The Recording Academy extends eligibility period to Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.
Grammy Awards Embrace African Rhythms with Best African Music Performance Category
BY Fareedat Taofeeq
June 22, 2023
7:43 am
The prestigious Grammy Awards, known for honoring exceptional musical achievements in the United States, is expanding its scope to include a new category that celebrates African music.
In a recent announcement, The Recording Academy unveiled three new additions to the upcoming 2024 Grammy Awards lineup: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording.
Among these new categories, the Best African Music Performance is poised to revolutionize the music industry for African artists, especially those in the dynamic Afrobeats genre. With their infectious rhythms and vibrant sounds, Afrobeats musicians have been catapulting the African music scene onto the global stage, capturing the attention of audiences worldwide.
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Prior to this addition, Nigerian and other African superstars found themselves vying for recognition in the Best Global Music Performance category. Notable artists such as King Sunny Ade, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Femi Kuti, and Angelique Kidjo have all been nominated in this category. However, the creation of a dedicated African music category will now offer these talented individuals a better chance to secure the highly coveted Grammy trophy.
In the previous edition of the awards, the Best Global Music Performance category was won by South African artists Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini, and Nomcebo Zikode for their exceptional single, ‘Bayethe.’ The introduction of the Best African Music Performance category will not only elevate the profile of African stars but also increase their prospects of clinching this prestigious honor.
The addition of the Best African Music Performance category is part of the Recording Academy’s ongoing efforts to ensure a diverse representation of musical genres and cultures at the Grammy Awards.
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Last year, the Academy introduced two new categories, Best Songwriter and Best Song for Change, in an effort to recognize and celebrate the rich diversity within the music industry.
The 2024 Grammy Awards will take place on Jan. 31.
Meanwhile, the Recording Academy has adjusted the eligibility period for the 2024 Grammys to Sept. 15. According to Harvey Mason Jr., the Academy’s CEO, “After listening to concerns from some members of the music community, we have decided to amend the end date of the previously-announced eligibility period. The eligibility deadline for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards will be extended by two weeks, to Friday, September 15, 2023.”
Key dates for the 66th Grammy Awards are as follows:
Eligibility period for entries: Oct. 1, 2022 – Sept. 15, 2023
Media registration: July 10, 2023 – Aug. 24, 2023
Online entry process: July 17, 2023 – Aug 31, 2023