Ayo Animashaun, the Founder of the prestigious Headies Awards, has voiced concerns over Nigerians’ growing obsession with the Grammy Awards, urging greater support for local music platforms.
In a Wednesday interview on Channels Television, Animashaun remarked, “Grammy is more popular on the streets of Lagos in Nigeria than it is now in America. We have our own for God’s sake, kilode gan?”
Animashaun added, “We actually think they care about us, but wake up—they don’t. We’re popping now, so they’re giving us one nomination, and the whole country is making noise about it.
“This year, I didn’t go for the Grammys. I was there last year and have attended several others—American Music Awards, BET, World Music Awards, Oscars, MTV—you name it, I’ve been there many times.
“When I talk to people in those cities, some don’t even know the events are happening. But in Nigeria, we know more about their awards than they do. We keep hyping what’s not ours. They’ll support their own awards and industry, and we’ll keep supporting theirs. So, who will support our own? And I’m not just talking about the Headies here.”
He emphasised that while international recognition is valuable, local industry stakeholders must prioritise celebrating and promoting homegrown talent and initiatives like the Headies.
“We keep supporting what’s not ours and neglect our own. The Headies plaque is 21-karat gold-plated with copper—bring theirs and put it beside ours and see if it’s less valuable,” he said.
Animashaun also discussed the challenges of running the awards, highlighting limited corporate and government support.
However, he expressed optimism about increased interest in the Nigerian creative sector, particularly from the government and the recently appointed Minister of Creative Economy.
The Headies, which began in 2006 as the Hip Hop World Awards, has grown to become one of Nigeria’s most prominent music awards shows.
The 2023-2024 edition is scheduled to be held in April, with the 2025 edition planned for December later this year.
Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, won the Best African Music Performance category at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
The Best African Music Performance category was introduced in 2024.
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