We wrap up the month of October on the #AOTW this week bringing 4 Nigerian artists taking Afrobeats beat sound to the to the world. Remember this is a sound pioneered by the late legendary Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo (who died 22 years) Attention is not on to whether these artists won or not at the headies. We only look at how significant the month has been because the 13th #HeadiesAward our own Grammy awards – the biggest one indeed since 2006 (skipped in 2017 for the first) powered by HipTV was first celebrated in October this year – official month for Felabration. That made it a very interesting October in the Nigerian music industry. You already know the last quarter of each year is usually packed with lots of activities across board!
Yup! There may be some a sharp contrast in the sound of Afrobeats with an’s’ and Afrobeat genre created by the late legendary Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti in terms of elements heavily punctuated with instrumentals, jazz and highlife. But what matters here are: Felabration and Headies Award this year happened almost back to back the same month. On 1st October, Headies had announced its list of nominees for the 2019 ceremony. Previously on 21st September 21, entries for the award were opened.
Also between 14th and 20th of Felabration held in honour of the Afrobeat legend. Talking #Felabration (which clocked 21 this year), the theme for this year’s Felabration was #TeacherDontTeachMeNonse while the 13th Headies Award theme was #ThePowerofADream. We cannot over flog the fact that many of them are top notch Nigerian artists already: Burna Boy, Wizkid, Falz, Davido, among other females who at one point or another also claimed their music have been inspired by the late Afrobeat legend e.g Yemi Alade. Teni, Burna Boy, Falz, won big at the Headies.
Alright! Let’s find out! We start off right from the 3rd category at the Headies Award – Producer of the year playing some killer tune!
No. 4. Fake Love – Starboy featuring Duncan Mighty and Wizkid, produced by Killertunez (the song won this category where Phantom – producer of ‘Ye’ by Burna Boy, Ozedikus – ‘Dumebi’ by Rema, Spellz – ‘Askamaya’ by Teni Kel-P Vibes – ‘Killing Dem’ by Burna Boy featuring Zlatan were all nominated). Of course there may be some a sharp contrast in the sound of Afrobeats with an’s’ and Afrobeat genre created by the late legendary Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti in terms of elements heavily punctuated with instrumentals, jazz and highlife. But that was not a bad one. Y’all music experts and critics be doing whatever critiquing. We move on to number 3 and 2 now.
No. 3. Talk – Falz (won the Best Rap Single Falz album ‘Moral Instruction’ won Best Rap Album awards which was a Non-voting category
No. 2. Killin’ Dem – Burna Boy featuring Zlatan (This song won under the category Best Collabo and while Burna himself won Artiste of the Year category)
Rema (one song off his Bad Commando EP) Won the NEXT RATED category -a voting category for the most promising act in the year under review. He beat the likes of Joeboy, Fireboy DML, Victor AD, Lyta and Zlatan to their game
Remember categories added to headies award last year: Viewer’s Choice, Industry Brand Supporter, Best Performer, and Best Song Writer of the year).
No. 1. Teni – Uyo Meyo (won best recording of the year) Best Pop Single, Best Vocal Performance and Viewers Choice awards. She doesn’t do Afrobeat as such. Her style of music is a bit different
Not all the top notch artistes, including those who are on the spotlight today on the #AOTW won at the Headies. However, we want to encourage them to keep taking the Afrosound to the world inspired, just like others who are still on the way to dreamland with their music #ThePowerofADream.
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