Originally called The Gramophone Awards, the Grammys are, and always have been, one of the most prestigious events recognized by artists on a global scale. With flashing lights, elegant red carpets, literal gramophone plaques, and tear-jerking acceptance speeches, The Grammy Awards portray a significant climatic accomplishment for many artists worldwide. With the recently added Grammys African music category, one can’t help but wonder what this signifies for African music.
Presented by The Recording Academy of the United States, the Grammys have honored the music accomplishments of performers all around the globe since 1958. Its long-standing reputation has made it one of the most sought-after awards an artist could hope for in their lifetime, African artists included.
While African artists’ dedication and persistent growth have brought some much-needed recognition at the Grammys, it hasn’t always been like that. Let’s look at a brief history of the Grammys and its relationship with African music.
The Grammys & African Music; Its Inclusion So Far
What started as an American music award show gradually evolved to recognize music from different parts of the world. However, African music stood far from the limelight in previous years despite this evolution. Before 2021, African music was more or less still boxed to getting recognition under the category of World Music.
In 2021, the name of the category was changed to Global Music. This came in response to the colonial undertones Africans often perceived from the term World Music. However, this name change did not narrow the category to African music alone. It implied that under that category, African music would still battle for the limelight with music from other regions of the world, like Asia and other non-Western regions.
Well, if you know African music, you know that it will shine regardless. As such, despite being boxed into one little category, African artists still got recognized. They had nominations and awards in several other categories besides Best Global Music. Artists like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Angelique Kidjo, Ali Farka Tourre, Sade, Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tems, have won over 13 Grammys combined. These spanned categories like Global Music, Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Contemporary World Music, Best New Artist, and Best Music Video. Talk about the power of African Music!
What Does The New Grammys Category Mean For Us As Africans?
Due to the tenacity and persistence which African artists have used to push their music endlessly, it is safe to say that African music is now mainstream. Afrobeats have taken over, and Amapiano has every Tom, Dick, and Harry in a chokehold.
In June 2023, The Recording Academy announced the new Grammys African music category, in addition of two other categories. The three new categories include, Best African Music Performance, Best Pop Dance Recording, and Best Alternative Jazz Album.
The Best African Music Performance will recognize outstanding artists from the world of several African music genres. This includes Afrobeat, Ndombolo, Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, and Bongo Flava. It also covers Amapiano, High Life, Fuji, South African Hip Hop, Kizomba, and so much more. Exciting, isn’t it?
Yes, we may still have a long way to go. However, we can’t deny that this is one massive step in the right direction. Some may argue that the Grammys African Music category still keeps us in a box. This is because hundreds of notable artists deserve recognition in all these categories. However, we must remember how long it took African music to get to where it is now. We cannot ignore our progress, however slow it may be.
In case the world hasn’t been paying attention, news flash; African music is here and is here to stay!