African artists took center stage in the nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards, with the announcement of the contenders for the inaugural Best African Music Performance category. The Recording Academy’s adjustments to the nomination structure, including the introduction of this new category, underscore Africa’s profound impact on the global music scene.
The nominees for Best African Music Performance are a testament to the genre’s dynamism, with songs like Amapiano by Nigeria’s Asake and Olamide, City Boys by Burna Boy, Unavailable by Davido featuring Musa Keys, Rush by Ayra Starr, and Water by South Africa’s Tyla are all in the running. This marks the first time that Asake, Olamide, Tyla, and Ayra Starr will be nominated for a Grammy Award.
African artists are also making waves in other categories at the Grammys. Burna Boy’s collaboration with 21 Savage, “Sittin’ On Top Of The World,” is nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance. Burna Boy, Davido, and other African artists have also received nominations in the Best Global Music Performance and Best Global Music Album categories.
The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on February 4, 2024.