… Burna boy is among other young Artistes coming from Africa that is changing the way our continent is perceived and showing the way ‘African music’ remains the bedrock of every music…”
… Burna boy is among other young Artistes coming from Africa that is changing the way our continent is perceived and showing the way ‘African music’ remains the bedrock of every music…” These were the words of Angélique “Mama Africa” Kidjo at the 62nd Grammy awards, ceremony held on March 14, 2021 (after it was postponed from its original January 31, 2021 date due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music industry), in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center. There was little to no audience that year, and performers were separated onto five different stages, all arranged in a circle to maintain social distancing.
"At the 62nd Grammy Awards, Angélique Kidjo praised Burna Boy and other young African artists for reshaping global perceptions of Africa through music. African music remains a powerful influence, proving its impact on the world stage. #AfricanMusic #BurnaBoy #GrammyAwards"
We are Africa We Are Afrobats.
Since it’s inception in 1959, Africans have been able to win across different categories of the awards with a decent -to put it mildly, project involvements and nominations, and category win ratio over the years. Ali Farka Touré , Angelique Kidjo and Owuor Arunga remain some of Africa’s most successful artistes at the Grammys with 3 wins each in varying individual categories. Others include Youssou Ndour and Wouter Kellerman who have atleast a Grammy to their name.
Also doing the continent proud, the legendary group Ladysmith Black Mambazo alone has a stunning African record of 5 solid wins at the Grammys. Soweto Group Choir has 3 and the Tinariwen, One. Sade, though British, but by virtue of her ancestral roots which she doesn’t deny, may be included in the list of Africans with Grammys; amongst a host of other international superstars who have deep African roots and have often being outspoken and proud of their African descent.
These Great African names alongside ‘Baba’ Fela Anikulapo-Kuti“… serve as big influencers on the gradual upscale and acceptance of more African contents majorly Afrobeats related, into categories where it wasn’t thought as possible by the world (and even some African artistes) to be found.
Funny how that’s beginning to change now.
Beautiful collaborations infused with graceful strides of African ingenuity have since rocked the airwaves of many Radio stations all across the globe – all gradually warming up to the African sound, Afrobeats and it’s artistes. Top African artistes now get millions of streams for their contents on streaming apps across the globe, take tours outside the continent and still get to pull massive crowds and sell out shows and concerts.
Really, it’s no longer news to see international collaborations with African artistes drop left, right and center. All, amazingly unique in their own Way.
“What’s so special about the Grammys?” You may say.
Well, The Grammy is the most prestigious industry recognized awards in world music and is awarded to the best singers/performers nominated into various categories from all around the globe for their contribution to the music industry.
For a chance to recognize their Artistic genuis and achievements over a duration and to win this award which is arguably the biggest awards ceremony for Music Artistes and Entertainers alike, Artistes all over the world submit their very best works for consideration by The Recording Academy. This submitted projects are reviewed and the ‘best amongst them are put up for nominations in respective categories pending when an eventful winner from the nominated projects in each category is announced on the Awards Day proper.
MUSIC & ART MUSIC
The ceremony also features Breath-taking performances by prominent Acts, Presentation of awards proper, and a chance to showcase applaudable achievements made by Industry recording artistes.
Interestingly, The Grammy stage has been graced by awesome and amazing African talents.
Anyway, That’s not to say African acts haven’t not been involved in some of these international artistes wins though.
Nigeria’s wizkid was reportedly involved in a Drake collaboration with ‘One dance’ and ‘Come closer’, the later which got nominated and won -and That’s to just name One.
The likes of Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage, producers Leriq and Rexxie, Niniola, Ghana’s Stonebwoy, Kenya’s Sauti Sol have all been involved in international projects that have either gotten nominations or actually won a category.
Fast-forward to recent times, and of most recent, the 62nd and 63rd Grammys, Afrobeats acts have been making statement appearances alongside big Diasporan powerhouses in ‘more recognized’ categories notably Burna Boy and Wizkid.
Nigeria’s Burna Boy, real name Damini Ogulu, began his career in 2011 and rose to limelight in 2018 with his released hit single ‘Gbona’.
The now self-acclaimed ‘ Odogwu of Nigeria’, Burna Boy, has been steadily taking steps to etch his name in the History of Afrobeats.
And as earlier proposed by Angelique Kidjo, alongside fellow Nigerian and African superweights, he continues to champion the cause for international recognition of the versatility of talents in the industry Africa can produce.
After his ‘African giant’ album lost to Kidjo’s ‘ Celia’, at the 2020 Grammys, his Grammy win the next year was nothing more than phenomenal.
A strong comeback you may say! With his ‘Twice as tall’ album that had contents that transversed different schools of thought, showcasing Love and self-belief, Brotherhood and Social Justice, Burna Boy showed that Afrobeats is gradually becoming an acceptable Mainstay sound. Reacting to his win, Burna said “This is a big win for my generation of Africans out there. No matter where you are, no matter what you plan to do, You can achieve it”
Such strong message!
No wonder, the Recording Academy Once had to say of the album that it is “a masterclass in the vibe and Hustle that has made him an international musical Force. He has continued to torch limitations, seamlessly blending styles and genres and fearlessly fueling the fire heating the melting pot of Pop, Afrobeats, Dancehall, Reggae and More…” The album featured a range of international acts such as Coldplay, Stormzy, Naughty by Nature, Chris Martin, and Africa’s Youssou Ndour and Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs was the executive producer. Often compared to having a sound similar to late Nigerian superstar Fela, whose songs Burna has sampled generously on majority of his songs, he has become increasingly vocal about social causes in Africa through his activism.
Definitely, Great begets Great!
An African proverb said, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. But if you want to go far, go with a brother”
– And ‘Big Wiz’ Wizkid, is taking this path. ‘Machala’ as he is often regarded as by hardcore fans, Wizkid, in 2010, broke into the limelight as a young schoolboy under the management of EME music and Bankole ‘Banky W’ Wellington and has since enjoyed somewhat of an astronomical rise to the top in a little over a decade.
Since 2013, alongside Davido and most recently, Burna Boy, they’ve been able to take control of the Top African Superstar status, occupying the spot and firmly leading from the front. Winning his first ever Grammy award (though as an associated act) for his feature on Beyoncé ‘Queen B’ Knowles’‘Brown skin girl’ song, Starboy ashe’s popularly called, has the world rhyming to his tunes amidst wonderful collaborations with other African and International Superstars all Over the globe. His ratings on musical charts is a story for another day. His involvement on that song won Beyonce a Grammy for Best Music Video and even headlined her ‘Lion King’ album. The Recording Academy described the music video as “a feast for the fashion-forward, and a celebration of Black and Brown female beauty everywhere”.
Grammy Awards 2022: What it means to Afrobeats.
Following the wins at the 2021 Grammys, and speaking to CNN, Music Executive Aibee Abidoye said Burna and Wizkid wins mean Afrobeats is now here to stay.
He Said, “… The Grammy is the biggest award globally that people recognize and most musicians look up to achieving. With these wins, African Music -Afrobeats, is definitely here to stay as an acceptable genre of Music…”.
Now, the recently released nominations list for the 64th Grammy that was to be originally held in January 2022, but rescheduled for April, has sparked some kind of interest.
Africa’s very own stars are being nominated across major categories and with a consistency that’s fascinating now, more than previous years.
It is interesting to note that there’s been some major changes behind the scenes at the Recording Academy (who are responsible for hosting the awards) to truly make sure that the Grammy awards rules and guidelines are equitable and transparent and these changes will be effected at this 64th Grammy awards.
Two new categories have been introduced at the awards : Best Global Music Performance (Global music Field- Afrobeats eligible) and Best Música Urbana Album( Latin Music Field), bringing the total number of Grammy award categories to 86.
Also, the nominations review committee in general and genre Fields have been removed. This means that nominations in all Grammy Awards general and genre Fields will now be done by a majority, peer-to-peer vote of Recording Academy members.
CEO at Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr. said, “… It’s been a year of unprecedented, transformational change for the Recording Academy, and I’m immensely proud to be able to continue our journey of growth with these latest updates to our Awards process. This is a new Academy, one that is driven to action and that has doubled down on the commitment to meeting the needs of the music community. While change and progress are key drivers of our actions, one thing will always remain -the Grammy awards is the only peer-driven and peer voted recognition in Music. We are honored to work alongside the music community year-round to further refine and protect the integrity of the Awards process…”
And following these improved changes, it’s no surprise to see an improved chance of Afrobeats nominated projects, winning their categories.
The 64th Grammy Awards will see 9 Africans nominated into categories at the awards.
They include Nigeria’s Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tems, Femi and Made Kuti, Benin’s Angèlique Kidjo, Ghana’s Rocky Dawuni and South Africa’s Wouter Kellerman and Black coffee.
It’s no wonder that Rocky Dawuni, who is a two-time nominee at the awards, attributes this astronomical growth of the sound to the internet’s ability in democratizingMusic distribution and eliminating gatekeepers, and testifying of the fact that African Music has always had the power to impact the world and turn attention to the continent.
Wizkid is nominated in the Best Global music album category with his ‘Made in Lagos ‘ (Deluxe) project category that also has the likes Reggae Star Rocky Dawuni with the album ‘Voice of Bunbon’ vol.1. Kidjo’s ‘Mother Nature’ album, and Femi and Made Kuti’s ‘ Legacy+,’ are also nominated in that category.
In the Best Global music performance category, Wizkid also gets a nomination nod following his collaboration with Tems for his song “Essence” which has been described by Rolling Stones as “The best song of 2021” . He goes shoulder to shoulder with an African powerhouse collaboration of Burna Boy and Angélique Kidjo in “ Do Yourself”. “Pa pa pa” by Femi Kuti also makes the cut while Black coffee gets nominated in the Best Dance Album category.
With these nominations, it is becoming very evident that the world is listening and that African Music, or Afrobeats as it is sometimes now popularly known as , is taking giant strides in taking its place in Grammy history and getting so many hearts warmed up to its sound all over the world. Needless to say, a win by one African at the awards, is a celebrated win for the whole continent at large.
But Nevertheless, as regarding the Awards Day proper, May the Best Man Win!
