African Music Makes History at the 2024 Grammy Awards

The 2024 Grammy Awards took place on Sunday night with an incredible display of stunning fashion looks, powerful music performances, and cultural inclusion, particularly of African artists who have historically faced the challenge of recognition at the Grammys.

This year marked a significant shift as the award show was hosted by South African TV host Trevor Noah, and also introduced a new category titled “Best African Music Performance,” acknowledging the rich musical sound emerging from the African continent.

The introduction of this category followed the uproar sparked by Wizkid’s loss in the Best Global Music Performance category for his soul-stirring track, “Essence ft. Tems” in 2022. Celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Wale, and Kanye West, Critics and fans alike rallied for a change, and the Grammys responded with the addition of this category, a gesture that speaks volumes about the influence and power of African music.

The new category featured a stellar lineup of nominees, including Davido for “Unavailable,” Asake and Olamide for “Amapiano,” Grammy-award-winning artiste, Burna Boy for “City Boys,” Ayra Starr for “Rush,” and Tyla for “Water.”

In a historic win, Tyla took home the inaugural award for “Water,” setting a new standard for the continent’s representation.

The expansion of this category wasn’t just about winning, though; it showed a big change for African artists on the Global stage. When the category was announced last year, Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. stated that “It would be able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists than the two existing global Grammy categories, where African artists have traditionally had the only real chance of scoring a nomination.”

The recent recognition by the Recording Academy of the incredible music styles and talent from Africa demonstrates how much the region’s music matters globally, going beyond the usual categories.

In addition to this groundbreaking category, Burna Boy made history as the first African artist to perform at the Grammy Awards. His electrifying performance with Brandy and 21 Savage not only highlighted his amazing musical skills but also became a significant moment for representing the motherland.

Beyond the Best African Music Performance category, Afro-beats artists made waves in the Global Music Album and Global Music Performance categories. The nominees for the Global Music album category featured a mix of artists and genres, including the soulful Susana Baca, the eclectic Burna Boy, and the chart-topping Davido. In a moment of bliss, “This Moment by World Fusion Band, Shakti” emerged as the winner, highlighting how music from different parts of the world can connect with a global audience.

The Global Music Performance category saw fierce competition from artists worldwide, but again, African representation stood out with Burna Boy’s “Alone” and Davido’s “FEEL” displaying the well-loved Afrobeats sound. The eventual winner, a jazz song titled “Pashto,” united the impressive talents of Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Hussain, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia, showcasing how music can blend different cultures.

The 2024 Grammys show how global music is changing, and African artists are taking their place at the forefront. From Tyla’s ground-breaking win to Burna Boy’s impressive performance, the 2024 award show sent a clear message: African music is here to stay. It’s not just for a small group anymore. It’s powerful, catching the attention of people everywhere, and it deserves its rightful place on the global stage.

The introduction of the Best African Music Performance category felt like building a bridge between continents, as it showed that the world has finally recognised the beauty of the music coming from Africa. The 2024 Grammys should change how we see and hear music, as it marks a huge step towards inclusivity and gives more admiration to the amazing sounds and talent coming out of the African continent.

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Written by Angel Joanne Okonkwo.