June 22, (THEWILL)- Ayo Animashaun, Founder of the Headies, has disclosed that Olamide did not vote Lil Kesh for the “Next Rated Act” of the award in 2015 despite berating the organisers for not giving the gong to him.
THEWILL recalls that in 2015, Reekado Banks, signed to Mavin Records, clinched the category of the Headies targeted at celebrating outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.
However, Olamide had slammed the award’s organisers at the time, saying that Lil Kesh, who was signed into his YBNL, then deserved to win the award.
Don Jazzy, Mavin’s CEO, had however, berated Olamide when he was called up to receive a special recognition award for his role in the entertainment industry.
“Oga Olamide, if you want the car (that comes with the next rated category) come and take it,” Don Jazzy had said, sparking a heated face-off between the duo at the time.
Reflecting on the incident in the latest episode of #WithChude, Animashaun disclosed that it is wrong for people to believe an artiste is simply entitled to win a category of an award without voting for them.
The media mogul stated that months after the award event, Olamide visited him at the office where he showed him how the winner was selected.
He said: “Months (after the Olamide/Don Jazzy blowout), when Olamide came to my office, I showed him the log –I have the log on my phone– even he didn’t vote!
“So some categories, it’s okay to look at it and say ‘Na him get am, Na him get am’ but it doesn’t work like that. So if you say ‘Abeg don’t mind the Headies’ of course don’t mind the Headies… but did you vote?!
“A lot of people use mouth to vote. For voting categories, you don’t vote for them, they don’t win. Simple!”
He also narrated how in his early days he tried to establish himself in the country’s showbiz landscape and how he almost gave up on the Headies after he endured frustration from people.
“In 2015, I spoke to myself a lot. I said to myself, ‘in another 15 years, when my children ask me what I did with my youth and how I spent my money, would I be showing them videos of the Awards?
“Would I be showing them videos of the awards when my friends are showing properties and houses?’ So, I said I am not going back.
“There is nothing as good as being consistent. The excuse I gave myself was – if I stop right now and somebody steps in the room, all the hard work I have put in, it’s the new guy that will get the credit. And if there is money to be made, it’s the new guy that will make the money.”
About the Author
