi will host the official pre-party for the 18th edition. Animashaun said the pre-party is meant to open the awards season and bring together artists, producers, media figures, and industry stakeholders ahead of the main ceremony in Toronto.
DJ Obi previously set a Guinness World Record for the longest marathon club DJing session. Organisers said the pre-party will include live performances and surprise appearances, though further details on the event’s date have not been released.
