Why we took Headies out of Nigeria – Ayo Animashaun

The Headies have developed into Nigeria’s most well-known music award throughout its nearly 20-year history, helping promote and celebrate the country’s musical heritage.

Last week, the Headies Academy announced that the award would return to Nigeria after two consecutive editions in Atlanta, Georgia.

In an interview with Arise News, Headies Executive Producer Mr. Ayo Animashaun stated that the decision to return the award show to Nigeria was motivated by Nigerians’ requests that the ceremony be returned to the country.

“I realised When you are doing something for the people and it’s a sacrifice and not for yourself, you have to listen to the people. They said they wanted the awards back home,” Animashaun told Arise News.

He further went on to say that the decision to take the awards to Atlanta Georgia was what saved the awards from what appeared to be an impending doom.

“If we didn’t take this award out of Nigeria, it would have died,” Animashaun said revealing the reason the 15th and 16th editions held in the United States.

In the interview, Ayo Animashaun also stated that in the past two years, the Headies have gotten the most support from the US embassy in Nigeria which hosted them to parties and also granted visas to Nigerians to attend the event.

He pointed out that the support of the American embassy contributed to the decision to take the show outside Nigeria.

With the Headies returning to Nigeria for its 17th edition, Animashaun called on the Nigerian government to support the award show.