Nigerian musician and producer, Cobhams Asuquo, has expressed frustration over the 68th Grammy Awards, where no Nigerian artiste took home an award.
In a candid video, Asuquo joked that the Grammys exploit Nigerian talent to benefit the US economy, describing the recognition as a constantly elusive “carrot.”
“I think Grammy is using Nigerians to boost the GDP of Los Angeles. It’s like a carrot dangling in front of us, and it goes away,” he said.
He stressed the importance of creating African-led platforms to celebrate local talent. “I think we need to build something that is ours. Let’s grow something that can make other people converge in our space,” Asuquo added.
The producer also compared the situation to American sports culture, citing the Super Bowl as an example of a globally successful homegrown event. “It’s only America that will do the Super Bowl and be playing it themselves,” he noted.
Asuquo’s remarks have sparked discussions on the need for stronger African entertainment initiatives and ways to elevate local artistes on the global stage.
