Stephanie G. Mathis The Grammys are the most prestigious awards in the biggest music industry in the entire world. The Grammys have always focused on US music in categories such as pop, R&B, rap, country, jazz, and classical.
The Grammy Foundation, in an effort to recognize the musical styles that have entered the US market (in Spanish or from other countries), has moved beyond the “folk” music category they originally used. The Grammy Foundation created categories like Latin, Mexican music, reggae music, world music, and global music.
Africa is the first continent to have its category of best songs. This is a clear nod to the increasing popularity of African music, especially Afrobeats, in the US.
Only a few African artists were nominated for Grammys before 1992 when Best World Music Album was added. A diverse range of African musical styles dominated this category. Criticized “world music” for being outdated. In 2021, the award was renamed Best Global Music Album. The reason given include:
The new name is a break from colonialism and folk.
With the new name, there was a change in how music was nominated. “World music,” on the other hand, tended to recognize regional music styles that were released by small independent labels. “Global music” seemed to be more focused on commercial music, which also reached the US charts. It was more inclined to reward Afrobeats, and other popular electronic music that took its creative cues form the US.
As an ethnomusicologist, I have been interested in how music expresses and represents identity and cultural authenticity. Generational Shifts do happen, and new global currents may displace some deeply rooted cultures. Still, I’m not sure how to feel about the new award. The Grammys could have a significant economic impact on the African music industry. What about its diversity?
The Grammys claim to recognize excellence. It also celebrates US commercial success and cultural imperialism – as its history shows.
The first set of nominees for best performance gives further evidence that US record companies are a major influence on Grammy awards.
Africa at the Grammys
The first Grammy Awards were presented in 1959, when South African star Miriam Makeba toured the US for the first time.
In 1960, the Best Folk Performance was added. It was this that made the difference. Makeba was nominated for three awards in 1961 (new artist, vocalist and folk). In 1964 and 1965, she was nominated as the first African singer. The only category where she could sing in South African languages, with acoustic strings instruments and hand percussion was folk.
In 1966, Makeba received her one and only Grammy. It was the folk category. She was nominated for two albums: Makeba sings, and the winner A Night with Belafonte/Makeba.
Harry Belafonte is a popular US film and singer. Early sponsorship was crucial. The theme would be repeated, starting with Paul Simon and Ladysmith black Mambazo and continuing through Peter Gabriel and Youssou N’Dour and Drake and Wizkid and Beyonce’s 2019 Lion King album. Burna Boy received his first Grammy nod the year after he appeared on this album.
On the charts
Makeba became the first African to reach the top of the US Charts with Pata Pata (which reached Number 12 in 1967). The South African Hugh Masekela followed with Grazing in the Grass in 1968 (the first place) and the Cameroonian Manu Dibiango’s Soul Makossa in 1973 (the 35th). There was a long dry spell.
Masekela has never been matched by a solo African artist who was born and raised in Africa. Sade Akon Chamillionaire are all children of immigrants who came from Nigeria and Senegal to the US or UK. Sade and Seal were both Grammy winners.
Wizkid, a Nigerian singer and songwriter, topped the charts as a invited guest of Drake in 2016 and Tems’s when sampled by Future in 2022.
From folk to world music
Unesco, the global heritage organisation, used “world music” as early as 1948. It was first used to create an album catalogue. Later, it was used to sponsor albums from more than 70 countries. Ethnomusicologists extended the term in order to “incorporate all types of music,” a first attempt to decolonise the musical institutions.
In 1987, some British independent record labels introduced “world music” to retailers as a category to promote albums that were not available on the shelves. In 1992, the Grammys awarded their first Best World Music Album. In 2004, it split into “traditional music” and “contemporary music” but merged back in 2012.
