Headies Founder Blasts Nigerian Artistes Over Foreign Awards Obsession
Founder of The Headies, Ayo Animashaun, has criticised Nigerian artistes for prioritising foreign music awards while neglecting local platforms, accusing some of them of seeking international recognition but later complaining when they fail to secure nominations at home.
Animashaun expressed his displeasure in a series of social media posts, where he questioned why artistes eagerly submit entries to foreign award bodies and publicise their participation but fail to submit their works for consideration at The Headies.
He described the situation as ironic, noting that some artistes who do not participate in the Nigerian awards later complain about being excluded from its nominations.
“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!” he wrote.
The Headies founder, however, maintained that the awards organisers remained committed to their vision, arguing that the appreciation of beneficiaries and the confidence of sponsors were sufficient reasons to continue strengthening the platform.
According to him, the long-term value of an institution should not be determined solely by public criticism or the opinions of those who do not understand its objectives.
Animashaun also questioned the apparent disparity between how Nigerians treat local award institutions and how they celebrate international platforms.
He wondered why the absence of a prominent American artiste from the Grammy Awards over legitimate reasons might attract little controversy, while a Nigerian artiste's inability to attend The Headies could generate intense criticism.
He described the negativity directed at indigenous institutions as troubling, asking why Nigerian artistes and their work often appear to receive greater recognition at home only after gaining prominence abroad.
To buttress his argument, Animashaun recalled attending the Grammy Awards in the United States, claiming that some people he encountered in Los Angeles were unaware that the ceremony was taking place, despite the event's enormous popularity in Nigeria.
“Posterity will be kind to those who see possibilities before they become obvious,” he said, defending the need to invest in and promote Nigerian award platforms.
The controversy comes amid longstanding conversations about the global recognition of Nigerian music and the industry's relationship with international award bodies.
In 2024, The Headies also attracted attention after Nigerian artistes failed to win any of their Grammy nominations. Burna Boy lost in all four categories in which he was nominated, while Davido also went home without a win from his three nominations. Asake, Ayra Starr and Olamide were among the other Nigerian artistes who missed out on awards.
Following the outcome, The Headies had called for the Nigerian awards to become the preferred platform for celebrating the country's musical talents.
Animashaun's latest remarks have again brought the debate over local recognition, international validation and support for Nigeria's entertainment institutions into focus.
