Nigerian singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr is dissatisfied with the way organisers of Headies Awards treat female musicians.
Having beat music champions like Tiwa Savage, Simi and Tems, Starr emerged as the winner of the Best Female Artiste category at the 16th edition of Headies, held on Sunday.
Sadly, the organisers did not present awards in 13 categories, including Starr’s, after event host, Osas Ighodaro announced the end of the event abruptly.
The categories included Best Female Artiste, Best Recording of The Year, Songwriter of The Year, Best RnB Single, Best Vocal Performance (Female), Headies Viewers’ Choice, and Best East African Artiste of the Year.
Others include Best North African Artiste of The Year, Best Southern African Artiste of The Year, Best Central African Artiste of The Year, International Artiste Of The Year, Best Alternative Album, and Best RnB Album.
On Monday, Ayra Starr took to X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “I will never be grateful for winning a category that wasn’t even deemed fit to be announced on stage!”
After hailing her fellow nominees for their dedication to music, Starr lambasted the organisers for their “nonchalance” towards the female musicians.
“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 breathes and lives for music. We didn’t deserve such nonchalance! Nigeria, you didn’t raise me to settle for less,” she wrote.
This year’s Headies which was held at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, Atlanta, United States of America was tagged “Celebrating African Renaissance,”.