By Ghazali Ibrahim
Legendary Congolese musician Awilo Longomba is set to be inducted into The Headies Hall of Fame at the 18th edition of the Nigerian music awards.
The organisers announced the honour on Tuesday as they unveiled the nominees for the 2026 edition of the awards, which will celebrate artistes and music projects that defined African music between August 1, 2024 and April 30, 2026.
Longomba, renowned for his energetic performances and distinctive soukous sound, has enjoyed a particularly strong connection with Nigerian audiences throughout his career.
The veteran musician became a major force on the Nigerian music scene with songs including “Coupé Bibamba,” “Karolina,” “Gaté Le Coin” and “Champion,” helping popularise his techno-soukous sound across Africa.
His influence has also extended to a younger generation of Nigerian artistes. Ayra Starr’s 2023 hit “Sability,” for instance, drew inspiration from Longomba’s techno-soukous style and sampled elements associated with his music.
The Hall of Fame recognition adds to a long list of honours the Congolese star has received during his career.
Longomba has previously won major African music honours, including the Kora Awards and AFRIMA’s Legend of the Year award.
The Headies’ decision to honour Longomba also underscores his enduring influence beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo and his contribution to the growth of African popular music.
The 18th Headies, themed “Africa to the World,” will take place in Toronto, Canada, where the organisers will also honour Nigerian entertainment executive Cecil Hammond with a Special Recognition Award for his contribution to African entertainment.
The 2026 edition features 213 nominations across 35 categories, with rising Nigerian artiste FOLA leading the nominees with 10 nominations, followed by Omah Lay with eight and Wizkid and Mavo with seven each.
