The Grammy Awards have created a new category called Best African Music Performance to celebrate the growing influence of African music on the global stage. This move comes as a response to the increasing popularity of Afrobeats and the emergence of African artists as global superstars. Gracey Mae, a U.K.-based PR and marketing consultant and Recording Academy member, co-authored the proposal for the award, stating that it was the right time to celebrate African music.
Afrobeats has seen significant commercial success, with artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid being recognized at the Grammys. The genre has made its mark not only internationally but also in the U.S., with songs like Rema’s “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. African music has become mainstream, gaining visibility on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, music festivals, and the Billboard charts.
The new Grammy category aims to recognize the accomplishments of African artists and create space for other international acts in the Best Global Music Performance category. However, some insiders are concerned that the category may not fully represent the diversity of African music. It is noted that while Afrobeats has gained significant traction, it is just one genre among many on the African continent.
Aibee Abidoye, executive vice president at Nigerian record label Chocolate City Music Group, highlighted the diversity of music across different regions in Africa and expressed the need for broader representation. There is a call for an expansion of Recording Academy membership to better reflect the African diaspora and make informed decisions about music from Africa.
Despite these concerns, there is optimism about the new category and the representation it offers to African artists. Shawn Thwaites, a genre manager at the Recording Academy, acknowledged the popularity of Afrobeats but also emphasized the award’s focus on recognizing the diversity of African music. This move signifies a step towards acknowledging and celebrating the rich and varied musical landscape of Africa at the Grammy Awards.The Recording Academy of the Grammy Awards introduced a new category called Best Global Music Album. The aim is to offer a broader recognition of African music than the previous category, Best World Music Album. Recording Academy’s awards and events manager, Lindsay Gravina, mentioned that the title change is long overdue and will give respect to the diverse music of Africa.
Gravina also emphasized the importance of inclusion and acknowledged the need to reflect the multitude of genres and cultural influences from the continent. He noted that recognizing African music extends beyond just Afrobeats, considering the rich musical diversity across the 54 countries in Africa.
Additionally, there is a desire for greater representation from all corners of the continent. This move is seen as a crucial first step, with hopes of expanding to encompass a wider variety of genres. The Latin Grammys serve as an example of a successful expansion, paving the way for similar recognition of African music. Gravina expressed optimism for the future recognition of African music through additional categories, such as Best African Male, Best African Female, and Best African Rap.
Despite the introduction of the Best Global Music Album category, the Recording Academy is cautious about adding further categories at this time. With 94 Grammy categories already in place, the academy intends to carefully observe the impact of the new category before considering additional changes. Recording Academy’s senior vice president of awards, Bill Freimuth, emphasized the importance of proceeding with prudence, ensuring that any future adjustments are made thoughtfully and accordingly.
