I consider myself clueless about African music. In my collection I have some Fela, some Sunny Ade, some Congotronics, and a bunch of Ethiopiques compilations. 40 or 50 albums, maybe. But the innovation, inventiveness, and expression on those recordings can compare favorably with any pop music going on in the world. I wouldn’t want my music to have to be measured against any of the African music I’ve heard. And even my small sampling is a rich stew of many styles.
I agree that African music has earned the right to be judged alongside American pop music. But if it has to be considered apart from the USA, another problem arises-- “African” music is so many different things, such a broad landscape of styles, that it really ought to have a large number of different categories.
Grammy is predominantly an American music award, made by Americans, for Americans. Initiatives like this just prioritize the inclusion they're pushing, eventually. This has been done with Latino and other sounds like K-Pop. Although, Joey, I do understand your stance, Burna Boy's "Last Last" deserved a Song of the Year award but, that is a standalone case. African music is diverse and such are our genres - Afrobeats, Amapiano, Fuji, etc. This should be applauded! Not criticized. It shows progress because, on the long scheme of things, you cannot sincerely expect the Grammys to cater for the myriad of African music genres. We have the Headies, Soundcity awards, et al for that
I worry too as always. Would they allow African artists to submit to other categories, like for example, pop songs like “calm down”, which fit well as a pop song because of its impact?. Abi na just vibes
Uhm... I see your point. I personally for like make you “calm down” lol.
Let’s always remrmber. Rome was not built in a day and it’s gonna take a lot more than Calm down getting on top 3 in the hot 100 to win any of the big awards. There are a lot of chart topping songs that do not get nominated in fe big categories at the Grammys yearly. We gotta tighten everywhere and keep coming correct for a while longer. And yes, at this time, anyone can submit anything to any category. But let’s remember, the competition is usually a bitch. It’s usually you and 5,000 others, lol.
It might be great to remember that the Grammys were not made for Africans in the first place, this is their thing. Their awards and they hand been doing (probably not enough) to include us and other people the more they hear us. Be patient. Again. Rome. Not built in a day. Yada yada yada.
Also, Grammys have categories for stuff like Latin Music category, Mexican album categories and stuff. These distinctions are necessary cause we won’t be needing inclusion if we all do not differ.
We have our own awards in Africa and they are only as prestigious as we make them. We can value those more too and dial down our feelings of entitlement to the western Grammys. No be we get am.
We have progressed. Not as far as we’d like but we have. And if we keep this up, the same way a song can win song of the year and win best Rnb record of the year, we might just get there soon where we win generally and in our niche. It won’t be easy tho.
Grammys have stressed this for a long time. They do not consider the charts or number of streams a song has for nomination. So we gotta work on a whole lot else to level up. This might include watering down the Africanness sometimes to make it consumable in the same way the western songs they’ve known all their lives are to them. It’s not an overnight something. And we are not the only one.
We’ve seen with the chats that if you get enough streams in any region, you’ll at the top of the charts there regardless of wherever you are. So nobody is really stopping Africans from getting on any charts.
But the Grammys aren’t a music Chart, it’s an Academy so it would be an error to expect them to behave as a radio/streams chart.
Also, last last, song of the year? Lol. That’s on Kolos.
The remarkably brilliant argument there is enlightening. I am impressed with the perspective that speaks to the necessity to maintain a level playing field in order to inspire the equal opportunity to strive for excellence; wherever the music is generated from, to compete in the Grammy's. Your writing is definitely stimulating to read, and has left a positive impression on me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Respectfully, please.🏅✨️🇳🇬🌎👍👍🏾
Couldn’t have been written better. I agree with every single character in this article. It’s in “enhancing representation” in most cases that the real destruction to long term progress for Afrikans happens
I consider myself clueless about African music. In my collection I have some Fela, some Sunny Ade, some Congotronics, and a bunch of Ethiopiques compilations. 40 or 50 albums, maybe. But the innovation, inventiveness, and expression on those recordings can compare favorably with any pop music going on in the world. I wouldn’t want my music to have to be measured against any of the African music I’ve heard. And even my small sampling is a rich stew of many styles.
I agree that African music has earned the right to be judged alongside American pop music. But if it has to be considered apart from the USA, another problem arises-- “African” music is so many different things, such a broad landscape of styles, that it really ought to have a large number of different categories.
To me it really not an issue, artist can submit to order categories as well and get recognized
Grammy is predominantly an American music award, made by Americans, for Americans. Initiatives like this just prioritize the inclusion they're pushing, eventually. This has been done with Latino and other sounds like K-Pop. Although, Joey, I do understand your stance, Burna Boy's "Last Last" deserved a Song of the Year award but, that is a standalone case. African music is diverse and such are our genres - Afrobeats, Amapiano, Fuji, etc. This should be applauded! Not criticized. It shows progress because, on the long scheme of things, you cannot sincerely expect the Grammys to cater for the myriad of African music genres. We have the Headies, Soundcity awards, et al for that
Thank you so much Sir Joey for this,it really cleared a lot in my head. I didn't see it from this point of view earlier.
I worry too as always. Would they allow African artists to submit to other categories, like for example, pop songs like “calm down”, which fit well as a pop song because of its impact?. Abi na just vibes
Interesting read, nice one Joey. Let’s wait for the next Grammys!
Uhm... I see your point. I personally for like make you “calm down” lol.
Let’s always remrmber. Rome was not built in a day and it’s gonna take a lot more than Calm down getting on top 3 in the hot 100 to win any of the big awards. There are a lot of chart topping songs that do not get nominated in fe big categories at the Grammys yearly. We gotta tighten everywhere and keep coming correct for a while longer. And yes, at this time, anyone can submit anything to any category. But let’s remember, the competition is usually a bitch. It’s usually you and 5,000 others, lol.
It might be great to remember that the Grammys were not made for Africans in the first place, this is their thing. Their awards and they hand been doing (probably not enough) to include us and other people the more they hear us. Be patient. Again. Rome. Not built in a day. Yada yada yada.
Also, Grammys have categories for stuff like Latin Music category, Mexican album categories and stuff. These distinctions are necessary cause we won’t be needing inclusion if we all do not differ.
We have our own awards in Africa and they are only as prestigious as we make them. We can value those more too and dial down our feelings of entitlement to the western Grammys. No be we get am.
We have progressed. Not as far as we’d like but we have. And if we keep this up, the same way a song can win song of the year and win best Rnb record of the year, we might just get there soon where we win generally and in our niche. It won’t be easy tho.
Grammys have stressed this for a long time. They do not consider the charts or number of streams a song has for nomination. So we gotta work on a whole lot else to level up. This might include watering down the Africanness sometimes to make it consumable in the same way the western songs they’ve known all their lives are to them. It’s not an overnight something. And we are not the only one.
We’ve seen with the chats that if you get enough streams in any region, you’ll at the top of the charts there regardless of wherever you are. So nobody is really stopping Africans from getting on any charts.
But the Grammys aren’t a music Chart, it’s an Academy so it would be an error to expect them to behave as a radio/streams chart.
Also, last last, song of the year? Lol. That’s on Kolos.
👏👍
The remarkably brilliant argument there is enlightening. I am impressed with the perspective that speaks to the necessity to maintain a level playing field in order to inspire the equal opportunity to strive for excellence; wherever the music is generated from, to compete in the Grammy's. Your writing is definitely stimulating to read, and has left a positive impression on me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Respectfully, please.🏅✨️🇳🇬🌎👍👍🏾
Couldn’t have been written better. I agree with every single character in this article. It’s in “enhancing representation” in most cases that the real destruction to long term progress for Afrikans happens
Apt! The analysis of the issues and subtle recommendation is commendable.👍