Nigerian media personality Adesope Olajide has vented his wrath at the organizers of the Grammy Awards for “stabbing Davido in the back” at the 66th awards ceremony of the scheme.
In a video, Adesope indicated that the Grammy Awards are more interested in benefitting from African artists than elevating them.
Apart from his disappointment in Davido and Burna Boy not winning awards in the Best Global Music Album and Best African Music Performance categories, he was also appalled by the fact that Fela Kuti’s ‘Water No Get Enemy’ was played. In contrast, South African artist Tyla was called to receive her award. He had expected that Tyla’s ‘Water’ which earned her the award would rather be played.
“I’ve always said that the Grammy Awards is not our thing. They don’t understand us. They don’t understand our culture, they don’t understand our music. They’re never going to get it. Don’t get it twisted. The Grammy will never get anything that has to do with African music, African popular music, and Afrobeats. They will never get it,” he said.
He reiterated that the Recording Academy made a lot of gains from Davido while the ‘Unavailable’ hitmaker went home with no award.
“As an Afrobeats fan, I am heartbroken. Grammy Awards benefited from the promo, I told them. Burna Boy I told them. The Grammy Awards and the Recording Academy benefited from the popularity of the Nigerians that were nominated, Davido and Burna Boy, especially last week what Davido did for the Grammys and all those interviews and promos, they used him for marketing purposes and knowing fully well that they were going to stab him in the heart and they completely used him and dumped him,” he noted.
To cap all, Adesope wants African musicians to stay away from the Grammys.
“I was just about to post to say this is over to the Headies now. African artists, Afrobeats artists, you all need to redraw yourselves from submitting your songs to the Grammys,” he said.
At the 66th Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 4, 2024, South Africa’s Tyla became the first artist to win the Best African Music Performance category in the scheme.
The new category recognizes recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent, highlighting regional melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic musical traditions.
Tyla won with the song ‘Water’ at the 66th Grammys. She beat off competition from Asake & Olamide (Amapiano), Burna Boy (Citi Boys), Davido ft Musa Keys (Unavailable), and Ayra Starr (Rush).
Nigerian artists Burna Boy and Davido did not only lose out on the Best African Music Performance category. The prize for the Best Global Music Album also eluded them.
This has stoked worry among some Nigerian music enthusiasts and stakeholders. Adesope believes their artists have not been treated fairly.
Reaction To Davido’s Loss
Controversial Nigerian crossdresser, and brand influencer, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky took to his social media page to comfort the Grammy Awards nominee, Davido following his loss at the 66th edition of the awards.
It would be recalled that Davido was nominated in three categories but lost all to South African’s Tyla, India’s Shakti, and American’s Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain & Rakesh Chaurasia.
Reacting to the development via his Instagram page, Bobrisky expressed utmost support and words of affirmation to the singer.
According to Bobrisky, Davido is bigger than the Grammy Awards or whatever validation the plaque meant to the singer’s career.
“I’m super proud of you David. I’m your biggest fan. I’m sure your lawyer Prince tells you this always. You are too big to fail naaaa. You don pass that level. You are a world star and nothing beats that. Grammy or no Grammy we love your music and we won’t stop listening to it,” he wrote.
Also, the fervent fans of Afrobeat superstar Davido have taken their frustration to a new level following the singer’s disappointment at the Grammy Awards by reporting the official Instagram account of the Grammy Awards.
A group of them has collectively reported the official Instagram account of the Grammy Awards, expressing their dissatisfaction with the outcome.
Emotions have been running high across Nigeria as Davido’s fans grapple with the news of his unsuccessful bid for a Grammy win.
In a viral video circulating on social media, a faction of devoted supporters can be seen joining forces to voice their discontent by reporting the Grammy’s official Instagram account.
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