6th February, 2024
- By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Singer Portable has made subtle jabs at his colleagues, Asake, and other Nigerian artistes who were not recognized at the Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday.
These artistes lost out in the Best African Music Performance category to South Africa’s Tyla with her song “Water.” Asake and Olamide received a nomination for their hit track ‘Amapiano.’
Though Portable did not explicitly mention names, his remarks seemed directed particularly toward Asake, who is renowned for incorporating Amapiano beats into Nigerian music.
Notably, about two weeks earlier, Portable posted a video where he appeared to mock Asake, stating, “lonely at the top.”
In the recent viral video, he remarked, “Make una too promote Afro, when Afro blows, you will also win Grammy.”
He suggested that artistes should return to Afro and brand themselves as ‘Afronation.’
Portable also emphasized that if Afro-music does not gain widespread recognition, Nigerian artistes cannot win Grammy Awards.
He pointed out that South Africans have achieved this feat, urging Nigerian artistes to focus on their sound rather than imitating others.
This video surfaced just two days after Nigerian Grammy award nominees Davido, Burna Boy, Asake, and Ayra Starr failed to secure a Grammy Award.
Portable concluded his remarks by stating, “Ti Afro o ba blow, e o le gba Graand mmy,” which translates to “If Afro music does not gain recognition, you cannot win a Grammy Award.”
Grammys: Singer Portable lectures Davido, Asake, others following their winless outing
— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) February 6, 2024