-O. Adejo
The Recording Academy is considering establishing an Afrobeats category for its Grammy awards. This was revealed by the CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., at a press conference held during the Global Citizens Festival in Ghana.
According to Mason, the Recording Academy met with certain Afrobeats community leaders to examine the prospect of establishing an Afrobeats category for the 65th Grammy Awards.
He said, “We had a virtual listening session where we heard from Afrobeats creators and just talked about, ‘What are the different subgenres? What are the needs? What are your desires?” he asks. And my goal is to represent all genres of music, including Afrobeats, at the Grammys.”
Mason, on the other hand, made it plain that the choice is still in its early stages and is being considered, but it is not yet final. But he was hoping that the meeting with the Afrobeats community would be a positive step forward.
Afrobeats has grown in popularity over the last decade, with artists such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and others championing the movement. The sound is primarily indigenous to Nigeria and Ghana. It has become mixed with any sound emanating from Sub-Saharan Africa throughout the years. Therefore, an Afrobeats category could help the genre stand out globally.
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