As e be now, Naija no fit hide di disappointment wey dey waka for Afrobeats community after dem Grammy Awards.
This one na serious wahala as e happen for di 68th Grammy Awards wey just pass for Los Angeles. Na three Naija pple wey suppose shine pass, but school na una, na dem wey dem no carry trophy comot. Shaboozey, Tyler Okonma, and Cynthia Erivo sweet for di Grammy talk but na all dem international stars wey no dey carry dem roots wella go stage wey dem put for front.
Dem dey call sender as dem no see Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid take home any trophy, dem sing ‘close but no cigar’ for di matter. Dem dey vex like say dem don put una for market. Dem South African babe, Tyla wey knack di prize for Best African Music Performance with her jam, ‘Push 2 Start’ don even chop shine wey suppose for Naija.
As Tyla dey celebrate her victory, Naija pple dey wonder wetin go happen to all di big Afrobeats acts wey no fit shine like dat. One Naija music lover wey get mouth, Adediwura James talk say, ‘Grammy don dim Afrobeats stars again.’ E don dey pain dem sha, dem dey feel say e no fair at all.
Some come dey shout say make dem form African Grammys abeg, if dem wan fit celebrate own pple right. But not all dem dey vex, some say na presence na win. Even DJ Big N don talk say make Naija pple join di Recording Academy, make dem dey vote and make dem voice count. E no go work if dem no dey show face, how dem go expect make dem hear dem?
Na so e be, if Naija no fit see di value in dia own pple wey dey win award, e go hard for dem to dey claim dem any time dem collect shine.
Cynthia and di others no just dey waka from one corner. Dem don experience Naija life, dem carry di Nigerian name like badge for dia chest, so why dem go dey hide dem from di spotlight? Na real talk, our identity no dey fade because we dey far from home.
This important matter dey show say if dem no acknowledge di shine wey Naija pple dey bring, na so dem go make dem pple suffer for di glory and recognition. How far dem go if dem no point to dia own pple as dem ref err?
As di conversation dey flow, dem dey call on Naija pple to claim dia own stars, celebrate dem and make dem know say dem dey watch dem from here. Dis kind jive go fit change di perception wey di whole world get about us.
In as much as dem don drop di ball for dis year, e no mean say nexa year go be di same. Naija music still dey reign as Afrobeats don take over di world stage. Wetin be we go fit do from here? We need to dey focus on our own and clap for di ones wey dey win. Every small win count, and it go help grow our culture.
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