By Babajide Awoyinfa

Rapper OdumoduBlvck has emerged as the big winner of the ‘Next Rated’ category at the 17th edition of the prestigious Headies Award.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 17th Headies Award ceremony, with the theme “Back to Base”, took place at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos.

The Next Rated category is arguably the most coveted award at the Headies, recognising the most promising and talented emerging artistes in the industry.

OdumoduBlvck’s win in the Next Rated category was a highlight of the evening.

In an emotional moment, he brought his mother and entire crew on stage to celebrate with him.

He shared a heartfelt story about his mother’s journey, revealing that she gave birth to him in her late thirties and how she always knew he was destined for greatness.

He expressed his deep gratitude to his mother, dedicating the award to her, and acknowledging the special bond they share as mother and son.

The crowd erupted in applause as OdumoduBlvck’s mother beamed with pride, surrounded by her son’s crew members, friends, and well-wishers.

NAN also reports that this year’s event marked a significant return to Nigeria after a two-year of hosting in the United States.

The “Back to Base” theme of the ceremony highlighted the importance of staying true to one’s cultural identity while pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

The event drew an array of star-studded attendees, showcasing the richness and diversity of African music.

Notable attendees included Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who graced the occasion with his presence.

Celebrities, top industry stakeholders, and dignitaries walked the red carpet, adding to the glamour of the evening.

One of the most talked-about moments of the night was the attendance of Tanzanian singer Juma Jux and his wife, Priscilla Ojo.

The newlywed couple marked their first appearance together at the Headies award, making it a memorable night for fans and admirers.

This year’s edition of Headies featured 31 categories, including Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, and Recording of the Year.

Other notable winners of the night included Liya, who won Best Vocal Performance (Female).

Lojay, who won Best Vocal Performance (Male), and Rema, who won Afrobeats Album of the Year for his album “HEIS”.

Davido was crowned Artiste of the Year, while Zerry DL took home the Rookie of the Year award.

Late rapper Mohbad was also honoured with a posthumous award, which was received by his family.

KCEE was recognised with a Special Recognition Award for years of excellence in the industry.

Other notable winners include: Tribe Called Judah (Soundtrack of the Year); Tems, who won Best Recording of the Year for her song “Burning”; Qing Madi, who won Songwriter of the Year for “Vision” by Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma.

Others are OZEBA, who won Producer of the Year; Director Pink, Music Video of the Year for “EGWU”; Flavour, Afrobeats Single of the Year for “Big Baller”.

Also, Temitola Adekunle Johnson and Michelle Mukoro (King Mitchy), who were recipients of the Humanitarian Award. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Babajide Awoyinfa

Spotify music streaming service data has shown a significant global attraction for gospel music during the Easter season.

According to the streaming service, users worldwide have created over 800,000 gospel playlists, which underscores the genre’s widespread and enduring appeal.

Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa, said, “The creation of over 800,000 gospel playlists on Spotify speaks volumes about the powerful and universal connection between this genre and the spirit of Easter.”

According to Okumu, the data shows that Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has emerged as a key region in this digital embrace of gospel music during Easter.

“This surge underscores the universal appeal of gospel music, serving as both a source of profound spiritual reflection and a soundtrack for celebratory moments.

“Contributing over 70,000 of the globally created playlists, SSA demonstrates the region’s deep-rooted affinity for worship music and its rapidly evolving digital listening habits during this significant religious season.

“Across Sub-Saharan Africa, gospel music remains a powerful soundtrack to Easter.

“It is a season of reflection, celebration, and community. Whether through the soaring harmonies of worship collectives or the ease of curated playlists, gospel continues to unite listeners in faith and joy,” she said.

Okumu said the data also revealed that ensemble-based worship collectives with international reach continue to hold significant sway in gospel music streaming across SSA during Easter.

She said groups hailing from the U.S. and Australia, such as Maverick City Music, Elevation Worship, and Hillsong Worship, have maintained their strong popularity.

“Tracks like “Jireh” and “Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” have consistently ranked high over the past three Easters.

“This indicates a clear preference among listeners for emotionally charged, live recordings that capture the dynamic atmosphere of a church service.

“However, homegrown African ensembles are also making substantial waves across the continent,” she said.

She added that South African Powerhouses Joyous Celebration and Spirit of Praise, celebrated for their distinctive blend of traditional and contemporary gospel sounds, remain firm favourites.

“Notably, these two groups are the only African collectives to feature in the top 10 most-streamed gospel tracks during Easter, solidifying their status as pillars of the African gospel music scene.

“Their performances, marked by exceptional vocal talent and innovative musical arrangements, continue to resonate beyond South Africa’s borders, captivating audiences across the continent.

“Tracks such as “Ndenzel’ Uncedo Hymn 377 (Live)” and “Wenzile (Live)” by Joyous Celebration, alongside “Thath’Indawo (Live)” by Spirit of Praise, exemplify the enduring appeal of anthemic, live-session recordings that mirror the communal spirit of church gatherings experienced throughout Africa.

“Beyond the popularity of individual tracks and worship collectives, Spotify data reveals a significant rise in the creation and consumption of curated gospel playlists across Sub-Saharan Africa.”

She said, over the past three years, more than 70,000 gospel-themed playlists had been created in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa.

“This growing trend in playlist curation is transforming how listeners engage with gospel music, making the genre more accessible and adaptable to personal and communal moments of reflection and celebration.

“Gospel music in Sub-Saharan Africa serves as a consistent and meaningful soundtrack for Easter, a period deeply rooted in reflection, celebration, and community.

“Whether through the powerful harmonies of renowned worship groups or the convenience of personalised playlists, gospel music continues to be a unifying force, bringing listeners together in faith and joy.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Joshua Olomu

The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy and Chocolate City Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop key infrastructure towards repositioning Nigeria’s creative industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the landmark three-year partnership pact was signed in Abuja.

The MoU is geared towards developing small-scale live arenas nationwide, identifying and nurturing talent, creating global distribution channels for Nigerian content, and strengthening intellectual property frameworks.

It also intends to harness government vision and private sector expertise to develop Nigeria’s creative industries, with special focus on music, content creation, and live events infrastructure.

The partnership is expected to be implemented through a Joint Working Committee comprising representatives from both organisations, who will identify specific projects for execution.

Its expected outcomes are expected to include empowering local talent, fostering sustainable entrepreneurship, enhancing the global reach of Nigerian creative content, and developing critical infrastructure for the creative economy.

Hannatu Musa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, said the initiative was part of a broader strategy to harness economic potential of the creative sector and significantly grow the country’s GDP.

Musawa, who signed on behalf of the Federal Government, said the alliance with Chocolate City, Nigeria’s foremost leading entertainment company, will position Nigeria as Africa’s leading hub for innovation and entertainment.

“Nigeria’s creative industries represent one of our greatest untapped economic resources, with the potential to contribute significantly to GDP growth, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings.

“This partnership with Chocolate City exemplifies our commitment to harnessing the power of public-private collaboration to build sustainable creative ecosystems that empower Nigerian talent and showcase our cultural wealth globally,” she said.

In his remark, Audu Maikori, Co-Founder and Chairman of Chocolate City Group, described the MoU as timely, adding that it would speed up budding talents development and offer veritable platforms for creativity to thrive across the country.

According to Maikori, recent industry reports indicate that Nigeria’s music industry alone generates around $2 billion annually, a sizeable portion of the $26 billion global music economy.

“Afrobeats has emerged as Nigeria’s most powerful cultural ambassador, opening doors for our artists on the global stage.

“Beyond this, Afrobeats also serves as a powerful cultural export and diplomatic resource, enhancing Nigeria’s global reputation.

“This partnership will provide the institutional support and infrastructure needed to sustain this momentum and create pathways for the next generation of creative talents.

“By working with the government, we can address long-standing challenges in distribution, infrastructure, and rights protection that have limited the sector’s full potential,” he said.

Also, Paul Okeugo, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Chocolate City Group, said the partnership would give clear direction to FG reforms for the creative sector.

He highlighted the economic multiplier effect of the pact on the creative economy in terms of job creation and youth empowerment.

“When we develop performance venues and creative spaces across Nigeria, we’re creating jobs not just for artists but for sound engineers, event managers, security personnel, hospitality workers, and countless others.

“This partnership allows us to scale these opportunities nationwide while ensuring Nigerian creators retain ownership of their intellectual property and benefit directly from their creative output,” he said.

NAN reports that Chocolate City Group is Nigeria’s leading integrated entertainment company, founded in 2005.

The company has evolved from a music label into a multifaceted entertainment powerhouse, spanning creative infrastructure, music production, artist management, content distribution, publishing, and consultancy in the creative industries.

Chocolate City has discovered, developed, and promoted some of Africa’s most celebrated artists, including Femi Kuti, Blaqbonez, Young Jonn, and Ice Prince, helping to shape the global perception of African music.

The alliance with FG is taking place as Chocolate City celebrates its 20th anniversary and coincides with the Federal Ministry’s Nigeria Destination 2030 initiative, designed to grow the arts, culture and creative economy.

Nigeria Destination 2030 is a comprehensive national initiative led by the Federal Government to position Nigeria as a premier global destination for tourism, investment, and cultural exchange by 2030.

The programme integrates policy reforms, infrastructure development, and strategic partnerships to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, natural landscapes, and creative industries on the world stage. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi