Sometimes, a disagreement that appears straightforward takes an unexpected turn. What begins as a debate over a decision can quickly become a conversation about the people behind it, their past dealings and the reasons they do what they do.
For Nigerian media personalities Do2dtun and Ayo Animashaun, a disagreement over The Headies’ decision to take its 18th edition to Toronto, Canada, soon became much more personal.
The Post That Started It All
On Thursday, October 15, 2026, Ayo Animashaun, founder of The Headies, took to his Instagram Stories to criticise Nigerian artistes who submit their music to foreign award bodies but allegedly ignore the Nigerian music awards platform.
His comments came amid the submission period for the 2027 Grammy Awards, when some Nigerian artistes, including Seun Kuti, shared their Grammy submissions on social media. Animashaun wrote:
“Tom, Dick and Harry will submit entries to foreign award bodies that don’t even care about them and proudly post about it.“But these same people won’t submit their entries to the Headies, yet they’ll complain about not being nominated.
“Funny!!!”
His post questioned why some Nigerian artistes seek recognition from international awards while seemingly overlooking an award ceremony established to recognise achievements in the Nigerian and African music industries.
However, the comments also came at a time when The Headies was facing questions over its decision to hold its next edition in Canada.
Hours later, Do2dtun joined the conversation on X, raising a question that would set the stage for a heated exchange.
Do2dtun Questions The Headies’ Decision To Go Abroad
Rather than responding directly to Animashaun’s comments about Grammy submissions, Do2dtun focused on the location of The Headies. He tweeted:
“Have you ever seen them take the Grammys out of America before?
“Let’s start there.”
His argument appeared to centre on whether an award celebrating Nigerian music should hold its main ceremony outside the country. The tweet attracted a response from Abiodun Ayorinde, an event producer who acknowledged that the Grammys had never been taken out of the United States but argued that the American entertainment industry could not be compared directly with Nigeria’s.
Ayorinde pointed to the challenges Nigerian event organisers face in securing sponsorship and government support. He also alleged that, in some cases, government officials’ assistants take a large share of funding in exchange for facilitating support.
Do2dtun was not convinced that these challenges justified moving an award ceremony abroad. He replied:
“Then your solution is taking it out? Baba no vex stick to your event production.
AMVCA is an example. Why hasn’t it lost its credibility? This is for why. It’s homegrown; it services the purpose for what it is for; it is built around an institution not a person and its consistent in its delivery.
“An award should be independent of your choices or how you choose to see it. This is what brands will pay money for not something that is personally controlled.”
By bringing up the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), Do2dtun presented what he considered an alternative model: an award that remains rooted in its home market and is associated with an established institution.
His criticism was not simply about the venue. He also questioned whether an award could maintain its credibility if its direction appeared too closely tied to the person running it.
At this point, the disagreement was largely about the purpose, independence and location of The Headies. Ayo Animashaun’s response, however, shifted the discussion to an alleged private interaction between the two men.
Ayo Animashaun Introduces The US Visa Allegation
Responding to Do2dtun, Animashaun suggested that his criticism might have a personal motive. He wrote:
“Are you sure this has nothing to do with the fact that I couldn’t help when you asked me to help you secure visa to the US using The Headies as an excuse because I don’t get it, you have my number, you can ask me questions directly.”
The allegation changed the direction of the exchange. Instead of continuing to defend The Headies’ international strategy, Animashaun raised a question about Do2dtun’s alleged request for help securing a US visa and suggested that his criticism might be connected to the outcome of that request.
He also argued that Do2dtun could have contacted him privately to ask questions about the award rather than criticising the decision publicly.
Do2dtun responded by denying that his position on The Headies was motivated by a visa request. He tweeted:
“I have always travelled to the United States. Had my two beautiful girls there. So maybe you don’t get the jerk, it was never for visa but for justice.”
Do2dtun’s response made it clear that he disputed Animashaun’s interpretation of their alleged private interaction. He insisted that his criticism was about what he considered right for the music industry, not a personal interest in travelling abroad.
The exchange had now moved beyond whether The Headies should hold its ceremony in Nigeria or Canada. It had become a disagreement over the motives behind public criticism and the meaning of a private request.
Do2dtun Brings Up His Family Ordeal And Access As Power
Do2dtun did not stop at denying the visa allegation. He went on to argue that Animashaun’s decision to introduce the issue into the discussion supported his criticism of how power and access can be used in the entertainment industry. He wrote:
“1st, you just proved me right. This shows how much you see your access as power over what it should do for the culture or over doing the right thing. It’s clear now..”
He then referred to his long-running family difficulties involving access to his children, saying that Patoranking and Ubi Franklin had reached out to Animashaun on his behalf because of his ordeal.
“Subzero; Na only respect I dey respect you since. Since you have seen this as your cue to place this here then let’s do it.”
Do2dtun also suggested that he had held back from discussing aspects of their history for years. He accused Animashaun of using his access and influence as a tool, while describing himself as someone who had supported the Headies founder despite their differences. He added:
“I only spoke as a true culture enthusiast, who is a big voice and who relentlessly supported you against all odds. You have used your power of access as a wielding tool hence you can boldly say what you said.”
He ended that part of his response by saying that if Animashaun wanted the conversation to become personal, he was prepared to continue it.
The reference to his children added a deeply personal dimension to the argument. However, the details of Do2dtun’s family dispute are separate from the question of where The Headies should hold its ceremony. His comments brought the two issues into the same conversation because he felt Animashaun’s visa allegation had made their private history relevant.
For Do2dtun, the central issue was now whether access to influential people should be treated as a personal favour or used in a way that serves a wider purpose.
The Headies Not About You
Animashaun responded to Do2dtun’s comments about access and influence by defending his right to organise the awards wherever he chose. He wrote:
“Also, nothing is stopping you or anyone to start your own awards ceremony and have it in Iyana Ipaja or Ajangbadi. We don’t have the exclusive rights to organise a music awards. Those are no are concerned enough spoke with me directly or I enlightened them?”
His response suggested that critics who disagreed with The Headies’ location could organise their own awards rather than challenge his decision. Do2dtun, however, maintained that criticism of the awards should not be interpreted as a personal attack. He replied:
“You chose this path. if you get a feedback on it doesn’t mean they hate you. Taking it Personal just goes to prove my point. The headies is not about you.
“It’s for the culture. besides if you are thriving in the most lucrative yet controversial market, it will be criticized. If you like cancel it, no one benefits from your ego, it’s only for what it does for the culture not what we benefit from you.”
This became one of the defining moments of the exchange.
Do2dtun’s argument was that The Headies should be judged by its contribution to Nigerian music, rather than by the preferences or personality of its founder. He also argued that criticism was part of operating in a public-facing industry.
Animashaun, on the other hand, appeared to view the criticism alongside what he described as Do2dtun’s earlier private request for help.
Their disagreement was no longer just about the location of an awards ceremony. It was also about whether the founder of a major music awards platform should separate criticism of the institution from criticism of himself.
Ayo Doubles Down On The Accusation
Animashaun continued the exchange with a series of posts on X, returning repeatedly to the alleged visa request. In one post, he wrote:
“U criticise D Headies 4 goin abroad, yet slide into my DM asking me 2 help U attend Bcuz U want a visa. when I can’t help, U bcom even more bitter & criticize. So, is it really about Headies, or UR personal interests?
“Hypocrisy at its finest!. Awards U didn’t attend in Naija”
He followed this with another post:
“So, it’s a problem when we take The Headies abroad, but an opportunity when you need it to serve your personal interests?
“The hypocrisy is unbelievable!”
Animashaun also broadened his accusation beyond Do2dtun, claiming that other people who had criticised the decision to take The Headies abroad had privately contacted him or reached out through others for help attending events in the United States or Canada. He wrote:
“I see a lot of people who have criticised D decision 2 take D Headies abroad, questioning why we’re hosting d awards outside Naija, yet diz same people have been sliding into my DMs and reaching out privately, asking me 2 help them attend in d US or Canada bcos they want visas.”
The posts showed that Animashaun considered the alleged private requests relevant to the public criticism of The Headies’ international expansion. Do2dtun’s position remained that his criticism was about the award’s purpose and the role it should play in the culture, not his personal travel interests.
The exchange therefore left audiences with two competing interpretations: Animashaun’s suggestion that personal disappointment was driving the criticism, and Do2dtun’s insistence that the discussion was about the future and credibility of The Headies.
The Headies’ Journey From Nigeria To Atlanta, Lagos And Toronto
To understand why the location of The Headies has become such a sensitive issue, it is important to look at the award’s history.
The Headies was established in 2006 to recognise achievements in the Nigerian music industry. For years, its ceremonies were held in Nigeria, making it a familiar fixture on the country’s entertainment calendar.
The award later expanded internationally, holding its 15th and 16th editions in Atlanta, United States, in 2022 and 2023. The move was part of an effort to connect African music with a wider international audience. However, the overseas editions also attracted criticism from people who believed a Nigerian music award should maintain a stronger presence at home.
In 2025, The Headies returned to Lagos for its 17th edition, branded “Back to Base”. The return brought the ceremony back to Nigeria after two consecutive editions in Atlanta.
But the return did not mark the end of its international ambitions. The 18th edition is scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, on April 10 and 11, 2027. It was initially scheduled for October 23, 2026, before the organisers announced a postponement.
The organisers have presented the Toronto edition as part of a wider programme connecting African music with international business, investment and cultural opportunities, rather than simply moving the awards night to another country.
For supporters of the international approach, taking The Headies abroad can create opportunities for Nigerian artistes, industry professionals and businesses to reach new audiences and partners.
For critics, the question is whether those benefits justify holding a major celebration of Nigerian music outside Nigeria, particularly when the local industry continues to need investment, infrastructure and stronger institutional support.
Do2dtun’s comparison with the Grammys reflects this concern. His argument is that an award’s home base can be part of its identity and credibility, even when its reach becomes international.
Animashaun’s position, as reflected in his defence of the Toronto plans, is that international expansion can serve the same culture the awards were established to celebrate.
Both arguments raise a question that extends beyond this particular exchange: Does taking an award abroad strengthen its global standing, or does it risk weakening its connection to the industry it represents?
Ayo Insists The Headies Will Earn International Recognition
Even as the exchange continued, Animashaun remained confident that The Headies would gain greater recognition outside Nigeria. In a separate Instagram Story, he wrote:
“We’re one of the best awards platforms in the world…
They will find out later..
Oyinbos will tell them
Like they did with Jay Jay, Osimhen and Burna..”
His comments suggested that he believed international recognition would eventually convince sceptics of The Headies’ value. The references to Jay-Jay Okocha, Victor Osimhen and Burna Boy appeared to draw on the idea that Nigerians sometimes receive greater recognition for their achievements after international audiences acknowledge their talent.
For Animashaun, the Toronto edition appears to be part of a wider ambition to position The Headies on the global stage.
