The Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, have stated that the self-styled African giant, Burna Boy, cannot be compared to any afrobeats or African Artiste.
The Academy made the assertion in a statement published on its website, congratulating Burna Boy and other nominees for the newly created Best African Music Performance category at the 2024 Grammys.
The Grammys said Burna Boy was “firmly in his imperial era”, having collaborated with “global stars such as Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber,” and also earned his first UK No. 1 album this year with “the classic hip-hop influenced I Told Them, featuring appearances from 21 Savage, J. Cole, RZA, and GZA.”
The Academy said: “There’s not a bigger star in Afrobeats, or even the whole of Africa itself, than Burna Boy. He nabbed two consecutive Best Global Album GRAMMY nods for his albums Twice as Tall and African Giant, and he’s also collaborated with global stars such as Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber.”
The Nation reported that Burna Boy’s ‘City Boys’ was nominated in the maiden Best African Music Performance category at the 66th Grammys.
‘City Boys’ will contest the award with Davido and Musa Keys’ ‘Unavailable,’ Ayra Starr’s ‘Rush,’ Asake and Olamide’s ‘Amapiano, and Tyla’s ‘Water.’
Burna Boy also bagged nominations in three other categories; ‘Sitting On Top of the World’ featuring 21 Savage – Best Melodic Rap, ‘I Told Them’ – Best Global Music Album, and ‘Alone’ – Best Global Music Performance.
