Afrobeats sensation, Ahmed Ololade, professionally known as Asake, has stated that he is not brooding his Grammy loss to South African singer, Tyla.
Tyla’s ‘Water’ won the maiden Best African Music Performance category at the 66th Grammys, the same category that Asake and Olamide’s ‘Amapiano’ was nominated in.
However, speaking in a recent interview with GQ magazine, the ‘Joha’ crooner expressed optimism that he might get more Grammy nominations and probably win in 2025.
He said; “It [Grammy loss] is not a loss for me. I might just get more next year. In my head, I was not even taking it too seriously.
On his mind space for his sophomore album, ‘Work Of Art,’ Asake said: “People don’t really know me because I’m quiet. So everybody started seeing me as mystery. ‘Work of Art’ is just for them to know me. You have to understand I’m human, but you can’t just deny the heart in me.”
Meanwhile, in related news…
Nigerian singer, Joseph Akinfenwa Akinwale, also known as Joeboy urged his counterparts in Africa support local award shows.
He made the call in a reent interview on 3Music TV where he stated that the Grammys which many artistes dream of having is an American award despite its worldwide recognition.
The ‘Alcohol’ crooner said the time has come for Afrobeats stars to support award shows in the continent and value them more over foreign awards.
Joeboy advocated for African creatives to empower institutions on the continent and ensure that they grow like the globally accepted ones.
The 26-year-old singer said; “I think we should unapologetically be ourselves and also empower our institutions here in Africa.
“Grammys is a great award but it is still an American award. It is just seen as a global award because of its positioning.
“But we make it look like that it is the biggest award an African artiste can ever get. Why don’t we show up for our awards and plan it properly?
“If they did not show up for their awards, it won’t be as great as it is now. I know there is money to be made there but we need to return home and invest.
“At the end of the day, we will all have to come back. So it is all about making sure our infrastructure and institutions are growing.”
