Afrobeats star, Rema has called on Nigerians artists to support Nigerian institutions.
The singer while delivering his acceptance speech after receiving the award for the Digital Artiste Of The Year’, stated that these institutions propelled them (Nigerian Artists) to international acclaim.
Rema who also won the Best Male Artiste stated, “I must say it is very important that I must let everyone know that I am not here because of the award. I am here because it is important to support our institutions. When I say institutions, I mean you know the body that supports you to be able to have these major successes. The media houses, the awards,” he said.
“I feel like we are in a very sensitive period that if we do not give attention to our institutions, with this chance that we have, if we miss this chance, we will never have this chance again.
“You can see, even in Lagos or in Nigeria, the fans do not even trust the artistes no more. They buy tickets no more. We own Afrobeats. Until this year, Afro Nation is coming to Nigeria. Afro Nation has been doing Portugal. Afro Nation has been doing Ghana. But that shows that our utilities. I mean our institutions are failing slowly and slowly.
“And it will affect us big time. And that is the reason why I am here. Be it Afro rave, Afro this, Afro that, last last we go jam for Afrobeats award. This is our chance. We are not the first African giant that will make it big. Reggae has done its own. There is a reason why we are doing what we are doing right now. We are bigger. This is our chance to protect what we have.”
The Headies award was held on Sunday at the 16th Headies held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.
His speech has continued to gather various commendations from Nigerians, who applauded him for delivering a well thought speech.
His speech is coming few weeks after Burnaboy stated that many Nigerian music lacked substance.
While reacting, a tweep @SolyPappy tweeted,”Rema made me love ❤️ him more today . I now see why he is truly the future !”.
Another tweep @Teeboss tweeted, “Why all this small small bro come get sense pass their senior bro?”.
While @MolanoHybrd, tweeted,”Summary: Rema low letting some old cats 🦍 know that slandering AfroBeats isn’t good for the culture….”
