“African music is not one style. Different countries contribute different things. The Grammy voters need to cast their net wider, they need to open their ears more,” says Zambian singer, Emanyeo
During the latest Grammy Awards, they basically said, we have heard you, to Emanyeo. A new category that acknowledges African music was introduced, “Best African Music Performance” to include mainstream African pop styles – Afrobeat and Amapiano.
For the first time since its inception in 1959, a category that recognizes African music was introduced, and scooped by TikTok’s fave, Tyla’s “Water”.
The Grammys, managed by the Recording Academy, honor outstanding achievements in the music industry and are viewed by many as a huge event. Following the 2011 event, the Recording Academy modified the categories for the 2012 Grammys. The most recent 66th Annual Grammy Honors, featuring 94 distinct honors, took place on February 4, 2024. This award recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists from October 1, 2022 to September 25, 2023.
Last year, Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said they would introduce a new award category to recognize a wider range of performers. While the two previous categories mostly focused on African performers, this new one was intended to include a broader range of musicians. The change was a step toward acknowledging a wider spectrum of musical skills.
Although the nominees for the new category were mostly from the two African Music factories, Nigeria and South Africa, the category recognized other African music styles such as chimurenga, a Zimbabwean traditional song, and Ethio-jazz, an Ethiopian melodic style.
African nominees for the 66th Grammy Awards included Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, and Asake & Olamide from Nigeria, as well as Tyla and producer Musa Keys from South Africa, who appeared on Davido’s track, “Unavailable”.
While this is the first-ever category to be dedicated to African music, some African singers and performers have won Grammys before.
Here are five African performers who have received Grammy awards in the past.
Miriam Makeba, a South African singer won the Best Folk Recording (with Harry Belafonte) in 1966.
Ali Farka Toure – “My music is older than the blues,” says Toure, a singer from Mali who won the best global record in 1994.
Youssou N’Dour became Senegal’s first Grammy winner for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2005.
Burna Boy, was the first Nigerian male artist to win a Golden Gramophone and received the award for the Best Global Music Album in 2021.
Tyla, the new bee on the list and the “water” singer won the first best African Music performance award last night at the 66th annual Grammy Awards.
