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.
