Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
More recognition has come for the Afrobeat, Fuji, and Amapiano genres as the Recording Academy, which is popularly known for the Grammys, has added three new categories — Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording.
These new categories will be introduced at the 2024 Grammys, officially known as the 66th Grammy Awards.
In a statement on Tuesday, the body said the introduction is part of efforts to draw an ever-expanding base into the award ceremony.
Prior to the new development, Best African music, alternative jazz, and dance-pop have been on the Grammy’s ballot for decades but will now be getting categories of their own.
Additionally, the existing Categories of Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, and Non-Classical will be moved to the General Field; this significant change will allow all Grammy voters to vote in these important, non-genre-specific categories.
These category additions and amendments were voted on and passed at the Recording Academy’s most recent semi-annual Board of Trustees meeting held in May 2023.
Speaking on this, Recording Academy CEO, Mr Harvey Mason Jr., said, “The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes to our Awards process. These changes reflect our commitment to actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community, accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape.”
“By introducing these three new categories, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists – and relocating the Producer Of the Year and Songwriter Of The Year categories to the General Field ensures that all our voters can participate in recognizing excellence in these fields,” Mr Mason continued.
“We are excited to honour and celebrate the creators and recordings in these categories while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide,” he added.
The Best African Music Performance will consist of a track and singles category that recognizes recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent. It could be Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro-Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz genres.
