The 2016 edition of the Headies award anchored by Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi, and artiste, has come and gone, but its memory lingers.

According to Ceoafrica, the show, which was held at Eko Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, saw Kiss Daniel clinch three awards out of the five categories he was nominated in, as Wizkid won the Artist of the Year award at The Headies 2016.

However, one thing that clearly stood out at the glamourous event was the fact that Nigerian artistes boycotted the 2016 Headies in their numbers, coupled with entire members of Mavin Records and YBNL Records, led by Don Jazzy and Olamide who had a bitter spat at the awards previous edition.

Their absence was so glaring to the extent that presenters collected the awards on their behalf backstage, in which Simi failed to claim her award for “Best Vocal Performance”, also Kiss Daniel failed to claim an award, and so did Illblisss who was a big winner in two categories.

However, big winners on the night include Darey, Illbliss, Kiss Daniel and Mr Eazi, who won the Next Rated category and Patoranking who won the Best Reggae/Dancehall single was absent, and Olamide, who won two awards, was nowhere to be found.

One of Nigeria’s prestigious music awards, through the years, The Headies, has been dubbed Nigeria’s Grammy, but losing its prestige as it has been fraught with several allegations and controversies ranging from favouritism, prejudgment and being compromised.

One omission worthy of note is the disqualification of Nigerian music sensation, Tekno, from the highly coveted “Next Rated” category, who lambasted the organisers for including him in the category, followed by Clarence Peters who also condemned the nominee list.

He had challenged the organisers in an Instagram post made about a month ago, in which he said, “Next rated after how many years! Let’s be honest pls”.

The full list of winners, include, Best Street Hop: Olamide, Best Reggae/Dancehall Single: No Kissing Babe by Patoranking feat. Sarkodie, Best Alternative Song: U Suppose Know by Bez, Best Vocal Performance Male: Smile, Shaydee, Best Vocal Performance Female: Love Don’t Care by Simi, Best Pop Single: Reggae Blues by Harrysong, Kcee, Orezi, Olamide, Iyanya.

Others include Best RnB Single: Pray For Me by Darey, Producer of the Year: Mama by Young Jonn, Best Music Video: Soldier by Clarence Peters, Best Recording of the Year: Pray For Me by Darey, Lyricist on the Roll: iLLbliss, Best RnB Pop Album: Kiss Daniel, Hip Hop World Revelation: Kiss Daniel, Best Collabo: Soldier by Simi and Falz, Song of the Year : Fada Fada by Phyno, Next Rated : Mr Eazi.

Album of the Year: New Era by Kiss Daniel, Artiste of the Year: Wizkid, Special Recognition Award: Flavour.