The Grammy Awards has made strides to honor African music, but the recent nomination of American artist Chris Brown in the Best African Music Performance category has ignited a heated discussion regarding who qualifies as ‘African’ in this space. The category was first presented last year, with South African artist Tyla winning for her song "Water," which expertly combines amapiano and Afropop, a move that was positively acknowledged by many in the music community.
Despite this progress, this year’s nominations have raised eyebrows, particularly with the inclusion of Brown's "Sensational," a single featuring Nigerian stars Davido and Lojay, blending Afrobeats elements into his sound. This has led to questions about whether non-African artists should participate in a category specifically highlighting African talent. Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. defends the decision, emphasizing the need for inclusivity in music. He states that defining who can create certain musical styles could detract from the creative essence of music itself.
The prevailing focus on Afrobeats over other African genres has also drawn criticism. Some believe the Grammys exhibit a disproportionate penchant for Afrobeats, rooted primarily in Nigerian and Ghanaian influences, to the detriment of a wider acknowledgment of Africa's diverse soundscape. Nigerian music writer Ayomide Tayo points out that the global exposure and popularity of Afrobeats have played a significant role in its current reign at the Grammys, attributing its rise to dedicated efforts by artists and the Nigerian diaspora.
Yet, there’s hope among other African music professionals that lesser-known genres like amapiano, which achieved immense streaming success this past year, might gain the recognition they deserve in the near future. Raphael Benza from Vth Season calls for a broader definition of African music and predicts that amapiano artists will one day be nominated in this category.
Despite the ongoing discourse, Chris Brown's involvement in African music culture is substantial, marked by numerous collaborations and successful concerts across the continent. This rouses playful sentiments among Nigerian fans, who jest that Brown has virtually adopted Nigerian roots.
Historically, African artists have had notable presence at the Grammys, especially with the inception of the Best World Music Album category in the early 1990s. Icons like Angélique Kidjo and Youssou N'Dour have taken home multiple awards, displaying the global impact of African music. The future may see an expansion of Grammy categories specifically catering to Africa's diversity, promising enhanced representation and celebration of the continent’s extensive musical styles.
