Nigerian disc jockey, Jimmy Jatt, has hit out at Nigerian artists for their absence at local awards.
The iconic DJ stated this while reacting to the absence of many Nigerian artists at the recently held 2021 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).
According to the DJ, Nigerian artists are quick to attend global awards ceremonies while neglecting the locally organised ones.
He then advised artists to always place priorities on local awards.
Jatt said “I think it is the colonial mentality that is still worrying a lot of our people.
“When it is western world inviting you, even if it is an award in a smallest room, they are always quick to go and would probably arrive four days before the award.
“But when it is being held here, even the biggest one here. From records, all the awards or the recognition platforms here had the issues.
“Sometimes, most of these events hold in Eko Hotel, and on that same day, some of the artists are lodged in that same hotel but they won’t come down to that hall because we don’t regard ourselves enough.
“Once it is us, for us, it is not as big for them. All that needs to change. Once it is other people for us, we even beg to be there.”.
Jatt added “There are three stages to this thing. When the artist is still trying to make a name, they are always in attendance. When they get there, they feel like ‘I don pass that level’. Then when their career slows down, which of course is law of diminishing returns, then will start begging to be on that same platform again,” he said.
“But all that needs to change. People need to understand that we have to rally round our own, support it and make the world believe it is the biggest.”
