The Grammys will now feature a dedicated category for African music. The Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr, announced this, before the Grammy’s this evening. Excitement surrounds the inclusion of the Best African Music Performance category. It has nominated artists like Tyla, Arya Starr, Burna Boy, and Davido. Despite the progress, critics, including Grammy-winning record producer Ian Brennan, believe that an award for African music was long overdue. While African artists have previously won Grammys, some argue that the Grammys have historically overlooked music from the continent. They include Miriam Makeba in 1966 and Burna Boy in 2021.
Best African Music Performance category Long Overdue
Despite the celebration of their work, some critics argue that an award for African music should have been introduced much earlier. Grammy award-winning record producer Ian Brennan, who has collaborated with various African artists, expressed to the BBC that while the recent inclusion is seen as “progress,” it is also “long overdue.”
African artists have previously secured Grammy wins, with South African Miriam Makeba being the first in 1966, earning the Best Folk Recording prize for her collaboration with Harry Belafonte. Other winners include Nigerian Burna Boy, who clinched the 2021 award for Best Global Music Album. However, according to Mr. Brennan, the Grammys have historically overlooked music from the continent.
“There are currently no African artists recognized in the Lifetime Achievement Award category at the Grammys,” he noted. The introduction of a dedicated Africa-specific award is a response to the global prevalence of music from the continent. Appointed as the first black person to lead the Grammy Awards in 2021, he has enhanced the representation of diverse forms of popular music.
He acknowledged that the Grammys, regarded as the most prestigious music awards, traditionally focus on honouring American music. However, he emphasized that the awards are adaptable, evolving, and making efforts to incorporate music beyond the Western sphere.
This year’s Grammys ceremony in Los Angeles will showcase a performance by Burna Boy. This makes him the first Afrobeats performer ever to grace the stage.