The Grammy Award nominees are out, and African artistes have received several nods ahead of the prestigious fete set to take place on February 5.
Celebrated Nigerian act Tems is leading the list with 3 nominations; Best African Music Performance for Love Me Jeje, Best Global Music Album for Born In The Wild and Best RnB song for Burning.
She released Love Me Jeje on April 2024 in what was described as an homage to a beloved song of the same name released by Nigerian singer-songwriter Seyi Sodimu in 1997.
The track was a taste of what could be expected on her debut studio album Born in the Wild, which was released June 7.
Billboard reports: “The 18-track project contains collaborations with Asake (“Get It Right”) and J. Cole (“Free Fall”) as well as previously released singles “Love Me JeJe” and “Me & U,” the latter of which she premiered during her Coachella performance in April.”
Burna Boy received the nod in the Best African Music Category for his song Higher off the album I Told Them.
The Grammys describe Burna Boy as an undisputed force in African music, noting that his nomination in the category for two years in a row is not surprising.
“Already a GRAMMY winner for Best Global Music Album (Twice As Tall took the prize in 2021), his bold, American R&B-inspired “City Boys” earned a Best African Music Performance nod last year and was among a medley of tracks Burna performed on the Grammy stage. The braggadocious hip-hop song ultimately fell to Tyla’s “Water,” however.”
The report adds: “The success of his 2023 album I Told Them may have put Burna Boy in a more contemplative state of mind, because “Higher,” his current nominated track, is a much more conscious effort. Over a mellow, amapiano-inspired beat from producer Yo Dibs, Burna reflects on his limited time on Earth and the harshness of daily life.”
More African nominees include Asake (Nigeria), Davido (Nigeria), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Rema (Nigeria), Lojay (Nigeria), Angélique Kidjo (Benin/ France), Rocky Dawuni (Ghana), Shaboozey (Nigeria/America) and Jordan Adetunje (Northern Ireland/Nigeria).
Music In Africa notes: “Davido secured his second nomination for his work on Chris Brown’s ‘Sensational’ and Lojay made his debut with the same song. Yemi Alade earned her first solo nomination for ‘Tomorrow’. In Best Global Music Performance, Angélique Kidjo is up for ‘Sunlight to My Soul’ featuring legendary South African group Soweto Gospel Choir, and Rocky Dawuni scored a nomination for ‘Rise’.”
The Grammys report that Yemi is undoubtedly one of Africa’s biggest stars, and that the nomination has been a long time coming.
“She first rose to fame a decade ago thanks to continental hits like “Johnny” and “Oh My Gosh” with Rick Ross. In July, she took her sound to new heights on Rebel Queen, an album incorporating genres such as highlife and dancehall for a global celebration of Black music that solidifies her reputation as “Mama Africa.””
