Popular reality TV star Natacha Akide otherwise known as Tacha has knocked the organisers of the Headies Award for hosting the 2023 edition of the show in the United States.
The award ceremony, which is considered to be the biggest in Africa took place on Sunday, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, with Emmy-nominated actor Terrence J and Nigerian-American actress Osas Ighodaro hosting the event.
Tacha, took to her Twitter account to express her disappointment with the decision by the organisers to move the show to the United States of America.
On Monday, she shared a video on her X (formerly Twitter) page, #Symply_Tacha. According to her: “How is it that the biggest music award show in Africa is being held abroad back-to-back? What did our colonial master do to us? What is this slave mentality? How does it make sense?
“The first time it was held in the US last year, it made sense because Afrobeats was still getting so much momentum and artists were filling up stadiums.
“Yes, it made sense, but doing it again in the US a year later—where is the sense in that? Yes, we are the ones promoting it here in Nigeria; we are the ones voting; have you forgotten there was a time BET would not give awards to our artists on the front stage; they would give them at the back stage?
“Even BET would not hold their award in Africa, not in South Africa or Nigeria, so why are you taking such a prestigious indigenous award abroad? With this slave trade mentality, we feel that we are out of it, but if we think about it, are we really out of it?.
Tacha’s comments were echoed by many other Nigerians on social media. Some people argued that the move was a sign that the Headies was losing its relevance in Nigeria. Others said that it was a missed opportunity to showcase Nigerian music and culture to the world.
The Headies organisers have not yet responded to Tacha’s comments. However, before the show, they have said that the decision to move the show to the US was made in order to “expand the reach of the award ceremony”.