A digital artist's open letter to The Headies Awards Organisers
In his letter, Nwangwu Chinonso Wilfred calls for the introduction of a dedicated category to honor and celebrate the talented Nigerian artists who create cover artwork for songs.
In an open letter to Hip Hop World Magazine, the organisers of the Headies Awards, a music awards show established in 2006 to recognise outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry, Digital artist and illustrator, Nwangwu Chinonso Wilfred (artsbynonso), made a case for the inclusion and recognition of visual artists who create cover artworks for the music being awarded.
In his letter, he calls for the introduction of a dedicated category to honor and celebrate the talented Nigerian artists who create cover artwork for songs. He argues that music cover artwork significantly impacts the reception and success of music releases and the introduction of this category would be a pioneering moment in African music awards history.
His open letter reads:
An Open Letter to The Headies Awards Organizers
Dear Headies Awards Organizers, I hope this email finds you well. My name is Nwangwu Chinonso, and I am a passionate Digital artist and Illustrator based in Nigeria. I am writing to you today as a representative of many talented artists like myself who work tirelessly to create captivating cover artworks for songs released by Nigerian musicians.
First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude for The Headies Awards' continued commitment to recognizing and celebrating excellence in the Nigerian music industry. It is a platform that has greatly contributed to the growth and promotion of our country's diverse musical talents.
As we all know, music is not just about the sounds we hear but also about the visual experience that accompanies it. In today's digital age, cover artworks have become an integral part of music releases, serving as the first point of contact between the audience and the artist's work. These artworks are essential in conveying the mood, message, and essence of the music to the listeners.
Many of us, visual artists and designers, pour our hearts and creativity into crafting these visual masterpieces that enhance the overall music release process. We contribute to the creation of captivating cover artworks for songs, complementing the musicians' talent and artistic vision. Our work plays a significant role in capturing the audience's attention and sparking their curiosity, thereby contributing to the success of music releases.
Given the significant impact of cover artworks on the reception and success of music releases, we believe that it is time to recognize the invaluable contribution creative professionals. Therefore, we kindly request that The Headies Awards consider including a dedicated category to honor and celebrate the talented Nigerian artists who create cover artworks for songs.
By introducing this new award category, The Headies can further support and promote collaboration between musicians and visual artists, fostering a more inclusive and vibrant creative community in Nigeria. It will also shine a spotlight on the artistic brilliance behind these visual representations and encourage more individuals to pursue careers in this field.
We are confident that this addition to The Headies Awards will not only elevate the status of visual artists but also enrich the entire music industry by acknowledging all the dedicated professionals who contribute to the music-making process.
If The Headies Awards embraces our request and introduces a dedicated category to recognize the talented Nigerian artists behind cover artworks, would be a pioneering moment in African music awards history. As far as we know, the only awards ceremony that currently acknowledges the contributions of visual artists and photographers for their role in creating cover artworks is the prestigious Grammy Awards, under the category 'Best Recording Package.' If The Headies takes this momentous step, it would mark a significant milestone in celebrating the holistic artistry that goes into music releases and set a remarkable precedent for other African music awards to follow suit.
Thank you for considering our request. We sincerely hope that you will take this proposal into account and continue to lead the way in celebrating excellence within our dynamic music industry.
Looking forward to your positive response and a brighter, more inclusive future for Nigerian artists.
Warm regards,
Nwangwu Chinonso Wilfred
Artsbynonso
While we await the response of the organisers of the Headies Award, his letter has received support from other visual artists with someone saying, “The category is long overdue”. In another response to the letter, someone said, “Not against the idea but how will they rate it?”
Whether this will be considered or not, we shall see.
