#14thHeadies: How These Controversial Moments Messed Up The Show

The 2021 Headies came with its share of controversial moments that messed up one of entertainment's main events of the year.

Hosted by comedian Bovi and actress Nancy Isime, the 2021 edition of the Headies took place at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, and lived to up to expectations in some areas, and disappointed in others.

Among the winners of the event, none stood taller than Fireboy DML who went home with four awards (Best R&B Album, Best Pop Album, Best R&B Single, and Headies Revelation).

However, there were certain anomalies and controversial moments that many may have noticed. Below are some of them:

Bovi Wears Bloody #EndSars Shirt

When it comes to standup comedy in Nigeria, the name of Bovi is well known. Often telling hilarious jokes infused with exaggerated expressions, Bovi has warmed his way into the hearts of many in the country. But his outfit at the event was anything but funny.

Bovi donned a Bloody white #EndSars shirt; an obvious nod to the protest staged by the Nigerian youth to end the brutality continuously perpetrated by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Nothing says 'controversy' than that.

Some may have chosen to put the tragic ordeal of the protest behind them but Bovi isn't one of them as he showed clearly at the 2021 Headies.

Controversial Nominations

Music fans who have been following up on their favourite artists know that some of these stars were put alongside new acts in some of the nominations categories. While this isn't out of place, it is important to note that some of the new artists have continued to release songs that have delighted the people for the past few years, unlike the new ones who only trended recently for their tracks and got in the nominees' list as a result.

There may be no need to mention names but it is fairly obvious that some known artists weren't even put on any of the nominees' lists despite deserving to be there? Why were their names omitted? This is one question the organizers have to answer.

READ ALSO: #14thHeadies: See Full List Of Winners

Burna Boy Snub

How can the organizers of the Headies compile the different winners from the lists of nominees and leave out someone as significant as Burna Boy?

 In the past year, he has continued to show the world that his act has gone beyond boundaries (breaking and creating several records along the way). Some of the most memorable hit tracks of the past year have come from him and yet, he doesn't even get a win? 

Burna's African Giant was both critically and commercially acclaimed but it failed to nab the album of the year despite its nomination. 

Album of the Year

A question that comes to mind is, what year was under review in the consideration of the categories for Producer of the Year and Best Pop Album?

Firstly, in the category of Best Pop Album, the following individuals were nominated; Fireboy DML (Apollo), Davido (A Good Time), Burna Boy (African Giant), Yemi Alada (Woman of Steel), and Adekunle Gold (Afro Pop Vol. 1).

Davido's A Good Time album, Burna Boy's African Giant album, and Yemi Alade's Woman of Steel album were all released in 2019, while Fireboy's Apollo and Adekunle Gold's Afro Pop Vol. 1 were released in 2020. How then can they put in the same category? Which year was being considered?

Producer of the Year

In the Producer of the Year category, we saw songs by Teni, Oxlade, Burna Boy, and Sarz featuring Wurld. As most music enthusiasts know, Away by Oxlade was released in 2020, Pull Up by Burna was released in 2019, Teni's Billionaire came out in 2019, and Mad by Sarz and Wurld was dropped in 2019.

From the information given above, only Away by Oxlade was released in 2020, so why should it be included in the list at all? 

So, it can be seen that the 2021 Headies event was marred by these issues and they haven't been addressed yet. It is hoped that mistakes like these will not continue to be inclusive in future events.