The 17th edition of the Headies Awards, held Sunday night at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, witnessed a dramatic moment when rapper Odumodublvck refused to leave the stage after winning the highly coveted Next Rated award.
The Declan Rice hitmaker, who mounted the stage accompanied by his mother and over ten associates, had his acceptance speech abruptly cut short when organisers muted his microphone in an effort to keep the show on schedule.
However, in a show of determination and resilience, Odumodublvck stood his ground, compelling organisers to restore his microphone so he could finish his speech.
“Against all odds, I have pushed against so many barriers like this,” he declared. “A couple of years back, there were so many feelings we could not express through our music. The world would clap us down — ‘you can’t be this,’ ‘you can’t speak like that,’ ‘you can’t release music this way.’?
“Me standing here today is proof that all those things are fallacies. It would only have been possible through my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has been there for me through thick and thin. Tonight, God has shown that He reigns.”
Odumodublvck emerged victorious in a fiercely competitive category, beating fellow nominees Shallipopi, Qing Madi, Ayo Maff, and comedian-turned-musician Nasboi.
Afrobeats superstar Davido presented the award, which also comes with a brand-new car — a traditional reward for the Next Rated category winner.
The night reaffirmed Odumodublvck’s rising dominance in the Nigerian music scene and his refusal to be silenced, even in moments of high tension.