Source: africanentertainment.com

Stakeholders in the African music business came to celebrate Nigerian music at the 2023 Headies Award, which was held on September 3, 2023, at the Cobb Energy Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

After the Best Female award wasn’t given out on stage, Ayra Starr, who won it over Tems, Tiwa Savage, and Simi, took to her Twitter (X) account to express her feelings.

Ayra Starr declared that she wouldn’t be thankful for winning an award that wasn’t judged appropriate to be given on stage when the Headies neglected to give the award out at the event she was there for.

“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.”

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…

— Celestial being (@ayrastarr) September 4, 2023

It’s crucial to remember that not all of the 2023 Headies winners were revealed at the ceremony. One of the 14 honors, which also included the renowned Record of the Year award, was given to the Best Female Artist.

Ayra Starr’s tweet matches the criticism expressed by other viewers who immediately branded the decision to present the female award off-stage as insulting to the female end of the industry.