2023 Headies: Organisers fail to announce winners of 13 categories

The Headies Awards organisers failed to announce winners in 13 categories at the 16th edition of the award show on Sunday at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, USA.

Attendees and viewers around the world were taken aback when co-host Osas Ighodaro announced midway through the show that the ceremony had come to an end, despite the fact that about 13 categories had yet to be presented.

No female award categories were presented before the event was abruptly terminated at approximately 2:30 a.m. Nigerian time.

The categories that weren’t announced include Best Female Artiste, Best Recording of The Year, Songwriter of The Year, Best RnB Single, Best Vocal Performance (Female), Headies Viewers’ Choice, and Best East African Artiste of the Year.

Others are Best North African Artiste of The Year, Best Southern African Artiste of The Year, Best Central African Artiste of The Year, International Artiste Of The Year, Best Alternative Album, and Best RnB Album.

The closing of the ceremony midway has elicited mixed reactions on social media.

Some commentators claimed that the abrupt closure of the event could be due to limited time at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

While the organisers didn’t give any reason for the abrupt closure of the event, they later presented the unannounced awards via social media.
Ayra Starr was named Best Female Artiste of the Year, Waje won Best Vocal Performance (Female), while Victony & Tempoe won the Best Recording of The Year gong for ‘Soweto.’

Cameroon’s Libianca won the Best Central African Artiste of the Year, Morocco’s El Grande Toto was named the Best North African Artiste of the Year, and Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz won the Best East African Artiste of the Year award.

Burna Boy’s ‘For My Hand’ featuring Ed Sheeran was named the Best R&B Single, Chike’s ‘The Brother’s Keeper’ won Best R&B Album, while Victony’s ‘Soweto’ won the Viewers’ Choice award.

With the announcement of the winners of the remaining categories, Burna Boy now ties Rema for the most wins (three awards each).

Burna Boy got ten nominations (the most) and won three of the categories he was nominated in.