Best-selling singer-
songwriter Omawumi Megbele and hip-
hop icon Jude ‘M.I’ Abaga have been
announced as hosts for the 7th edition
of The Headies – Nigeria’s biggest music
honours event. Announcing this today,
executive producer Ayo Animashaun
says the pair have been selected in line
with the awards’ tradition of picking
talented and inspiring entertainers, to
front an awards ceremony that parades
some of the continent’s biggest
entertainers. “It’s a very important year
for us at The Headies, and for the
Nigerian music industry in general’,
Animashaun, who founded the awards
in 2006 says. “And we found in M.I and
Omawumi, two great entertainers who
are very passionate about the awards,
passionate about their work, passionate
about the music business and a great
source of inspiration to young, up and
coming artistes, because of their peculiar
stories climbing up”. Omawumi, 30,
came second on West Africa Idol, in
2007. Her success on that show
provided a strong foundation for her
career, and she hasn’t looked back for a
minute. With her debut single ‘In the
music’ released in 2008, she
established herself as a talent to court,
and a singer whose eyes are on the
global stage. The success of that single,
won her the coveted ‘Next Rated’ prize at
The Headies in 2009. The award came
with a brand new KIA Optima. Omawumi
has moved on to become a remarkably
successful singer, actor, performer and
philanthropist. Omawumi’s co-host M.I,
has risen from grass to grace, in just
about half a decade. And, from a Jos-
bred wanna -be, who worked hard to
find a niche in the hip hop community,
M.I has now become the leading rapper
and hip hop ambassador on the
continent, with many medals to show for
his achievements. The Chocolate City
rapper is a multiple winner at The
Headies, with his prizes including Best
Rap Album and Revelation of the year
(both in 2009). He has won a total of 9
Headies, starting from his first surprise
win in 2008. ‘I won my first Headie
when no one knew who I was’ M.I says.
‘It was a big leap for me and my career
and I can say the same for a lot of my
colleagues. Several years after, I’m
excited to be here, performing in a very
important capacity, along with my very
good friend Omawumi’. “You know one
of the things over the years that have
been traditionally so great about the
Headies awards is the fact that they do
two things well. They merge the
aspirational aspect of entertainment
with the inspirational aspect of
entertainment. You take us to the
villages, we meet people where they
don’t really have water we’ve done that.
At the same time you take people to
Brazil. A young person can look and be
inspired and also aspire too,” he
concluded. Both acts have already been
getting together, sharing ideas and fine-
tuning concepts, along with The Headies
producers, in anticipation of a great
show this year. ‘It’s been fun fun fun for
me’ Omawumi comments. ‘From the
photo shoot to all the meetings,
rehearsals, fittings and interviews, I can
see that I’m going to have the fun of my
life. And I promise this year’s guests will
have even more fun. Me and M.I go
craze!’. The Headies 2012 will hold at the
Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday October
20. Now in its seventh year, The Headies
(formerly Hip Hop World Awards) is
Nigeria’s premiere honours event for
urbane music and hip hop culture.
Produced and presented to match some
of the biggest awards shows from
around the world, The Headies annually
celebrate deserving Nigerian music stars,
giving honour to whom it is due, and
encouraging many to step up their game
in order to enter The prestigious Headies
alumni.