Singer Lojay explains why he believes The Headies is more significant for Nigerian artists than international awards like the Grammys.
He expressed doubts that Nigerian artists would ever receive proper recognition from global award organizations.
In an interview with Hip TV, Lojay stressed the importance of embracing local awards for Nigerian musicians.
Lojay, who won the Best Male Vocal Performance award at the 17th Headies said, “As much as the Grammys and other international awards are sweet, as a Nigerian you can never become priority in a space that is not your own. We are advocating just to be put in Pop categories in the Grammys for actual pop songs. Tems made one of the most beautiful R&B album last year and they [Grammys] gave her Best African Music Performance award.
“Why is she not being spoken about in the R&B, pop and Best Female categories? Because they have people from their own country that they feel deserve these awards and that’s okay. But what would help me as a Nigerian artist, is for example, for The Headies to be so well recognised that American artist win Headies award and come to Nigeria to receive the award. I would love a world when Travis Scott comes to Nigeria for the Headies. I don’t gain anything from the Grammys being bigger than The Headies. We here don’t gain anything from the Grammys being bigger. Everybody gains something from The Headies being bigger.
“I’m a big believer in Nigeria. I believe in Nigeria being better, I believe in Nigeria being stronger. I believe in our people and the things that we are doing going global. So, we should not look down on our own things.”
