Renowned Nigerian musician and producer, Cobhams Asuquo, has voiced his disappointment with the Grammy Awards following the absence of Nigerian winners at the 68th Grammy Awards.
In a video shared online, Asuquo humorously suggested that the Grammys benefit economically from Nigerian artistes while offering them fleeting validation. He likened the situation to a carrot being dangled just out of reach.
“I think the Grammy is using Nigerians to boost the GDP of Los Angeles. It’s like a carrot dangling in front of us, and it goes away,” he said.
The award-winning producer urged stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry to redirect their focus toward building and strengthening homegrown award platforms that celebrate local talent on Nigerian terms.
“I think we need to build something that is ours. Let’s grow something that can make other people converge in our space,” Asuquo stated.
Drawing a comparison with American sports culture, Asuquo referenced the Super Bowl as an example of a locally driven event that has achieved global relevance while remaining firmly rooted in its home country.
“It’s only America that will do the Super Bowl and be playing it themselves,” he added.