AFRIMA: WHY WIZKID, BURNA BOY, DAVIDO, MAY LOSE TO YOUNGER ARTISTES

With barely a week to the African Music Awards coming up in Lag Nigeria, many music lovers are looking forward to seeing their favourite artistes win awards.

However, there could be shockers awaiting fans as top artistes such as Ayo Balogun (Wizkid), Damini Ogulu (Burna Boy), and David Adeleke (Davido) may not win in the categories they have been nominated for.

Wizkid's song 'Essence on which he featured Tems, got six nominations, which are the highest for any Nigerian artiste. It was nominated for 'Artiste of the Year in Africa,' 'Best Male Artiste in Western Africa,' 'Album of the Year,' 'Best African Collaboration,' 'Song of the Year in Africa,' and Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African R n B Soul.

Davido, Patoranking and Omah Lay also got four nominations each.

Omah Lay was nominated for 'Artiste of the Year in Africa', 'Best Artiste in Western Africa,' 'Best Artiste, Duo' or Group in African Pop, and 'Breakout Artiste of the Year'.

Meanwhile, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Bella Shumurda, Tems, Orakira and Vector got three nominations each.

According to the organisers of the awards, aside from the Legend Award' category which is determined by the jury, other categories are determined by voters.

However, past experiences have shown that younger and up-and- coming artistes usually go all out to ask their fans to vote for them.

But, popular artistes don't usually canvass for votes. As a result of this, some music pundits have argued that some of the big artistes may not win awards if they do not encourage their fans to vote for them.

Recall that a controversy ensued in 2016 after Ayoleyi Hanniel (Reekado Banks), who was then signed to Mavin Records beat Keskinro Ololade (Lil Kesh) then of YBNL to the anticipated "Next Rated' category at the respected Headies Awards

Some people felt lil Kesh should have won the award, but the organisers argued that the eventual winner was the person who had the most votes.