Headies in Atlanta: Why is an African award heading West?

INSIDE: Asa shines on 'V', Davido drags doubters.

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The past week was an eventful one for showbiz stakeholders as issues arose within and beyond the continent. Shall we dive in?

Davido O2’s show

A lot of fanfare had gone before David Adeleke and his We rise by lifting others show, with MTN facilitating live coverage and the event centre management renaming the venue after him for one night amidst reports of selling out the 20,000-seater 02 Arena.

Whichever way you want to look at it, holding a show at the O2 Arena will always be a win for Afrobeats. Not any African artiste fills up that huge venue with fans. Surprisingly, for some people, unnecessary comparisons, malicious fact-checking and intentional downplay of Davido’s London show are all they could be motivated to do.

A win for any African artiste will always be for the culture and it should be a unifying one.

Vintage Asa on V

Asa’s album in one word? Mind-blowing.

How she managed to reach that climax of an album after over a decade-and-a-half in the industry doing what analysts have boxed into alternative music is beyond impressive. 39-year-old Bukola Elemide is popular for her philosophical storytelling, socio-political themes and acoustic brilliance. To then adapt her previous musical inclinations with the trending pop and its attendant sonic fitments makes V all the more phenomenal and speaks of Asa’s talent and adapting game. Having 10 tracks shows she got her homework right on the album – just enough for an average listener’s attention span in 2022.

IDG featuring Wizkid, Good times with Cavemen, Mayana, Ocean are my favourites. On her album, Asa leaves behind her worries and other ‘fires on the mountain’ to go all out to want to enjoy life, love, be loved and be merry.

Or is it too much to ask for the Bibanke crooner?  

Why is Headies heading West?

For what appears to be a strategic positioning and marketing move, heretofore Nigeria-based music award, The Headies, is heading to Atlanta in the US for its 15th edition which will hold in July.

Even though a new category that will include music executives in the annual spotlight was announced, it didn’t stop a lot of criticism the way of the Ayo Animashaun-powered award show.

Afrobeats is the rave genre in the world right now and it makes sense to have an award that will feed off the momentum for global acclaim. But taking it to the United States can be adjudged a step too far. Just as the Recording Academy won’t sacrifice anything for the sacrosanctity of the Grammys, taking an award that’s hopeful of becoming the continental model to the United States suggests that our worship of America is not something that we’ll snap out of yet.

A section of African artistes is already obsessed with the gramophone, to now have an award outfit join the queue just about continues the bout of neo-colonialism – in 2022.

A change of venue is welcome given Ayo Animashaun’s documented frustrations about having to import gadgets and accessories for the purpose of the show. South Africa would have proven sophisticated enough, even for the much-sought African inclusion. Maybe an O2 Arena which is fast becoming a symbol of stature for Afrobeats could have needed less explanation.

But Atlanta? Nah. The Headies would appear to be enjoying the self-inflicted coal of criticism. Criticisms will keep it in the mentions, truly, but it will always deny it of the stature it craves.