Grammy Awards introduces Best African Music Performance award – The Recording Academy, organizers of the Grammy Awards, has created a category for ‘Best African Music Performance.’ The category is among the three new ones announced by the academy in a statement released via its website on Tuesday. The other two newly created categories are Best Pop Dance Recording and Best Alternative Jazz Album.
This is a great step towards recognizing African music and its contribution to the global music industry. The new category will provide a platform for African artists to showcase their talent and creativity on a global stage.
The Academy stated on its website: “A track and singles Category that recognizes recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent. Highlighting regional melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical traditions, the Category includes but is not limited to the Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz genres”.
The Grammy Awards have been criticized in the past for their lack of diversity and representation of African music. In the 65-year history of the Grammy Awards, only 11 Black artists have won album of the year. It will also help to promote cultural diversity and inclusiveness in the music industry.
African music has been present in the Grammy Awards for many years. Nigerian musician Femi Kuti has been nominated four times for his albums. South African DJ Black Coffee has also won multiple accolades for his music. This new category will further highlight the rich history of African music and its impact on the global music industry.
Source: Ghanaonline.net
