"I will never be grateful for winning a category that wasn’t announced on stage"- Ayra Starr slams Headies

By Ejiofor Toochi

Popular Nigerian artiste, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe aka Ayra Starr has slammed the organizers of the Headies for their failure to announce the winners of the female categories on stage.

The 16th edition of the Headies Awards took place yesterday in the United States, but unfortunately, the show ended abruptly without presenting about 14 awards, including all the categories for female artistes.

Ayra Starr, who won the Best Female Artiste award, expressed that she didn’t feel grateful for the award due to the disrespect.

Taking to Twitter, she wrote, “I will never be grateful for winning a category that wasn’t even deemed fit to be announced on stage! Best female artist na beans?”

She equally lamented the constant disrespect herself and other hard working female artistes in the industry face.

“We work hard, every single one of us! I’ve seen Tiwa record 4 hit songs in the same night, Tems breaths and lives for music, we didn’t deserve such nonchalance! Nigeria, you didn’t raise me to settle for less.”

I will never be grateful for winning a category that wasn’t even deemed fit to be announced on stage ! Best female artist na beans ? We work hard, every single one of us ! I’ve seen Tiwa record 4 hit songs in the same night , Tems breaths and lives for music , we didn’t deserve…
— Celestial being (@ayrastarr) September 4, 2023

Headies 2023 Awards: Full List of Nominees and Winners

Meanwhile, The 16th edition of the Headies Awards, the biggest celebration of Afrobeats and African culture, took place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta. This event, themed ‘Celebrating African Renaissance,’ brought together top artists from Africa to honor the best in Afrobeats music.

Since its start in 2006, the Headies Awards have been a significant part of recognizing achievements in the Nigerian music industry and have become a prestigious prize in Nigerian music.