Headies Award founder, Ayo Animashaun, has taken a dig at Nigerian artistes for their obsession with foreign awards.
In a series of social media posts, he vented over how they rush to submit entries to foreign award bodies that don’t even care about them and proudly post about it, but won’t submit to the Headies, yet complain about not being nominated.
He said as long as those who benefit from the Headies appreciate it, the artistes see reasons in taking it to the moon, and their sponsors see the vision, they can stand firmly by their decisions.
Animashaun noted how everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not every opinion carries equal weight.
“Tom, Dick, and Harry will submit entries to foreign award bodies that don’t even care about them and proudly post about it.
“But these same people won’t submit their entries to the Headies, yet they’ll complain about not being nominated.
Funny!!!
“As long as those who benefit from what we do understand and appreciate it, the artistes understand why taking The Headies to the moon sometimes is the right move, and our sponsors see the vision, we can stand firmly by our decisions. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not every opinion carries equal weight.
“Posterity will be kind to those who see possibilities before they become obvious. I’ve attended the Grammys before, and people I met in LA didn’t even know the ceremony was happening.
Meanwhile, everyone back home knew about it.
“Why is it no big deal when a top US artist publicly boycotts the Grammys, yet it becomes a major controversy when a Nigerian artiste cannot attend The Headies for a legitimate reason?
“Ten toxīcity and negativity we direct at our own institutions are troubling.
Why do we often receive our strongest support and warmest reception abroad?
And why does the support from our own people seem to grow once we take what we do beyond our shores?”
In 2024, the Headies award doubled down on the downplay of Nigerian artists at the Grammy Awards.
There was outrage on social media after no Nigerian artist won any awards at the 2024 Grammys. Burna Boy who scored 4 nominations lost them all to his rivals. Similarly, Davido lost his 3 Grammy nominations. Asake, Ayra Starr, and Olamide also lost their awards.
Reacting to their loss, Headies had quoted a tweet saying that the Headies should become the go-to award for Nigerians.
