Ever since Olamide and Don Jazzy went at each other during the 2016 edition of awards show The Headies, there has been renewed interest on how the whole show is put together.
The annual award show put together by Hip Hop World magazine lead by Ayo Animashaun started in 2006 and is regarded by many to be Nigeria’s version of ‘The Grammys.’ But it has always been dogged with allegations of bias especially in giving out its awards.
But these allegations are not always true. Take this year’s show for example; The Next Rated category which is the main cause of this wahala is a voting category. This means that musicians nominated had ample time to garner votes from their respective fan bases and anywhere else. Knowing this, the winner Reekado Banks and his Mavin records team probably went the extra mile to make sure he went home with the star prize of the SUV.
This is not saying Lil Kesh, Korede Bello and Kiss Daniel did not do the same. In fact some people are of the view that based on popularity, Lil Kesh should have won the award, but we also have to realise that popularity is not enough to win the Next Rated category. You also have to convince your many fans to vote for you. Something Lil Kesh and YBNL did may not have paid attention to.
As for allegations that Don Jazzy might have ‘bought’ the award for his artiste, it is possible. But until someone presents facts supporting that allegation, I’m afraid it will only remain an ‘allegation’.
Meanwhile while ranting about Don Jazzy’s speech on twitter; Olamide used a line that will be in the Nigerian vocabulary for a long time “Leave trash for LAWMA.” For those who do not know, LAWMA is the Lagos state agency responsible for keeping the streets clean. Taking advantage of the situation, LAWMA has encouraged Lagosians and indeed Nigerians to leave the trash for them! Will they go ahead and name Olamide as an ambassador for them? Let us wait and see.
Trust Nigerians to not keep quiet over such a matter. See some of their views below:
