Olamide:Show of shame

Funsho Arogundade

The organisers of the Nigeria’s annual music awards, The Headies, have condemned strongly the improper conduct of rap star, Olamide during the award ceremony held in Lagos on Saturday.

In a statement released by the secretariat of the awards show on Monday, the organisers said while it is not out of place for an artiste or a party to vent his disapproval over the outcomes of the results announced, they frowned at comments and the attendant vandalisation of valuable properties provided for the comfort of artistes and presenters at the venue by the aggrieved artistes.

“We strongly condemn all kinds of improper conduct and the use of profanity on live television. In the same manner, we condemn provocative comments. In all, we see no use or reason for a disgruntled artiste or party to destroy valuable properties put in place to give them extra comfort before they perform or come on stage. This is totally unacceptable and will be addressed,” the statement read in part.

At the event held on New Year’s Day at the Landmark Events Centre, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, Olamide lost his cool while on stage to felicitate with one of his artistes, Adekunle Gold who won the The Headies’ Best Alternative Song award. While on stage, he took  the microphone from Gold and expressed his disappointment with the choice of Mavin Records’ fresh artiste, Reekado Banks over  his YBNL protégé, Lil Kesh, as the winner of the most-coveted Next Rated award. The award  came with a grand prize of a brand new Hyundai car.

Organisers say they will take action against Olamide

Olamide launched into expletives, curse-words, slammed the microphone and threw paper cups filled with liquor in it on the stage. And not done, in a fit of rage,  he allegedly tore apart the Headies backroom known as the ‘Green Room’ as he broke bottles, glass tables and flipped furniture over.

While explaining the procedures that determine the winners especially in the categories of ‘Song Of The Year’, ‘Artiste Of The Year’, and ‘Next-Rated’, the organisers said these three are left strictly for fans to vote and choose the winners

“We wish to say categorically that we do not tamper with the outcome of the voting process. The limit of our involvement in this voting process is to advice the nominees to engage their fans and solicit for their votes. We do not accept any responsibility for failure on the part of the nominees or their record label, when they fail to do this,” said the organisers.

It continued, “Unfortunately, most times, voting, year in review and definitions of each category are generally taken for granted by many artistes. We can also attest to, and hereby state categorically that, there is no evidence that any of the artistes was aggrieved and vocal about their displeasure to the turnout of the award, voted in the ‘Next-Rated’ category, as our voting process captures email addresses and phone numbers.

“We are proud of what we have achieved over the years. The Headies stage has birthed the careers of many artistes who are of A-list status today. We are also glad that we have reinstated pride and prestige into the winning of a locally organised music awards and, we have celebrated artistic ingenuity for 10 straight years; a feat no other group before us was able to achieve.

“Every year, the screening team collates all creative materials released in the year in review and screen for nomination. This tedious process goes on for at least three months before the screening team comes out with a final list.”

Hours after the ugly drama that brought to an inglorious end the awards ceremony, Olamide took to his Instagram handle to issue an apology.

“I want to apologise to my fans for my conduct, including swearing on Live TV, at the Headies event some hours ago. I recognise that you all are the most important part of my work and my journey so far, and I would not have come this far without you. Therefore, you deserve better from me. I promised to conduct myself in a more respectable manner in future,” he wrote.

Even though Olamide, who won two awards (Best Street Hop and Artiste of the Year) has apologised for his conduct, it remains unclear the next steps the Headies organisers would take.