As The Headies gears up for its highly anticipated 2025 edition, a new documentary titled The Story of The Headies takes a nostalgic dive into the origins of Nigeria’s biggest music award show.
In the video, veteran singer and media personality Darey Art-Alade, who hosted the inaugural edition in 2006, reminisced about the groundbreaking event. “I was the first host of The Headies. It was a dream. I’m just happy I was part of something that would become huge for the culture,” he said.
Reflecting on that historic night, Darey emphasized the importance of style and presentation in setting the tone for the event. “Whenever I throwback to that night, I remember what I was wearing— a jacket and nice boot-cut pants. Style was important as well as delivery because we needed to guide the audience, tell them what it was all about,” he added.
His wife, Deola Art-Alade, who played a pivotal role in shaping the event’s production, also shared her perspective. “We raised the bar, hovered above it, and raised it again. We prioritized storytelling, lighting, and staging,” she noted.
The first edition of The Headies, originally known as the Hip Hop World Awards, was held at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.
Themed “The Revolution is here,”It aimed to celebrate outstanding achievements in Nigerian music and has since evolved into a continental force, recognizing African talent on the global stage.
Darey’s recollection highlights how the awards show, founded by Ayo Animashaun, has grown from a promising initiative into a prestigious platform shaping the industry’s trajectory. Now, nearly two decades later,
The Headies continue to set new benchmarks for music excellence in Africa.
