Comments From Africans About The Grammy Awards Being Considered The Highest Honor For African Music Recording Artists, Part II: Ayra Starr - "Sability"

Ayra Starr, Feb. 18, 2023
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Statistics for this official YouTube video as of June 20, 2023 as of 1:15 PM EDT

total # of views - 26,396,062
total # of comments - 7,437

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This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about Africans and the United States' Grammy award. 

This post features comments from the discussion thread for Nigerian Afrobeats singer Ayra Starr's Feb. 2023 official YouTube video "Stability". Those comments are similar to those that are showcased in Part I of this pancocojams series, except that there is only one comment about the Nigerian award called "Headies" and no other comments about other music awards besides the Grammys. Also, more comments the discussion in Ayra's "Sability" video include reasons why the commenters are critical of the Grammys. At least two commenters in that discussion example described that the Grammys are "a white man's award".  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/06/comments-from-africans-about-grammy.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. The comments in that pancocojams post are from the discussion thread for Nigerian performing artists Asake's and Olamide's official May 2023 YouTube video entitled "Amapiano". That song is a fusion of Nigerian Afrobeats, South African Amapiano, African American Rap, and Nigerian Fuji by those two Nigerian recording artists. However, all of the comments about the Grammys in that particular YouTube discussion thread focus on Asake Many of those commenters predict that Asake will win a Grammy for that song. Some other commenters reject and/or ridicule that possibility for that particular song. 

Some other commenters in that discussion thread share their opinion about the kinds of music that the Grammys honor and write that Asake music doesn't fit that criteria. Other commenters question or criticize Africans who believe that winning a Grammys is the highest honor for any African recording artist. 

Several other commenters wrote that winning the Grammys is mentioned in (YouTube) discussion threads for other trending African contemporary recording artists. 

In addition, several comments in this compilation refer to the Headies, a Nigerian music award or the BET awards, an African American award that includes music categories,or the People's Choice award, another United States award recognizing people in entertainment. 

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The content of this pancocojams post is presented for socio-cultural purposes, including Nigerian and other African cultures, examples of Nigerian Pidgin English, Nigerians and other Africans' opinions about those recording artists, as well as opinions and attitudes about the Grammys and about other music awards. 

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Ayra Starr and all those who are associated with that song and that video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
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An online list of Africans who have won Grammys (as of 2023) is included in the comment section for Part I of this pancocojams series.

How some Africans feel about the Grammys is particularly interesting in light of the decision by the Grammys to add a category for African music starting in 2024 instead of having that music compete in the "world music" category.
  
Click https://www.africanews.com/2023/06/14/grammy-awards-africa-finally-gets-its-own-category/#:~:text=USA,a%20consecration%20for%20the%20genre for the June 2023 article entitled "Grammy Awards: Africa finally gets its own category" by  Rédaction Africanews with AFP.

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYn3k8dpRJI

These comments are only a sample of the comments on this subject in that discussion thread.  All of these comments are from 2023. These comments are presented in relative chronological order with the oldest comments given first except for replies.

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only. Brief explanations about some of the terms that are found in these comments are given below a few of these comments.

1.Kingholyan Miraculous
"Ayra star will win a Grammy one day who else think so to ?"

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2. trizah🤍
"I know right! grammys should do their thingg 😕😌🥲🫶🏼"

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3. OfficialN69
"That's a fact."

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4. Toma whyte
"More than that a world music awards"

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5. Stan Pm
"Soon"

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6. Mariam Yussuf
"Definitely by God's grace"

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7. Miracle Owen
"She doesnt need one. Shes still a great singer, eitherway"

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8. Sandy Mwas
"of course she has to she is really an icon❤️"

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9. BLACK BOY 🥺💙
"Still coming in her way Just Chill ❤💯💯💯💯"

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10. R6mobile America
"Grammy is not an achievement there great musicians who never won Grammy"

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11. Kennytwrld
"@R6mobile America  abeg no take dis tin fr public say grammy no be achievement lol ur not serious she will win one day tho"

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12. alvin saf
"It's never served on a silver plate music ain't the only thing needed for a grammy"

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13. nigerccie1
"Don’t be a slave to Grammys. Don’t let Grammys validate your work. You are bigger than Grammys"

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14. Daniella
"Amen oh ,we will all rejoice and be proud"

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15. Tehillah Okhawere
"I pray she wins a Grammy too❤️❤️"

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16. Ayanda Wesley
"Tssuiiip you no even call rema you call this pikin"
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Rema is another popular Nigerian Afrobeats recording artist.

"Pikin" is a Nigerian Pidgin English word meaning "child". Ayra is called a "pikin" because she is very young.

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17. certifiedtoxicblink
"the grammys are PROBLEMATIC"

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18. Kelvinblog Tv
"Yeah one day she will be famous world wide like tems ✌🏻"

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19. maxim success
"Na today something 🤣🤣🤣

She better start singing Grammy worthy kind of Music, and get a good songwriter, or improve her Pen Skills, I'm only Spilling Facts

Look at TEMs"

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20. Junior Pj maxlamboy
"Nope"

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21. African Star
"She is an amazing African artist and doesn't need the white mans award to confirm that. Let us as Africans appreciate ourselves and don't look to the white man to approve us. 1.4billion of us are more than enough."

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22. Obot Desmond
"Dey play! So you think stability is a good song to win Grammy? For last last everybody thought e go collect Grammy but didn't 😅"
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"Dey play" is a Nigerian Pidgin English saying that means something like "You're playing around [talking nonsense] when you say that." 

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23. shantel testimony
"I believe and it’s will happen soon by God’s grace"

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24. Ability white
"She deserves it ❤️"

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25. Ehiaga Victor
"Dey play"

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26. alvin saf
"It's never served on a silver plate music ain't the only thing needed for a grammy"

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27. geniekid7
"Prolly next year"

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28. Obinna Yatek
"She no fit"

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29. Austin Kpakol
"I don't think so"

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30. Emmerson Adi
"Why all these craze about Grammy? Slave mentality. Mtcheww"

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31. Abigael Jalali
"she will win multiple !!!"

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32. Hafiz Allotey
"We don't think it will happen"

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33. Rhapor Rum Punch
"@Kennytwrld  Why are you guys want Americans to give you an award?"

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34. Fille du Soleil
"Enough with thisgrammi thing  .... Ayraa they sing for America recognition?? Make she move to usa ......stop this mentality of Africa bowing to USA"

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35. RICH Dude
"For where!? This is not international music it’s only naija gbedu no be emotional"
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Here's the meaning of gbedu from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Gbedu
"A Nigerian term, Gbedu means “big drum” . But in the Nigerian urban slang terms, it means to “groove” or grooving, vibes etc; Fun, rhythm etc

The food was amazing tonight, and now the music is on point. This gbedu is no joke. It’s lit tonight."
by OrangeCountyFTW July 15, 2022

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36. chidera ife
"I really need her ti win a grammy"

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37. Hawkins
"But she'll get after Rema gets one..... That's a fact"

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38. Amaris Mbam
"@iUPLOAD  dont u think she can win s grammy"

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39. RICK ZED
"Dey play 😂"

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40. Collin_Ton
"Misson impossible😂🤣"

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41. The Top 10 Show
"Depends which contract she signs 👀"

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42. Philemon Onyango
"Not before remma haha"

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43. Okwueze Venitius
"Grammy useless"

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44. crystal
"We hope so the Grammy's don't really tbh"

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45. Basil Henry-eyo
"@crystal  why?"

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46. THE YOUNG HANDSOME GENIUS
"She will u wait, and when it happens, l will make sure l am there"

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47. Jacob Samuel
"I don't think so"

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48. Obi Success
"Dey play"

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49. allfires🔥
"2 Grammy's"

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50. Emmana Immortal
"Not with this pattern of hers"

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51. ybn bestie
"With copy copy songs?"

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52. Zvikomborero Chiriro
"Why not just why not"

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53. Emmana Immortal
"@Zvikomborero Chiriro  Mek she calm down do cool music not noise, then she fit win. Body too dey shark her. She's good But let her settle her head down."

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54. Anything Sport
"Wetin you smoke?"

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55. RAVER
"Not a hater... But she won't win any Grammy for her solo work except from a big international artiste."

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56. Handwallah Hudheifa
"Yes one day 🎉🎉"

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57. Young Qee
"I don’t think so, I know so ❤💯💪"

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58. Adesina Mujidat
"I think so too🥰🥰"

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59. fudge...
"When I heard the awilo Longomba voice I was so happy cos Congo is being represented. I love ayra Starr I'm hoping she gets nominated for a Grammy because she has been coming out with bangers recently. 🇨🇩🇨🇩"
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Awilo Longomaba is a very popular Congolese Soukous musician,singer, and composer. Ayra Starr sampled Awilo Longomaba's 1998 hit song "Coupe Bibamba" in Ayra's 2022 record "Sability".

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60. uche Anadi
"This what came to my mind when I saw this video"

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61. Truedis Media
"I don't think Arya starr even dey reason Grammy. The girl na Vibez. But bro do you know what it takes to win a Grammy"

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62. Arsene Mugabe
"Never"

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63. Olusegun Salami
"Not me tho,,, no hate"

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64. Dave Ross
"Grammy is not that easy"

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65. Charlotte Mba
"She don win already, a Cameroonian fan"

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66. Okeniyi Ayomide
"How??? 🌝"

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67. Jesh lyrics
"Is this the sing you are basing on to say that she will win a Grammy. Please get serious"

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68. Dunqan o Khalobwa
"Unless she joins illuminati like term's"

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69. Peaceful Flourish
"@Dunqan o Khalobwa  I know right, I just know tems is initiated because I don't understand, wtf is she singing that will award her a Grammy 💁🏽‍♀️"

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70. SHAINE NWANGWU
"Well she won’t bcos grammy criterion is make rubbish songs then you stand a chance"

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71. EriZone
"To be honest African musicians should just do their thing and not strive to be or give crap about Grammies. They got this high on their own and I am sure the organic growth has already shown that people appreciate the quality of music coming out regardless of Grammies."

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72. Nelly Legacy
"Grammy is not a big deal anyone can win it it's doesn't she's isn't the best because of that"

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73. Rebbywealth
"Most Nigerian artists give us good music..... Grammy or not you guys

are the best"

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74. Edna
"She gotta cause she's great"

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75. BEAU
"I hope so 😫"

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76. Camilleri
"She doesn't need Grammy awards.. because she is better than Grammy award winner 😂😂"

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77. Kevin Dan
"She has the potential to win Grammies but cannot. until she does more international collabs that tops chart. But if she's playing it well by climbing the ladder from B-list with that goal in mind then yes she can but again she needs more international collabs with fellow dope artist in her league and out perform them. She's a Celestial Being no Joke !!!..let her move through these stage and phase of success she's worth and deserving of More...she needs fellow Celestial producers that can produce sounds from the ether realms out of our earthly aeon!!!.."

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78. crystal
"@Basil Henry-eyo  all huge artist don't really get the grammies, so people actually think they just waste their time on the grammies. She is better than them anyways and there are other awards bigger that grammies"

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79. Basil Henry-eyo
"@Bhard Barbie  to you maybe but to them it means a whole lot"

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80. Victor Imade
"With this kind lyrics?? Dey play 😂"

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81. Brooke Hiververse
"They can keep that satanic rituals to them selfs! She’s in her own lain !! She good with out it"

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82. Dr Anggelos
"In what category?"

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83. lambo T
"Highly unlikely lol.......Entries are submitted by record companies as well as members of the academy and are reviewed to determine eligibility and category placement. The voting members of NARAS, through a series of ballots, select five nominees for each award and ultimately the winner; the voters cast ballots only in their areas of expertise.Feb 7, 2023"

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84. Franck Yound
"Winning Grammys or not  doesn’t make you less of an artist. Know that"

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85. Confidence
"Watch me win grammy b4 her"

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86. Freedom Accelerator: Manifest Your Dreams By FES
"@BLACK BOY 🥺💙  Really? You don’t think she’s good enough woooow. U must have done much more than her in your life. More power to you to think the Star ain’t star enough for a Grammy hmmm"

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87. JOSPHAT THUO
"Grammies are bought"

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88. Jessica Baks
"She deserves it😍😍"

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89. Zanzibar
"She's worth more than Grammy"

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90. Benson B
"I'd much rather she perform on a world stage than win a Grammy"

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91. Augustine zubby
"She can but not with her music type unless she collabo with a foreign artist that does an acceptable music for Grammy, but no doubt she’s the best female artist in naija now, Tems just has grace"

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92. nvm nvm
"Nope she has to step it up big time or be featured. Aunty need to still pick a clear direction that can be taken seriously"

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93. The Nnungi Tv
"But what's so big about the Grammys?!"

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94. Desi Ree
"Y’all care too much about the Grammys."

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95. Rafaela
"She don't need thier Grammy she is much more."

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96. Chukwuebuka Augustine Ude
"I don't know what you people see in Grammy award, she don't need it"

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97. haerins_meow
"She doesn't need a Grammy, Grammy needs her"

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98. Glam You Girl
"Why do you guys want Africans artist to win American awards ? Are their Nigerian award shows equal to American Grammys??"

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99. Glam You Girl
"@Miracle Owen  yes it’s nice to have but Grammy is not the ultimate measure of success."

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100. TNaijaBoxing
"We don't care about Grammy. The more you care the money power they have over our music"

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101. Gwalah Early and family
"She’s beyond grammy"

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102. Ayod Mary
"abeg rest"

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103. alexivomwalukisa
"Do you think is that easy"

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104.  Linn Law11
"Not with this kind of song.she will win but not this song"

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105. Daniel Otieno
"Why Grammy? To get white man's approval? Ayra has won our hearts and that's enough. With or without a Grammy she is already Ayra STAR! You can't take that away!"

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106. David Lawson
"Make una forget Grammy na politics dem dey play now"

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107. ABDUL HAQEEM ADEGOKE
"Last last na headlies she go win"
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"Headies" is the name of Nigeria's music awards.

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108. A_f123ro
"She doesn’t need Grammy

Grammy needs her ❤"

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109. Jimin's flower
"Grammys are unfair tho"

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110. MichaelVasco Iregbu (Mr. Numbers)
"Yes Oh .. She sure will win a Grammy soon and even more awards"

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111. eddy
"She already won our heart"

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112. okuomose okuns
"Naija Awards"

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113. Oyade A
"Who told you she is looking for Grammy"

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114. Vim 23
"@Oyade A  every artist"

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115. Vim 23
"Yess a Grammy"

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116. Tim Mouers
"Go get your Grammy Ayra Starr, go get em shawty"

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117. z
"You guys need to forget that sick institution"

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118. Mercy
"People keep talking about winning a Grammy etc.  That's a nice recognition but doesn't give any money.  It is a music award. But there are many other music awards that are highly significant as well. She is already made with the audience, promotion, record label and doing what she loves.  Winning a Grammy or not doesn't really do much else., but it is nice to do that too."

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119.  Shamar Hubbard
"I think African music should have their own awards the music is going up and we need something to represent it"

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120. Garçon bio👌🏾
"Exactly"

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