Rema has called on Nigerian artistes to protect the “institutions” that propel them to international acclaim.
The Afrobeats star spoke on Sunday at the 16th Headies held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.
The Headies is one of the biggest award ceremonies celebrating Afrobeats and African culture.
Rema won the ‘Best Male Artiste’ and ‘Digital Artiste Of The Year’.
Delivering his inspiring speech at the award night, the singer stressed the importance of supporting the Nigerian music industry.
“I must say it is very important that I must let everyone know that I am not here because of the award. I am here because it is important to support our institutions. When I say institutions, I mean you know the body that supports you to be able to have these major successes. The media houses, the awards,” he said.
“I feel like we are in a very sensitive period that if we do not give attention to our institutions, with this chance that we have, if we miss this chance, we will never have this chance again.
“You can see, even in Lagos or in Nigeria, the fans do not even trust the artistes no more. They buy tickets no more. We own Afrobeats. Until this year, Afro Nation is coming to Nigeria. Afro Nation has been doing Portugal. Afro Nation has been doing Ghana. But that shows that our utilities. I mean our institutions are failing slowly and slowly.
“And it will affect us big time. And that is the reason why I am here. Be it Afro rave, Afro this, Afro that, last last we go jam for Afrobeats award. This is our chance. We are not the first African giant that will make it big. Reggae has done its own. There is a reason why we are doing what we are doing right now. We are bigger. This is our chance to protect what we have.”
“Afro-rave, Afro-this, last last all of us will meet at the Afrobeats award”
– Rema delivered a heartfelt speech while he received his award for Best Male at the Headies pic.twitter.com/NVUgETXXfa
Advertisement— 49th. (@the49thstreet) September 4, 2023
Rema’s speech came a few days after Burna Boy had argued that “Afrobeats lacks substance”.
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