Brymo speaks following loss of AFRIMA awards

Nigerian artist Ibrahim Olawale, also known as Brymo, has opened up after losing the All-Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA.

Recall that some social media petitioned the award organizers to drop Brymo from their awards nominations after he waged a war against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi saying that an Igbo presidency would be a “pipe dream” because of the drive for Biafra.

As long as there (are) talks by prominent people from Igboland about Biafra, an Igbo presidency will be a pipe dream, he tweeted. 

After about 47,000 had signed the petition to be removed from the award list, Brymo rendered an apology to the public but eventually lost the awards to Mali-based Iba One.

In an interview with Cable, Brymo disclosed that he wanted to win that award before that petition could go viral. He added that his loss was not associated with Southeast brouhaha but was the result of a number of factors.

He also announced his retirement from the music space making him unqualified for the award.

In his words;

“I think, months before, I’d announced that I was no longer a musician and that I was instead a sonic artist. It meant I was no longer eligible for awards that musicians get.

“However, AFRIMA nominated my work ‘Esan’, so I forgot all that and looked forward to the event. But in truth, I’m no longer a singer so I didn’t want it.

“There’s a songwriting category but they shouldn’t nominate sonic artists. I was looking forward to it anyway, and then something happened. I got into trouble talking about Biafra leaving and staying.

“So, I stayed out of AFRIMA and didn’t attack the award afterward. Not winning had nothing to do with southeast fracas. Everything only just came together.”