Ayra Starr, a rising Nigerian singer, has strongly criticized the Headies Awards for undermining the significance of the Best Female Artist Award.

According to a report by Vistanaij Media, the 16th edition of this prominent music award ceremony took place on Sunday night at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta. The event, themed ‘Celebrating African Renaissance,’ aimed to honor Afrobeats and African culture, attracting numerous A-list artists from across the continent.

Despite winning the Best Female Artist Award, Ayra expressed her dissatisfaction with the show’s organizers. Unlike the Best Male Artist Award and other categories, which were announced on stage, the Headies award organizers chose not to announce Ayra Starr as the Best Female Artist of the Year during the ceremony.

This action greatly angered Ayra, prompting her to take to the micro-blogging platform to criticize the organizers for marginalizing female artists. Using Tiwa Savage and Tems as examples, she highlighted the immense efforts female singers put into the industry. Ayra firmly stated that such disregard is undeserved, and she will never appreciate winning a category that was not considered important enough to be announced on stage. She emphasized that Nigeria did not raise her to settle for anything less.

“I will never be grateful for winning a category that wasn’t even deemed fit to be announced on stage! Best Female Artist na beans? We work hard, every single one of us! I’ve seen Tiwa record 4 hit songs in the same night. Tems breaths and lives for music, we didn’t deserve such nonchalance! Nigeria, you didn’t raise me to settle for less”.