Africa shines at Grammy Awards

The Annual Grammy Awards are normally an electric, packed affair, but this year’s was different due to the coronavirus pandemic. There were no crowds of celebrity audiences at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, just a moderate amount of famous faces seated in physically distanced tables. 

Stars adorned glamorous designer attire, just like all important red carpet events, but this time round, masks accompanied the gowns and tuxedos.

Big night

Guest hosts and presenters gave their input virtually, however just as dressed up as they would be in the physical event.

The artistes came together at the Los Angeles Convention Centre yesterday, where most winners accepted their awards. 

However, it was a big night for Africa. From the host, South African comedian Trevor Noah, to big wins by African Afrobeat stars Burna Boy and Wizkid, the African continent was on the spotlight, receiving much awaited recognition, alongside female artistes, who dominated most of the wins this year and broke records.

From his days of Stand Up comedy, where he often talked about his upbringing as a mixed-race child in South Africa during the apartheid, Noah has come a long way. He is now a host of Viacom’s The Today Show, where he is one of the world’s highest paid comedians.

While he has not disclosed his earnings, Forbes estimated his salary and stand-up income combined at over Sh3 billion. His hosting the Grammy Awards was a big moment for the continent from which he hails, and his African supporters were filled with pride.

“Trevor Noah hosted the Grammys! A South African hosted!” posted A Twitter user - @thecapetowntwins.

“He will host Miss Universe one day,” wrote Lefa Kekane.

The comedian was a presenter at the 2018 Grammys as well as the 2019 Academy Awards, seemingly growing steadily over the years to achieve A-list celebrity status as well as raking in millions of dollars through his humour and public speaking, which has charmed the world over.

“Africa our time is now. Congratulations, I am so proud to be African right now, Africa stand up!” wrote Oluwa Shigo, a Twitter user.

Nigerian vocal powerhouse Burna Boy won a Grammy Award for his 2020 album Twice As Tall. The celebrated Afrobeat singer accepted the major recording academy recognition via a video appearance, elatedly saying in his speech that this is a huge moment for Africa.

“Every African out there, no matter where you are, no matter what you plan to do, you can achieve it. You are a king. Thank you to everyone, my whole family is here!” said the artiste as his loved ones cheered and celebrated in his video background.

Burna Boy’s winning album Twice As Tall has been reviewed as a compelling body of work which takes on Yoruba and Pidgin verses, with innovative yet commercial sounds from his Nigerian producers, some high-profile collaborations and a showcase of the artiste’s political awakening.

“Ogulu first made his name in 2012 as a vibes-bringer; he surfed a wave of youthful Nigerian confidence that aped US bling, but refashioned it for a new generation of young Africans. Experience has deepened and broadened him. It is a mark of Burna Boy’s distinctiveness that not even the more overweening of the egos on board really staunch his flow,” reads a review on the album by The Guardian.

His work is praised as a portrayal of modern Africa with cleverly deconstructed phrases, familiar-sounding black music concepts, all of which are described as ‘utterly original’.

The African superstar was nominated for a Grammy last year, where he was up against Netherlands rock band Altin Gün, Creole- French group  Bokanté in their collaboration with Netherlands Jazz band Metropole Orkes, Haitian-American act Nathalie Joachim and Beninise singer Angelique Kidjo. He lost out to Kidjo, who took home the award for her album Celia, which was commended as a reinvention of Salsa and inventive reinterpretation with powerful singing and a mix of strong cultures.

African giant

“This marks his first career Grammy win. He is the first winner of the recently renamed category, formerly known as Best World Music Album,” wrote the Grammys on their website.

On social media, the self-proclaimed African giant, also the name of his Grammy-nominated 2019 album, went on to celebrate and mark the momentous win. “This is for all of us. Please remember that you are not ordinary,” wrote Burna Boy (pictured)  on Instagram

Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Wizkid also won at this year’s 63rd Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony, sharing the win in his feature on Beyonce Knowles’ Brown Skin Girl, which secured the award for Best Music Video.

Wizkid reposted the Grammy’s congratulatory post for his win, were his fans swarmed him with lauding comments. “Starboy is the first ever to win a Grammy out of Nigeria! Congratulations! Imagine Burna and Wizkid winning on the same night!” wrote a Twitter user, Fathiu Temilade.