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| Grammy Awards 2025: Who should count as African? | |
| (10 days later) | |
| US musician Chris Brown, along with Nigerian artists, are up for Best African Music Performance this year | US musician Chris Brown, along with Nigerian artists, are up for Best African Music Performance this year |
| The Grammy Awards has a dedicated space for African music, but just a year after the category's introduction it is already proving contentious. | The Grammy Awards has a dedicated space for African music, but just a year after the category's introduction it is already proving contentious. |
| The Best African Music Performance made its debut with South Africa's Tyla winning for her hit song Water, a blend of South African amapiano and Afropop. | The Best African Music Performance made its debut with South Africa's Tyla winning for her hit song Water, a blend of South African amapiano and Afropop. |
| It was a move welcomed across the industry, especially by African artists. | It was a move welcomed across the industry, especially by African artists. |
| But the nominations for this year's award have raised eyebrows, especially with the inclusion of US R&B star Chris Brown. | But the nominations for this year's award have raised eyebrows, especially with the inclusion of US R&B star Chris Brown. |
| The 35-year-old has been nominated for his chart-topping single Sensational, which incorporates Afrobeats elements and features guest vocals from Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay. | The 35-year-old has been nominated for his chart-topping single Sensational, which incorporates Afrobeats elements and features guest vocals from Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay. |
| However, the participation of an American artist in an African music category has sparked some debate. | However, the participation of an American artist in an African music category has sparked some debate. |
| Should non-African artists be considered in a category meant to showcase African talent? | Should non-African artists be considered in a category meant to showcase African talent? |
| "Music is about inclusivity. We don't want to fence people out of genres," Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr tells the BBC. | "Music is about inclusivity. We don't want to fence people out of genres," Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr tells the BBC. |
| "If we start deciding who can or can't make a certain type of music, we lose the essence of creativity." | "If we start deciding who can or can't make a certain type of music, we lose the essence of creativity." |
| The head of the Grammys explains that such cross-fertilisation is expected. | The head of the Grammys explains that such cross-fertilisation is expected. |
| "We've seen it with Latin before, we've seen it with K-Pop and now you're starting to see it with Afrobeats and amapiano," he says. | "We've seen it with Latin before, we've seen it with K-Pop and now you're starting to see it with Afrobeats and amapiano," he says. |
| "We like to honour all music [regardless of] where it comes from or who makes it. If it's excellent we want to celebrate it." | "We like to honour all music [regardless of] where it comes from or who makes it. If it's excellent we want to celebrate it." |
| Another bone of contention this year is the dominance of Afrobeats, which has its roots in Nigeria and Ghana. | Another bone of contention this year is the dominance of Afrobeats, which has its roots in Nigeria and Ghana. |
| There is a feeling that the Grammys remain too focused on it, to the exclusion of other African music genres, despite calls for inclusivity. | There is a feeling that the Grammys remain too focused on it, to the exclusion of other African music genres, despite calls for inclusivity. |
| Nigerian music journalist Ayomide Tayo says he understands why Afrobeats is dominating this year's awards. | Nigerian music journalist Ayomide Tayo says he understands why Afrobeats is dominating this year's awards. |
| "I don't think Afrobeats is better," he tells the BBC. | "I don't think Afrobeats is better," he tells the BBC. |
| "It's just that Afrobeats has had over three decades of exposure. We consistently pushed great music, superstars and events that have attracted the world to it," Lagos-based Tayo explains. | "It's just that Afrobeats has had over three decades of exposure. We consistently pushed great music, superstars and events that have attracted the world to it," Lagos-based Tayo explains. |
| Nigerians living abroad have also played a crucial role in the popularisation of Afrobeats. | Nigerians living abroad have also played a crucial role in the popularisation of Afrobeats. |
| "The Nigerian diaspora in England and North America is one of the key factors why Afrobeats exploded in Europe and the US," Tayo says. | "The Nigerian diaspora in England and North America is one of the key factors why Afrobeats exploded in Europe and the US," Tayo says. |
| While other Africa-based music business professionals see a bright future for other African music genres, saying this year could be a one-off. | While other Africa-based music business professionals see a bright future for other African music genres, saying this year could be a one-off. |
| Tyla beat Afrobeats big hitters Burna Boy and Davido last year | Tyla beat Afrobeats big hitters Burna Boy and Davido last year |
| For example, amapiano, a genre that in 2023 surpassed 1.4 billion streams on the music app Spotify. | For example, amapiano, a genre that in 2023 surpassed 1.4 billion streams on the music app Spotify. |
| Raphael Benza, head of Johannesburg-based record label Vth Season, says the very name Best African Performance goes against pigeonholing. | Raphael Benza, head of Johannesburg-based record label Vth Season, says the very name Best African Performance goes against pigeonholing. |
| "Coming from the home of amapiano, I would say [musicians] are doing extremely good work and I think next year you'll see amapiano artists being nominated in this category," he tells the BBC. | "Coming from the home of amapiano, I would say [musicians] are doing extremely good work and I think next year you'll see amapiano artists being nominated in this category," he tells the BBC. |
| The Best African Music Performance category was introduced as a way to honour Africa's increasing influence on global music. | The Best African Music Performance category was introduced as a way to honour Africa's increasing influence on global music. |
| When Tyla won, she beat Nigerian heavyweights like Davido and Burna Boy, establishing her place on the international stage. | When Tyla won, she beat Nigerian heavyweights like Davido and Burna Boy, establishing her place on the international stage. |
| Since then, the 22-year-old has been spotted at the Met Gala in New York and has been featured in top fashion magazines, proving that the Grammys effect is real. | Since then, the 22-year-old has been spotted at the Met Gala in New York and has been featured in top fashion magazines, proving that the Grammys effect is real. |
| This year's nominees, however, have shifted almost entirely to Nigerian artists, with Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Tems and a joint nomination for Asake & Wizkid, as well as Davido and Lojay featuring on Chris Brown's hit. | This year's nominees, however, have shifted almost entirely to Nigerian artists, with Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Tems and a joint nomination for Asake & Wizkid, as well as Davido and Lojay featuring on Chris Brown's hit. |
| Fans loved Chris Brown's performance during his two concerts in Johannesburg last month | Fans loved Chris Brown's performance during his two concerts in Johannesburg last month |
| "To be fair to Chris Brown, he has been invested in Afrobeats and African music for a long time," says Tayo, explaining that the US musician flew to Nigeria to collaborate with Davido and Wizkid. | "To be fair to Chris Brown, he has been invested in Afrobeats and African music for a long time," says Tayo, explaining that the US musician flew to Nigeria to collaborate with Davido and Wizkid. |
| "We have an inside joke in Nigeria that we say Chris Brown is Nigerian, because of the ways he pops up in our songs and our music videos all the time." | "We have an inside joke in Nigeria that we say Chris Brown is Nigerian, because of the ways he pops up in our songs and our music videos all the time." |
| Last month, he also held two massive sell-out concerts at a 90,000-seater stadium in Johannesburg - with people travelling from across southern Africa to see his performance, which fans said was electrifying. | Last month, he also held two massive sell-out concerts at a 90,000-seater stadium in Johannesburg - with people travelling from across southern Africa to see his performance, which fans said was electrifying. |
| African musicians have won Grammys long before the Best African Music Performance Award was established. | African musicians have won Grammys long before the Best African Music Performance Award was established. |
| South Africa's Mariam Makeba was the first to win one - Best Folk Recording - in 1966 for her collaboration with Harry Belafonte, called simply An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba. | South Africa's Mariam Makeba was the first to win one - Best Folk Recording - in 1966 for her collaboration with Harry Belafonte, called simply An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba. |
| Wizkid (L) and Burna Boy are among the Nigerians up for the African performance gong | Wizkid (L) and Burna Boy are among the Nigerians up for the African performance gong |
| African artists became more of a feature after 1992, with the introduction of the Best World Music Album. | African artists became more of a feature after 1992, with the introduction of the Best World Music Album. |
| That category has gone through various guises over the years - including being split into traditional and contemporary world music awards - and is now known as Best Global Music Album. | That category has gone through various guises over the years - including being split into traditional and contemporary world music awards - and is now known as Best Global Music Album. |
| Multi-award winners include Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N'Dour, Ali Farka Touré and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. | Multi-award winners include Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N'Dour, Ali Farka Touré and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. |
| But African musicians have often broken out of that category for example, South Africa's Black Coffee won Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2022. | But African musicians have often broken out of that category for example, South Africa's Black Coffee won Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2022. |
| The hope is that to counter the dominance of Afrobeats, more categories from Africa will be offered at the Grammys in years to come. | The hope is that to counter the dominance of Afrobeats, more categories from Africa will be offered at the Grammys in years to come. |
| This would cover the ever-growing popularity of African music globally - and better reflect the huge number of music styles produced in Africa. | This would cover the ever-growing popularity of African music globally - and better reflect the huge number of music styles produced in Africa. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Tyla’s racial identity sparks culture war | Tyla’s racial identity sparks culture war |
| Tyla's Grammy win fuels South Africa-Nigeria rivalry | Tyla's Grammy win fuels South Africa-Nigeria rivalry |
| 'The sound that's penetrated the world' | 'The sound that's penetrated the world' |
| Rema, the Afrobeats star who does not intend to calm down | Rema, the Afrobeats star who does not intend to calm down |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |
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