‘Colonial mentality’ — Jimmy Jatt knocks artists over absence at local award shows

Jimmy Jatt, the iconic Nigerian disc jockey, says Nigerian artists that avoid local award shows are suffering from “colonial mentality”.

The 55-year-old entertainer said this on Friday at the launch of the Afrobeats hall of fame in Lagos.

The disc jockey made the comment in reaction to the absence of many Nigerian artists at the 2021 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). 

“I think it is the colonial mentality that is still worrying a lot of our people,” Jatt said.

“When it is western world inviting you, even if it is an award in a smallest room, they are always quick to go and would probably arrive four days before the award.

“But when it is being held here, even the biggest one here. From records, all the awards or the recognition platforms here had the issues.

“Sometimes, most of these events hold in Eko Hotel, and on that same day, some of the artists are lodged in that same hotel but they won’t come down to that hall because we don’t regard ourselves enough.

“Once it is us, for us, it is not as big for them. All that needs to change. Once it is other people for us, we even beg to be there.”

Jimmy Jatt enjoined Nigerian entertainers, particularly artists, to show support for local awards, adding that they should make the world believe that our awards are the biggest. 

“There are three stages to this thing. When the artist is still trying to make a name, they are always in attendance. When they get there, they feel like ‘I don pass that level’. Then when their career slows down, which of course is law of diminishing returns, then will start begging to be on that same platform again,” he said.

“But all that needs to change. People need to understand that we have to rally round our own, support it and make the world believe it is the biggest.”