Evening of April 27th, with lights aglow, music thundering, and stars gathering in a throng under the Nigerian most-talked-about music festival, the 17th Headies Awards, something quietly revolutionary took place.
Only seven women were awarded. Only seven, in an ocean of masculine superiority. But what these seven carried wasn’t only trophies; they carried torchlights of excellence, strength, and voice.
In a world where women are backgrounded, underestimated, or stereotyped, these queens took their stands tall, unboxed, and irresistibly brilliant. They weren’t extras. They were the show.
Tems – The Flame That Keeps Burning
With “Burning”, Tems didn’t just win Best Recording of the Year; she reminded the world why her voice is synonymous with emotion, depth, and timeless artistry. Her win was a firestarter, a symbol of consistency and global recognition born from authenticity.
Liya – The Voice That Said, “I’m Done”
For Best Vocal Performance (Female), Liya poured her soul into “I’m Done”, a powerful testament of strength and vulnerability. In a world quick to silence pain, her voice said what many women feel, and she did it with elegance.
Director Pink – Framing the Feminine Vision
Becoming the Music Video of the Year for “Egwu” (Chike x Mohbad), Director Pink shattered glass ceilings behind the camera. Female directors are not so common. Women winning in a male-dominated visual scene? Even rarer. Her lens captured culture, loss, beat, and victory.
Qing Madi – The Pen Behind the Power
Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, aka Qing Madi, won the Songwriter of the Year. Her words aren’t merely clever, they’re seasoned, nuanced, and heard. The award is as much regarding her craft as it is about a shift: women are no longer voices, but writers.
Ayra Starr – Singing Through the Last Heartbreak
With “Last Heartbreak Song”, Ayra Starr won Best R&B Single. And rightly so. She’s more than an Afrobeats princess; she’s an R&B powerhouse whose melodies tell the stories we’re often too afraid to say aloud.
King Michy – Queen of Compassion
King Michy received the Humanitarian Award at Back 2 Base, a testament that influence isn’t in graphs, but in transformation. Her service, selflessness, and advocacy have changed lives. She’s a philanthropist who has saved the lives of pregnant teenagers as well as the homeless.
Mercy Chinwo – Inspiring Through the Spirit
“You Do This One” earned Mercy Chinwo the Best Inspirational Single. Her music is not merely gospel; it’s healing. She is a spiritual light in an industry that generally worships the fleeting. She sings to the soul, and it’s permanent.
Seven is a small number. Yet these seven women are not an aside. They are the front page. They remind us that talent is not gendered, and excellence is not limited. Though the industry still has some way to go towards balance in representation, these victories matter.
They are not just winners. They are way-makers.
As we celebrate them, so too do we call for more doors opened, more chairs at the table, and more microphones in the hands of women whose voices need to shake the world.
Because they already are.
