• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • Courts
  • Sport
Who is Considered African for Grammy Award Eligibility?

Who is Considered African for Grammy Award Eligibility?

6 months ago
Gwyneth Paltrow Becomes Face of Brand Caught in Coldplay KissCam Uproar

Gwyneth Paltrow Becomes Face of Brand Caught in Coldplay KissCam Uproar

3 hours ago
Ryan McMahon Net Worth, Career Earnings and Personal Relationships

Ryan McMahon Net Worth, Career Earnings and Personal Relationships

3 hours ago
Nick Kurtz’s Net Worth: Life Age, Career Earnings, and Personal Ties

Nick Kurtz’s Net Worth: Life Age, Career Earnings, and Personal Ties

4 hours ago
Nick Kurtz Sets Rookie Record With Incredible Four Homer Performance

Nick Kurtz Sets Rookie Record With Incredible Four Homer Performance

4 hours ago
Trump’s Lawyer Warns He’s Close to Triggering Major Self-Destruction

Trump’s Lawyer Warns He’s Close to Triggering Major Self-Destruction

4 hours ago
Hamas Rejects Trump and Witkoff’s Remarks and Calls for US Action on Israel

Hamas Rejects Trump and Witkoff’s Remarks and Calls for US Action on Israel

5 hours ago
Leaving Controversy Behind, Trump Heads to Scotland for Golf

Leaving Controversy Behind, Trump Heads to Scotland for Golf

5 hours ago
Hulk Hogan Net Worth Breakdown From Wrestling Icon to Real Estate Mogul

Hulk Hogan Net Worth Breakdown From Wrestling Icon to Real Estate Mogul

22 hours ago
President Trump Joins WWE Figures in Mourning Hulk Hogan’s Death

President Trump Joins WWE Figures in Mourning Hulk Hogan’s Death

23 hours ago
The Rock Thanks Hulk Hogan in Emotional Tribute to Wrestling Legend

The Rock Thanks Hulk Hogan in Emotional Tribute to Wrestling Legend

23 hours ago
New Information Emerges on Hulk Hogan’s Death Following Major Health Scare

New Information Emerges on Hulk Hogan’s Death Following Major Health Scare

24 hours ago
Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Legend, Dies at Age 71 According to WWE

Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Legend, Dies at Age 71 According to WWE

2 days ago
  • Automobile
  • Campaign
  • Celebrity
  • Courts
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sport
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Stack Scientific
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Celebrity
  • Automobile
No Result
View All Result
Stack Scientific
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment

Who is Considered African for Grammy Award Eligibility?

Nigerian journalist humorously embraces Chris Brown’s frequent Afrobeats presence.

by Eunice Emile
6 months ago
in Entertainment
0
The Best African Music Performance category sparks debate at the Grammys (@recordingacademy/Instagram)

The Best African Music Performance category sparks debate at the Grammys (@recordingacademy/Instagram)

0
SHARES
4
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

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.

RelatedPosts

No Content Available
Chris Brown’s nomination ignites discussion on artistic inclusivity (@chrisbrownofficial/Instagram)

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.

Grammy CEO defends cross-cultural collaborations in African music (@harveymasonjr/Instagram)

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.

Tags: AfrobeatsChris BrownGrammy AwardGrammy Award Eligibility
ShareTweet
Eunice Emile

Eunice Emile

Eunice Emile is a dedicated writer for Stackscientific, covering a wide range of general news topics with accuracy and depth. With a strong passion for storytelling, she provides well-researched and engaging reports on current events, politics, entertainment, and societal issues. Her work reflects a commitment to delivering credible and insightful news that keeps readers informed and aware of important developments.

Related Posts

Gwyneth Paltrow Becomes Face of Brand Caught in Coldplay KissCam Uproar

Gwyneth Paltrow Becomes Face of Brand Caught in Coldplay KissCam Uproar

July 26, 2025
0

The company Astronomer has recently tried to move forward after facing a wave of public attention linked to an incident...

Late US President Secures Victory at the 2025 Grammy Awards

Late US President Secures Victory at the 2025 Grammy Awards

February 3, 2025
0

A posthumous Grammy Award was presented to Jimmy Carter on Sunday, recognizing his contributions even after his passing. According to...

Did Kanye West and Bianca Censori Face Ejection at the 2025 Grammys?

Did Kanye West and Bianca Censori Face Ejection at the 2025 Grammys?

February 3, 2025
0

Rumors circulated that Kanye West and Bianca Censori were escorted out of the 2025 Grammys due to a lack of...

Grammy Awards Winners 2025: Full Category Updates and Results

Grammy Awards Winners 2025: Full Category Updates and Results

February 3, 2025
0

The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy, represent the pinnacle of excellence in the music industry, celebrating the best...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2024 stack scientific.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Automobile
  • Campaign
  • Celebrity
  • Courts
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sport

Copyright © 2024 stack scientific.

×

No WhatsApp Number Found!

WhatsApp us