Grammy Awards: Africa finally has its own category \u2013 but at what\u00a0cost?<\/p>\n
For the first time in its 65-year history the Grammy Awards<\/a> in the US has introduced an African category, Best African Music Performance<\/a>, which recognises the song of the year.<\/p>\n The Grammys is the most prestigious award in the largest music industry in the world. Its focus has always been US music styles in categories like pop, R&B, rap, country, jazz and classical.<\/p>\n As musical styles from abroad (or in Spanish) have moved into the US commercial market, the Grammy Foundation has tried to recognise them \u2013 beyond the generic \u201cfolk music\u201d category it first used to put them in. So categories were established like Latin, Mexican, reggae, world music and global music.<\/p>\n Now Africa has its own best song category, the first continent with this distinction. This is clearly a nod to the growing popularity of African music in the US \u2013 notably Afrobeats<\/a> from Nigeria.<\/p>\n Few African artists received Grammy nominations until 1992, when the Best World Music Album category was added. A diverse range of African music came to dominate this category. But \u201cworld music\u201d was criticised<\/a> for being outmoded. The award was renamed Best Global Music Album in 2021. The reasons given<\/a> included:<\/p>\n The change symbolises a departure from the connotations of colonialism, folk and \u2018non-American\u2019.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The new name came with a shift in which music received nominations. \u201cWorld music\u201d tended to recognise regional music styles released on small independent labels. \u201cGlobal music\u201d was seemingly more focused on more commercial music that was also reaching the US charts. It tended to reward Afrobeats and other popular electronic dance music that took creative cues from the US.<\/p>\n How music represents and expresses identity and cultural authenticity has been a key issue<\/a> in my research<\/a> as an ethnomusicologist. Certainly, generational shifts<\/a> happen and interests in some deeply rooted traditions may fade in favour of new global currents. But still, I have mixed reactions to the new award. The economic boon that the Grammys brings to the African music industry could be significant. But at what cost to its diversity of offerings?<\/p>\n The Grammys claims to recognise excellence<\/a>. But it also celebrates US cultural imperialism and commercial success \u2013 a track record evident in its history.<\/p>\n This first batch of best performance nominees<\/a> provides further clues that US record conglomerates are strongly shaping Grammy recognition.<\/p>\n