Afrobeats Don’t Need Grammy’s Recognition – Osita Iheme

Popular Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme has come out to write some words of encouragement to Nigerian singers who lost at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

He recently had his say via his social media page, and fans have been reacting.

According to him, the reality is that their talents weren’t enough to secure the award as other factors will always be considered by the academy.

He added that Headies organizer, Ayo Animashaun tried to change the narrative, but Nigerians did not see the future with him.

His words, “Dear @ayonimashaun you tried to change the narratives but my home boys couldn’t see the future with you. They looked the other way after some time citing some wrongdoings. Thereby forcing you to move to that side. Homeboys whatever happened in the Headies award happens x3 on the other side. Talent is not enough, there’s politics, finance, branding, monopoly, and awareness. All of these are needed to activate to keep that LA gathering relevant. Does it hold outside? NO. Cause it will lose the sauce. Afrobeat to the world, Do you need that gathering to show your talent? You have conquered before their recognition. But your presence and fan base are needed to sell to the world. Because is your time. That’s if you are aware, But is done in LA of course is larger than life. There a better graphics of the plaque but I choose this what you call it is what it is. Take your crown and rule your world. Meanwhile congrats Nwanyioma @tyla. Africa wins.”

WOW.

Nollywood is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in The New York Times. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there is no clear or agreed-upon definition for the term, which has made it a subject to several controversies.

The origin of the term “Nollywood” remains unclear; Jonathan Haynes traced the earliest usage of the word to a 2002 article by Matt Steinglass in the New York Times, where it was used to describe Nigerian cinema.

Charles Igwe noted that Norimitsu Onishi also used the name in a September 2002 article he wrote for the New York Times. The term continues to be used in the media to refer to the Nigerian film industry, with its definition later assumed to be a portmanteau of the words “Nigeria” and “Hollywood”, the American major film hub.

Film-making in Nigeria is divided largely along regional, and marginally ethnic and religious lines. Thus, there are distinct film industries – each seeking to portray the concern of the particular section and ethnicity it represents. However, there is the English-language film industry which is a melting pot for filmmaking and filmmakers from most of the regional industries.