Grammy Awards 2024: Afrobeat is now part of pop music - Grammy CEO
The Grammys will now include a dedicated category for African music, reflecting its integral role in pop music, according to Harvey Mason Jr, the CEO of the Recording Academy. Mason expressed excitement about the inclusion of the Best African Music Performance category at the upcoming awards, where artists like Tyla, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, and Davido are nominated.
While celebrating this recognition, some critics, including Grammy award-winning record producer Ian Brennan, argue that an award for African music should have been introduced much earlier. Brennan, who has collaborated with various African artists, sees this as progress but deems it long overdue.
African artists have previously won Grammys, with South African Miriam Makeba being the first in 1966. However, Brennan points out a historical blind spot in the Lifetime Achievement Award category, where no African artists have been acknowledged.
Harvey Mason Jr acknowledged the global prevalence of African music and emphasized the Grammys' commitment to evolving and expanding their representation beyond Western music. As the first black person in charge of the Grammy awards since 2021, Mason aims to better showcase the diversity of popular music.
Despite the Grammys traditionally focusing on American music, Mason described the awards as "fluid, adjusting, and pivoting," expressing a dedication to inclusivity. This year's ceremony in Los Angeles will feature a performance by Burna Boy, making him the first Afrobeats performer ever to grace the Grammys stage.
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