The executive producer and founder of The Headies, Ayo Animashaun, has called out Nigerian artistes for eagerly submitting their work for Grammy consideration while ignoring local recognition.
His remarks follow the announcement that the 18th edition of The Headies, originally set for October 23, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, has been rescheduled to April 10 and 11, 2027.
Taking to his Instagram stories on Thursday, Animashaun expressed frustration over what he views as a hypocritical double standard in the Nigerian music ecosystem.
His comments came as several top Afrobeats figures, including Davido, Asake, and Adekunle Gold, reportedly submitted their projects for the 2027 Grammy Awards.
“Tom, Dick, and Harry will submit entries to foreign award bodies that don’t even care about them and proudly post about it,” Animashaun wrote. “But these same people won’t submit their entries to The Headies, yet they’ll complain about not being nominated. Funny.”
Alleged Double Standard
Drawing from his experience attending the Grammys in the United States, the veteran music executive decried the hostility often directed at domestic institutions compared to the leniency granted to global platforms.
He pointed to international stars like Drake, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Jay-Z, and BTS, who have publicly boycotted or skipped the Grammys without sparking widespread public outrage.
“Why is it no big deal when a top US artiste publicly boycotts the Grammys, yet it becomes a major controversy when a Nigerian artiste cannot attend The Headies for a legitimate reason?” Animashaun questioned. “The toxicity and negativity we direct at our own institutions are troubling.”
Animashaun lamented that local platforms often struggle to secure the backing they deserve at home, noting that Nigerian talent is frequently celebrated only after achieving validation abroad.
“Oyinbos will tell them, like they did with Jay Jay, Osimhen, and Burna,” he added, insisting that The Headies remains one of the world’s premier music platforms and will eventually gain the recognition it warrants.
Behind The ‘Tough’ Toronto Postponement
Addressing the schedule change, Animashaun described the decision to push the Toronto ceremony to April 2027 as a difficult but responsible move.
In an interview with Channels Television, he explained that organising the awards in Canada presented complex logistical and cultural challenges that required additional time.
Unlike previous international editions, such as the 15th and 16th ceremonies held in Atlanta, Georgia, the Toronto event involves a compressed timeline and an expanded scope.
The organisers plan to host pre-event activities across Nigeria and Canada, aiming to connect local talent with global record label executives.
“The award format is totally different; it’s not a concert, it’s not a comedy show,” Animashaun stated, adding that the organisers wanted to avoid combining editions or rushing a production that serves musicians who invest heavily in their craft.
While apologising to attendees and sponsors who had already arranged travel, Animashaun expressed confidence that the extended timeline would deliver a far more impactful showcase for African music on the global stage.
First established in 2006, The Headies returned to Nigeria in 2024 after its two-year stint in the United States and remains one of Africa’s most prominent music award institutions.
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