Brymo Goes On The Defensive After AFRIMA Snub

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Controversial Nigerian musician, Ibrahim Olawale, known as Brymo, has broken his silence on losing the All-Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) after a petition was launched against his nomination by social media users.

The singer had come under fire for making anti-Igbo comments, saying that an Igbo presidency would be a “pipe dream” due to the drive for Biafra.

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He later tweeted, “Fck The Ndi Igbo !! .. To Hll With It!!” An online petition calling for his disqualification from the awards was signed by over 47,000 Nigerians, but AFRIMA did not disqualify him, and he lost the award to Mali-based Iba One.

Speaking to The Cable in an interview, Brymo said he was looking forward to winning the award before the petition for his disqualification was initiated.

He, however, maintained that losing the award had nothing to do with the southeast fracas but was a collection of many factors.

Brymo claimed that he had announced he was no longer a musician, but AFRIMA nominated his work “Esan” anyway, which made him forget all that and look forward to the event. He said he was no longer eligible for awards that musicians get and that there was a songwriting category, but they shouldn’t nominate sonic artists.

The musician acknowledged that he got into trouble talking about Biafra leaving and staying, and so he stayed out of AFRIMA and didn’t attack the award afterward. He concluded by saying that not winning had nothing to do with the southeast fracas and that everything only just came together.

“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 the southeast fracas. Everything only just came together.” Brymo was quoted saying.

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Brymo’s anti-Igbo comments had sparked outrage and calls for his disqualification from the awards. Although he apologized for the comments, the petition against him continued to gain traction, with Nigerians insisting that his disqualification would send a strong message that people cannot get away with blatant ethnic bigotry.