The 2025 Headies Awards night was filled with emotions as Omowunmi, widow of the late singer Mohbad, and their son, Liam, took the stage to accept his posthumous honours.
New Daily Prime reports that the late singer was recognised with two major awards: Best Street-Hop Artiste of the Year for his hit track Ask About Me, and the Viewers’ Choice Award for his collaboration with Chike on Egwu.
The awards ceremony, which marked the 17th edition of the Headies, was held on Sunday in Lagos.
A tribute dedicated to their son
Stepping onto the stage with her young son in her arms, Omowunmi dedicated the awards to Liam. Fighting back tears, she said the honours were not just for Mohbad but for their child and for everyone who believed in the late star’s dream.
Later, in a now-viral video circulating on social media, Omowunmi explained why the moment meant so much to her.
She said, “Although Mohbad isn’t here with us anymore, he lives on. I don’t like calling him my late husband because he lives forever, especially through our son, Liam. Liam may be too young to understand the greatness of his father today, but one day, he will. Thank you so much, Headies, for shining a light on my husband, for honouring his memory and his legacy. It means so much to me, to his son, and the entire Imolenization family.”
Omowunmi was accompanied on stage by Adura, Mohbad’s younger brother, who stood quietly beside her during the emotional tribute.
Online reactions stir controversy
Their appearance triggered a wave of reactions online, with many fans expressing a range of emotions—from anger to sadness, and from support to criticism.
On X (formerly Twitter), some users questioned the timing and intention of the awards. User @_ImorLe wrote, “When he was alive, them no recognize am. Rubbish Headies.”
Another user, @BELIEVEOFFC, asked, “Y them carry Liam go stage?” expressing concern over bringing a child into such a public moment.
Others felt the honour was too little, too late. @news_arsenal_ commented, “Why do you guys like celebrating the dead? If he was alive, would you guys have given him the award? Eh, Nigerians, taaaa.”
Still, there were voices of support. @Dchiefskitchen wrote, “Congratulations. But it’s giving him his flowers after his life.” Another user, @kbslaw1, stirred controversy by questioning the boy’s resemblance to the late singer, saying, “How them tink say dat boi resemble Mohbad still d baffle me… u see pikin carry face like NM.”
Meanwhile, @Mkpoikankef simply wrote, “Na who die loose. RIP Mohbad,” capturing the sombre mood that hung over the conversation.
Fans mourn what could have been
The reactions reveal a broader tension between honouring artists posthumously and the call for more recognition while they are alive. Many fans have continued to express regret that Mohbad did not receive such high-profile acknowledgements during his lifetime.
Mohbad, whose real name was Ilerioluwa Aloba, passed away in September 2023 under controversial circumstances, sparking massive public outcry and calls for justice. Known for his powerful voice, street-hop anthems, and deep connection with the youth, Mohbad built a loyal fanbase that proudly called themselves “Imolenization,” after his nickname, Imole, meaning “light” in Yoruba.
Keeping his light alive
The Headies organizers, in their speech, said they wanted to honor Mohbad’s impact on Nigerian music and to ensure that his contributions would never be forgotten. However, the awards ceremony has also reopened old wounds for fans still mourning his untimely death.
As the night ended, Omowunmi’s words continued to echo across social media: a reminder that even though Mohbad is no longer here, his legacy, through his music and his son, lives on.
The tribute was a powerful moment in an event designed to celebrate the future of Nigerian music, but ended up shining a light once again on a painful loss the industry and fans have yet to fully recover from.
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