A dedicated space for African music has been established at the Grammy Awards, yet its introduction is already stirring debate just a year in. With South African artist Tyla’s victory for her song “Water,” which combines elements of amapiano and Afropop, the Best African Music Performance category made a noteworthy debut.
This move was positively received within the industry, particularly among African artists. However, the nominations for this year’s award have sparked criticism, especially due to the nomination of American R&B singer Chris Brown.
Brown, 35, received recognition for his popular single “Sensational,” which incorporates Afrobeats and features collaborations with Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay.
The inclusion of a non-African artist in a category aimed at celebrating African talent has ignited discussion. Is it appropriate for artists outside Africa to be recognized in a category that highlights African musical contributions?
“Music is about inclusivity. We don’t want to fence people out of genres,” states Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. in an interview with the BBC. He emphasizes that enforcing boundaries on who can create specific music types undermines the spirit of creativity.
Mason explains that this kind of cross-cultural collaboration is anticipated.
Industry Perspectives on Inclusivity
“We have an inside joke in Nigeria that we say Chris Brown is Nigerian, because of the ways he pops up in our songs and our music videos all the time,” remarks Nigerian music journalist Ayomide Tayo.
Tayo highlights how this phenomenon has occurred with Latin music, K-Pop, and is now emerging with Afrobeats and amapiano. “We like to honor all music, regardless of where it originates or who creates it. If it’s excellent, we want to celebrate it,” he adds.
Another area of contention revolves around the prominence of Afrobeats, a genre rooted in Nigeria and Ghana. Many believe the Grammys maintain an excessive focus on Afrobeats, neglecting other African musical styles despite calls for broader representation.
Tayo acknowledges Afrobeats’ dominance in this year’s nominations but asserts, “I don’t think Afrobeats is better.” He attributes Afrobeats’ success to decades of exposure and a consistent output of quality music and superstar events that have captured global attention.
Nigerians abroad have played a pivotal role in amplifying the genre’s reach. Tayo notes, “The Nigerian diaspora in England and North America is one of the key factors why Afrobeats exploded in Europe and the US.”
While some music professionals in Africa anticipate a promising future for diverse African genres, they acknowledge that this year’s success for Afrobeats may be an anomaly.
For instance, amapiano has achieved remarkable streaming figures, surpassing 1.4 billion streams on Spotify in 2023. Raphael Benza, leader of the Johannesburg-based record label Vth Season, argues that the term Best African Performance can be misleading.
“As someone from the home of amapiano, I can say that musicians are doing outstanding work, and I expect to see amapiano artists nominated in this category next year,” he shares with the BBC.
Recognition of African Music at the Grammys
The introduction of the Best African Music Performance category aimed to celebrate Africa’s growing impact on the global music scene. Tyla’s win not only positioned her among Nigerian giants like Davido and Burna Boy but also solidified her presence on the international stage.
Since her victory, the 22-year-old has made appearances at high-profile events, including the Met Gala, and has been featured in leading fashion magazines, demonstrating the tangible influence of the Grammys.
This year’s nominations have shifted almost exclusively towards Nigerian artists, featuring Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Tems, and a joint nomination for Asake & Wizkid, alongside Davido and Lojay’s collaboration with Chris Brown.
“To be fair to Chris Brown, he has been invested in Afrobeats and African music for a long time,” Tayo explains, noting the American musician’s trips to Nigeria for collaborations with Davido and Wizkid.
He reiterates the humorous sentiment in Nigeria that “Chris Brown is Nigerian” due to his frequent appearances in local music. Recently, Brown also performed to packed crowds at two sold-out concerts in Johannesburg, drawing fans from across southern Africa who described his performance as electrifying.
Historical Context of African Artists at the Grammys
Long before the establishment of the Best African Music Performance Award, African musicians had already made their mark at the Grammys. Miriam Makeba from South Africa became the first African artist to win a Grammy in 1966 for her collaboration with Harry Belafonte titled “An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba.”
After 1992, with the introduction of the Best World Music Album category, African artists gained greater visibility at the awards. This category has evolved over time, including distinctions for traditional and contemporary world music, and is now referred to as Best Global Music Album.
Renowned artists such as Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N’Dour, Ali Farka Touré, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo have received multiple awards in this domain. However, African musicians have also transcended this category; for instance, Black Coffee from South Africa won the Best Dance/Electronic Album award in 2022.
Looking ahead, there is hope that the increasing popularity of African music will prompt the Grammys to introduce additional categories in the future. Such changes would better represent the diverse array of musical styles emerging from the continent and acknowledge the global rise of African music.
