Acclaimed Nigerian musician Joseph Akinwale, known professionally as Joeboy, has voiced a call for his peers in Africa to prioritize regional award events over international ones.
During an exclusive chat with 3Music TV, he argued that despite its global renown, the Grammy remains primarily an American award, which many artists covet.
The artist behind the hit “Alcohol” emphasized the importance for Afrobeats musicians to value and actively participate in African awards more than those on the international stage.
Joeboy advocated for the empowerment and development of African institutions to ensure they reach standards comparable to globally recognized entities.
The 26-year-old artist stated, “I think we should unapologetically be ourselves and also empower our institutions here in Africa. But we make it look like that it is the biggest award an African artiste can ever get. Why don’t we show up for our awards and plan it properly? If they did not show up for their awards, it won’t be as great as it is now. I know there is money to be made there but we need to return home and invest. At the end of the day, we will all have to come back. So it is all about making sure our infrastructure and institutions are growing.”
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