The Headies Awards originally called the Hip Hop World Awards, is a music awards show established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize the outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The annual ceremony features performances by established and promising artists.

The 15th Annual Headies Awards Show is coming to America this year on September 4th, 2022. For
the first time in history and the first of its kind, the world’s most prestigious Nigerian/Pan
African awards show is transporting Africa to the United States of America through the
celebration of Afrobeats, African Music, and Culture with the sounds of South, East, and
West Africa.

To discuss the importance of The Headies is Spotify Radar Africa artist Ayra Starr who, hailing from Nigeria, is globally recognized as an artist to watch and a leading nominee for The Headies Awards this year, with 8 nominations.

What does The Headies Awards mean to you as an Afrobeats artist?

The Headies Awards is a prestigious award to come from Nigeria and the organizers have done a great job in sustaining the relevance of the award ceremony over the years. Young artists like me grew up watching the awards and knowing it as our biggest awards ceremony.

Nobody will celebrate us, Afrobeats artists, like the people who understand what we do and know how far we have come like us, and that’s exactly what the award does.

How does it feel to be the lead nominee for the 15th Annual Headies Awards?

Surreal describes it. The award ceremony I grew up watching is one I’m being nominated for and I’m not just being nominated but I am the lead nominee at what many would describe as the early stage of my career. Which of the blessings of the lord can I really deny haha pinch me!

What do you want the American mainstream music audience to know most about Afrobeats and African Music?

That there are diverse talents here and we have different artistes who are amazing at different genres of music 

 What was your reaction upon learning that the 15th Annual Headies Awards show was coming to America?

It was surprising but I also felt maybe it was time Nigerians in the diaspora also got a taste of the ceremony we’ve been opportune to have a taste of over the years

As the global diaspora continues to close the gap while embracing and appreciating Afrobeats, what impact do you want this unprecedented event to have on the culture here in the United States?

I would love for the people to feel connected to their roots. For them to embrace it just as much as we enjoy making the music and putting Afrobeats on the map.