In the wake of the ripples generated by Tekno’s nomination in the next rated category of the Headies 2016 and the subsequent explanation tendered by the organizing committee of the Headies. A couple of grey areas were clarified but a lot more suddenly pop up when you take a closer look.
No doubt, the Headies is the biggest musical award in Nigeria and highly coveted but it is rather surprising that the most controversial category is the next rated category. Could it be the car gift attached? That’s a question for another day. The real question remains: Was Tekno rightly or wrongly nominated? Before I go ahead and answer that, let’s take a look at this year’s next rated nominees;
Tekno, Aramide, Ycee, Mr. Eazi and Humblesmith
With all humility, not disrespecting anyone’s effort, Tekno’s “Wash” and “Pana” easily trumps the best efforts of his co-nominees. When you put out a slew of chart topping hit singles all year round and get nominated alongside Ycee (“Omo alhaji”), Humblesmith (“Osinachi”), Mr Eazi (“skin tight”) and Aramide (“Love me”), it can be frustratingly annoying to say the least but all things considered, we can presume that Tekno will be going home with the Hyundai. In this recession period, a free car is a great gift, if it wasn’t, Olamide and Don jazzy wouldn’t have started the New Year on a sour note but if Tekno feels he is bigger than the car, I will be willing to take it off his hands.
If you ask me, I will say Tekno was rightly nominated and being nominated means his hard work is being recognized. What he needs to understand is that Its not a crime to be heads and shoulders above your competitors, after all first class students share the same facilities with their less gifted colleagues until graduation, thereafter the chaff is separated from the wheat.
Kudos to the organizers of the Headies for taking time out of their busy schedules to clarify things but unfortunately their answers throw up more questions.
⦁ If putting out an album disqualifies you from being nominated in the category (Sorry CDQ), does an EP also disqualify you? I was wondering why Mr 2kay and Rayce didn’t get a nod, could it be that they didn’t submit entries.
⦁ If Reekado banks didn’t put out an album, would he still have been eligible? And if nominated and he gets the most votes, would he have won a second year running?
⦁ Is there a rule or clause that states that once nominated in a year, you can never be nominated again or eligible for nomination again? If no, why is Korede bello and Cynthia Morgan not on the list? They didn’t put out any albums and they both had a good if not great year. Did they also not submit entries? They must really dislike Hyundai.
⦁ A scenario where Tekno wins the award this year, then goes on to have a better 2017 having the top 3 singles in the country without putting out an album, can he win it twice in a row? What happens if he does the same thing the third year, a hat trick of next rateds?
⦁ Is there a set limit for number of years between your first mainstream single and the year of nomination? If no, are you implying that Beazy, Alaye, Niyola, Muna, Splash and General pype to name a few still stand a chance in 2017 or 2018?
Those are just the few questions that readily come to mind. Let’s hope that the organizers of the Headies will do the needful to avoid stories that touch this year and in the years to come
