THE 2024 edition of the Headies Awards will be remembered not only for its winners but for the emotional highs that gripped the audience throughout the night. Held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, the ceremony offered a mix of celebration, reflection, and drama, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
One of the most poignant moments came with the posthumous honour bestowed on Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, whose sudden death in September 2023 at the age of 27 sparked nationwide mourning. In a tribute segment that brought tears to many eyes, the late singer was awarded a Special Recognition Award, cementing his influence on Nigeria’s music industry despite his short career. Mohbad’s breakout track, Peace, had charted on Apple Music’s Top 10 Nigeria in 2022, and his posthumous streaming numbers on Audiomack reportedly surged by over 280% within a week of his death.
During the tribute, a video montage of Mohbad’s performances and interviews was played, drawing emotional responses from the audience, including standing ovations and chants of “Imole! Imole!” — a nod to his nickname, Light. The emotional weight of the tribute underscored the Headies’ commitment to honouring artists whose impact transcends their lifetimes.
The night also witnessed an unscripted moment of high drama when Odumodublvck, winner of Best Rap Album for Eziokwu, took the stage. Mid-speech, the rapper, known for his raw energy and street-centric lyrics, launched into an impassioned rant against industry gatekeeping. His statement, “We did it without una!” referring to traditional industry support, quickly set social media ablaze, with his acceptance speech trending on X (formerly Twitter) under the hashtag #OdumoduAtHeadies, garnering over 50,000 tweets within two hours.
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Odumodublvck’s boldness resonated with a younger generation of artists and fans who feel alienated by mainstream structures. His performance of Declan Rice, which has accumulated over 15 million streams on Spotify as of April 2025, turned the ceremony into a rallying cry for independence and authenticity in Nigerian music.
Statistically, this year’s Headies reflected the dynamism of Nigeria’s music scene. According to figures announced by the organisers:
Over 1.5 million public votes were cast for the Next Rated category, won by Seyi Vibez.
Viewership across YouTube and HipTV’s live streams peaked at approximately 2.8 million concurrent viewers, a 35% increase compared to the previous year.
Spotify reported a 15% increase in Nigerian streams on the night following the ceremony, signalling a direct engagement spike.
While heavyweights like Rema, Asake, and Ayra Starr picked up major awards, it was the raw emotion of Mohbad’s tribute and Odumodublvck’s rebellious proclamation that etched 2024’s Headies into the hearts of fans.
In a year where numbers told one story and emotions told another, the Headies succeeded in reminding everyone that music is as much about feeling as it is about fame.
