By Rita Chioma

The much anticipated Headies 2016 award has come and gone but the controversies it stirred is still brewing and yet to settle.

Allure Vanguard was there and brings you details of the good, bad and ugly side of the award show which was held yesterday, December 23, 2016, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels, Lagos.

The drama all started with Pana crooner, Tekno rejecting the famous award seen as Nigerian version of Hollywood’s Grammy, simply because he claims he is bigger than the ‘Next Rated Category’, he was nominated on. Well, the organizers later disqualified him.

The show started quite early with less paparazzi, missing out on all the usual glitz and glam, unlike the previous years.

That fact was evident as the award show started,  huge number of fans were quick to point out the long rows of reserved seats for nominees and stars who failed to turn up.

The show which was hosted by the duo of Falz and Adesua, who were amazing. They didn’t have enough practice, but they combined humor, wit, slapstick displays to put out a good performance, and salvage what they can. Falz and Etomi gave music performances, were glowing in fashion, and also scored a winner with the funny depiction of Bobrisky.

Notable absentees were the entire members of Mavin Records and YBNL Records, two music companies whose bosses had a bitter spat at the previous edition.

Simi failed to claim her award for “Best Vocal Performance”, Kiss Daniel failed to claim an award, Illbliss, who was a big winner in two categories did not show up, Patoranking, who won the Best Reggae/Dancehall single was absent, and Olamide won two awards, but he was a no show.

From what was gathered, viewers from home, who watched a live feed mostly complained about the poor quality of the pictures and audio, while the production of the show failed to impress. The ideas were large and designed to be effective and entertaining, the performances all planned out, and the awards looking very shiny. But execution left a lot to be desired.

Performances on the night was not bad. The organizers attempted to mix vintage performers with the toast of today. Tony Tetuila, Eddy Montana and Eedris Abdulkareem came through to give us a trip back to the days of Remedies, one of Nigeria’s finest music groups.

Jazzman Olofin and Adewale Ayuba was a revelation, while Raskimono and Aramide’ performance is melding of two generations of music. For real music lovers, this was the best.

It was never expected! During the show, Kcee and Harrysong reunited on stage. The former label mates were best of friends and frequent collaborators during their time at Five Star Music until November 2016, when Harrysong abruptly split from the group and swiftly set up a new music company, named Alter Plate.

But at the Headies 2016, all of that seemed to have been abandoned and peace achieved. Harrysong’s ‘Reggae Blues’ won the award for Song Of The Year, and Kcee, who collaborated with him on the track climbed the stage saying, “We been dey fight, but this na public, we go continue later,” the singer said jokingly as they hugged and accepted the award from presenter, Uti Nwachukwu. The duo later showed up to present an award together.

Phyno , who appeared late and had a ceremonious entrance, was awarded the Song Of The Year for his efforts on ‘Fada Fada’, came out to receive his trophy. The rapper opted not to give an acknowledgement speech, grabbing the mic and coldly muttering “Me I no get speech o, Thank u for the award”

But no trophy was handed to him. No assistant usher brought any trophy on stage for the star, and he was made to walk back to his seat empty handed. Midway through the walk, he met up with Ayo Animashaun, the organizer of the award and laid his frustration.

It’s still trending on social medias and been used as mockery. It was the shock of Wizkid snubbing Eva Alordiah’s fiancé, Caesar.

Wizkid walked into the venue almost at the last hour sending the crowd into a frenzy. While walking past he reached out to hug someone, Caesar thinking it was him, stretched his arms only for Wizkid to ditch him and hug Eva.

The event was later ended abruptly. With a number of awards not presented and Flavour showing up to round it off.