“They won’t Submit To Headies Yet Complain” – Ayo Animashaun Tackles Nigerian Artistes Who Rush To Submit Entries To Foreign Awards
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…
The Headies, founded by Ayo Animashaun in the early 2000s, remains one of Nigeria's most prominent music award ceremonies, recognising achievements across genres in the country's music industry. Over the years, the award has positioned itself as a platform celebrating homegrown talent, even as Nigerian artistes increasingly court international recognition from bodies such as the Grammys, BET Awards, and other foreign platforms, reflecting the global expansion of Afrobeats and Nigerian music.
The tension highlighted in Animashaun's comments touches on a recurring debate within Nigeria's entertainment industry: the perceived prioritisation of foreign validation over local institutions. Both Leadership and Tribune Online report that Animashaun's remarks were made via social media, with his core grievance being that artistes actively publicise their entries into international award submissions while being less engaged with, or vocal about, local awards like the Headies, only to later complain about a lack of recognition. Neither outlet names specific artistes accused of this behaviour, nor do they detail any response from the music community to Animashaun's comments.