Forget the followers on social media or the Grammy plaques on the shelf—true greatness is measured by the fans who would go to war in your name. That’s more than love or any other form of validation as an artist.
We all know someone who would fight, argue, and even risk bringing shame to the family name just to prove that Davido, Wizkid, or Asake is the greatest artist in the world.
I know I do
The Afrobeats-to-the-world movement is thriving, and our music is more mainstream than ever, but let’s be honest: who really cares about the Grammys?
The last 24 hours have seen netizens throw shade at one or two Nigerian artists for missing out on nominations or wins. Sarz has mocked Davido and Portable has mocked Asake but does that make them any less of an icon?
I recently spoke with a popular Nollywood creative (stay tuned for that content), and they couldn’t care less about awards. To them, impact is the real prize.
Think about it— I am glad that Tems, Rema, Asake, artists whose careers aren’t even a decade old, are already gracing the Grammy red carpet. We saw the love Davido received from the streets on his wedding day. We’ve all witnessed the unwavering loyalty of Wizkid FC.
Do you really believe a Grammy win adds or subtracts from their status as global superstars?
Sure, recognition is great. We’re thrilled that our artists are getting acknowledged on the world stage. But haven’t they already won?
There are kids who can sing their lyrics word for word, and their music is the soundtrack to millions of lives. A video of a lady singing Rema’s Ozeba went viral over the weekend, you would think she was the original composer of the song.
Seriously think about the talents we have today; Ayra Starr, Asake, Rema, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Lojay, Davido, and Tems -who won a Grammy for Best African Music Performance. Her talent, like all others’ is undeniable. But would we think any less of her if she hadn’t won?
Absolutely not.
If you conduct a poll asking who the greatest Nigerian musician of all time is, it is unlikely that Tems or Burna Boy would emerge as the winner. Fela, 2Baba, Ebenezer Obey, Sir Victo Uwaifo, and many other music legends did not win the Grammy award and we do not thiink any less of them.
As Drake said in 2019, “We play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport. Look, the point is, you already won if you have people singing your songs word for word, if you’re a hero in your hometown. You’re already winning, you don’t need this right here.”
At the end of the day, no Grammy can define the greatness of our artists. The world is already singing their praises, with or without that golden trophy.
