Headies Founder Calls Out Artistes Submitting to Foreign Awards
The founder of The Headies, Ayo Animashaun, has criticised artistes who submit their music to international award bodies but allegedly fail to enter their work for the country’s biggest music awards.
In a series of Instagram Stories on Thursday, October 15, Animashaun questioned why some artistes publicly celebrate submitting their work to foreign award organisers but do not submit entries to The Headies, only to complain when they miss out on nominations.
“Tom, Dick and Harry will submit entries to foreign award bodies that don’t even care about them and proudly post about it,” he wrote, ending the post with “Funny!!!”
In a follow-up post, Animashaun defended the decisions made by the awards organisers, saying they could stand by their choices as long as the artistes and sponsors who understood their vision continued to support them. He also suggested that history would favour those who recognised possibilities before they became obvious.
Although Animashaun did not name any artistes or specifically mention the Grammys, his comments come as Nigerian musicians publicise their submissions for the 69th Grammy Awards.
Davido has submitted his album Oriadé and songs including “B4 B4” and “Nakupenda”, while Asake and Seun Kuti have also submitted entries for Best African Music Performance.
Tems and Ayra Starr have likewise been reported among the artistes seeking consideration.
Can The Headies Blame Artistes for Looking Elsewhere?
Animashaun’s argument raises a fair question about how much artistes invest in the institutions that recognise their work at home. International awards offer valuable exposure, but local platforms also depend on the participation of the musicians whose achievements they celebrate.
However, The Headies is making this appeal at a difficult time for its own reputation.
In August, the organisers faced criticism after their initial 2026 nomination list omitted Davido from the Best Male Artiste category. The list was subsequently updated to include him, prompting questions about how the nominations had been compiled and checked before publication.
The awards have also faced criticism over their scheduling. The 18th edition, initially scheduled for October 23, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, has been postponed to April 10 and 11, 2027.
In announcing the change, the organisers said the revised dates would allow them to expand activities in Nigeria and Canada ahead of the main ceremony. They also apologised to guests who had already made travel arrangements.
The postponement adds another complication to the conversation about trust in local award institutions. While Animashaun wants artistes to take The Headies seriously enough to submit their work, the organisers must also demonstrate consistency and give artistes and their teams confidence in the process.
There is a difference between expecting an award platform to recognise your work without submitting it and questioning the organisation of an awards ceremony after participating in it. Both conversations can exist at the same time.
The Headies remains one of Nigeria’s most recognised music award platforms, but its standing also depends on the confidence of the artistes, industry professionals and audiences it serves.
So, while artistes have a role to play in supporting homegrown awards, can The Headies expect that support without first addressing the concerns surrounding its own organisation?
