Jimmy Jatt, the iconic Nigerian disc jockey, says Nigerian artists that avoid local award shows are suffering from “colonial mentality”.

The 55-year-old entertainer said this on Friday at an event in a Lagos. The disc jockey made the comment in reaction to the absence of many Nigerian artists at the 2021 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

“I think it is the colonial mentality that is still worrying a lot of our people. When it is western world inviting you, even if it is an award in a smallest room, they are always quick to go and would probably arrive four days before the award. But when it is being held here, even the biggest one here. From records, all the awards or the recognition platforms here had the issues.

Once it is us, for us, it is not as big for them. All that needs to change. Once it is other people for us, we even beg to be there,” he said.

Jimmy Jatt enjoined Nigerian entertainers, particularly artists, to show support for local awards, adding that they should make the world believe that our awards are the biggest.