African music is now getting much-deserved recognition, and talented stars have been rewarded for their hard work.
One award many covet has always been the Grammy Award, and we have had African acts that have received the award. In our little way of celebrating the growth of African music, here is a list of every African act and artist that has received a Grammy award.
Categorizing the Grammy Awards as one of music’s highly converted awards is no understatement; many often have mixed feelings as to why much relevance is placed on an artist securing a Grammy award before he or she can be viewed as an artist who has succeeded in the West.
For Western artists, the award itself is highly significant because, over time and in some instances, the Recording Academy has always celebrated talent and hard work. Accomplishing this, however, as an African act is something that is noteworthy and worth celebrating.
This is the case because winning such an important and prestigious award is a testament to how far such an artist has come in the music industry and just how much people are paying attention to African music as a whole.
From legendary figures such as Fela Kuti to Angelique Kidjo and many more, African music has remained in the spotlight, and the evolution of African music is one that has been recognised and is now celebrated with a new category by the Recording Academy.
Music has always been something African acts have always been passionate about; the crucial part is, however, receiving recognition for your passion. The Recording Academy has continued to reward artists for their excellence, and we have compiled a list of Africans who have continued to be recognized.
Who is the first African to win a Grammy Award?
A notable figure in the history of South African music, Zenzile Miriam Makeba, a gifted singer and activist popularly known as Mama Africa, has a total of nine Grammy Award nominations under her belt. She became the first African artist in the award’s history to receive a Grammy award in 1964 with her collaborative album with Henry Belafonte, titled An Evening with Belafonte, in the Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording category.
Who Is The First Nigerian To Win A Grammy Award?
The first Nigerian to ever win a Grammy award, according to the Grammy Official website, was Sikiru Adepoju at the 53rd edition of the award ceremony. The talented artist won the Best Contemporary World Music Album for his contribution to the album, ‘Global Drum Project.’
List Of African Acts That Have Won A Grammy Award
Tems
Black Coffee
Miriam Makeba
Sikiru Adepoju
Tinariwen
Wouter Kellerman
Wizkid
Burna Boy
Youssou N’Dour
Soweto Gospel Choir
Ali Farka Toure
Angelique Kidjo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo