In 2024 the introduction of the Best African Music Performance category at the Grammys was intended to recognize the growing influence of African music. Tyla was the first African to win the award with her hit song, "Water" and with this she propelled her music career to onto an international stage. She beat iconic artists like Olamide, Ayra Starr, Davido and Burna Boy.
However, the Grammy nominations for this year's Best African Music Performance category have brought quite a stir among fans, especially in Africa. Here's why - US R&B star Chris Brown got nominated for his single, "Sensational" but the featured artists Davido or Lojay weren't nominated for their own songs. This is not sitting well with fans, and many are questioning the appropriateness of a non-African artist competing in a category designed to celebrate African talent.
Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded to the backlash to clarify the situation during an exclusive interview with BBC. He emphasized that music should be inclusive, stating, "We don't want to fence people out of genres. If we start deciding who can or can't make a certain type of music, we lose the essence of creativity." Mason highlighted that cross-cultural collaborations are becoming increasingly common in the music industry, pointing to the success of Latin and K-Pop artists as an example for Afrobeats and amapiano's global influence as of 2025.
Critics are also arguing that while the Best African Music Performance category was created to honor Africa's growing impact on the global music scene its main focus is on Afrobeats. For instance, this year's nominations have seen Nigerian artists dominating the category. this challenges the definition of "African music" within the Grammy framework. the list of nominations included: Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Tems and a joint nomination for Asake & Wizkid, as well as Davido and Lojay featuring on Chris Brown's hit.
As the Grammys continue to evolve and Africans continue to bag more wins, the cultural exchange in music reminds us that creativity knows no boundaries. In spite of that, the above nomination challenges us to ensure that the voices of African artists are heard and celebrated in their own right.
@kushconcertseries
