The founder of The Headies, Ayo Animashaun, has criticised Nigerian artistes who submit their music to international award bodies but allegedly fail to enter their works for consideration at Nigeria’s leading music awards, only to complain when they are not nominated.
Animashaun expressed his displeasure in a series of posts on his Instagram Story on Thursday, October 15, 2026, questioning why some musicians publicly celebrate submitting their works to foreign award organisers while overlooking The Headies.
Animashaun Calls Out Artistes Over Award Submissions
In one of his posts, Animashaun questioned the attitude of artistes who seek recognition from international award platforms but do not submit entries to The Headies.
“Tom, Dick and Harry will submit entries to foreign award bodies that don’t even care about them and proudly post about it. But these same people won’t submit their entries to the Headies, yet they’ll complain about not being nominated. Funny!” he wrote.
Although the music executive did not identify any artiste by name, his comments came amid reports that several Nigerian musicians had submitted their works for consideration ahead of the 69th Grammy Awards.
Among the artistes whose submissions have attracted attention are Davido, Asake, Tems, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy and Rema. However, submitting music for consideration does not guarantee a Grammy nomination.
Animashaun’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the relationship between Nigerian musicians and local award organisers, particularly the question of whether artistes who seek international recognition should also participate in homegrown awards.
Headies Founder Defends the Awards’ Direction
Beyond criticising artistes over their submissions, Animashaun also defended the decisions made by The Headies organisers, insisting that they would continue pursuing their vision as long as the people who benefit from the awards and their sponsors understood and supported the direction.
“As long as those who benefit from what we do understand and appreciate it, the artistes understand why taking The Headies to the moon sometimes is the right move, and our sponsors see the vision, we can stand firmly by our decisions,” he said.
He added that while everyone was entitled to an opinion, not every opinion carried equal weight, expressing confidence that time would vindicate those who recognised opportunities before they became widely accepted.
His comments appear against the backdrop of criticism surrounding the organisers’ decision to stage the next edition of The Headies in Toronto, Canada, rather than Nigeria.
The international move has generated debate among music fans, with questions raised about the importance of hosting a Nigerian music awards ceremony outside the country and whether the decision would strengthen the platform’s international reach.
The Headies’ Toronto Ceremony Postponed Until 2027
The 18th edition of The Headies was initially scheduled to take place in Toronto on October 23, 2026. However, the organisers subsequently postponed the event to April 10 and 11, 2027.
According to reports, the organisers said the postponement would provide more time to expand activities across Nigeria and Canada, including industry engagements and other initiatives connected to the awards. The change also prompted reactions from some fans and people who had already made plans to attend the ceremony.
The postponement has added another dimension to the discussion surrounding the awards, with the organisers seeking to expand their international presence while continuing to engage Nigeria’s music industry.
Animashaun’s defence suggests that he remains committed to the organisers’ broader ambitions despite criticism of some of their decisions.
The Debate Over Local and International Recognition
The controversy raises questions about the relationship between local music awards and international recognition.
For Nigerian artistes, international award submissions can provide opportunities to reach new audiences and gain recognition beyond the country. At the same time, local award platforms such as The Headies play a role in celebrating achievements within Nigeria’s music industry.
Animashaun’s central argument is that artistes who want to be considered for The Headies must submit their work for consideration rather than expect nominations without participating in the process.
His criticism, however, does not establish that every artiste who misses out on a nomination failed to submit an entry. The comments were directed at what he described as the conduct of some musicians, and he did not publicly name the individuals he was referring to.
The discussion also highlights the importance of clear entry procedures and communication between award organisers and the artistes they seek to recognise.
As The Headies prepares for its rescheduled Toronto ceremony, the response to Animashaun’s remarks may continue to shape conversations about local recognition, international ambition and the future direction of Nigerian music awards.
