Soweto Gospel Choir wins third Grammy

The South African gospel group competed in a category dominated by African musicians including Bombino (Niger), Fatoumata Diawara (Mali) and Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (Nigeria). The only other non-African nominee was Psoy Korolenko's Yiddish Glory (Russia).

The Grammy was accepted by Freedom producer Diniloxolo Jiyane as well as Soweto Gospel Choir members Mary Mulovhedzi and Mulalo Mulovhedzi.  

The award marks the group’s fifth nomination and third win at the Grammys. In 2007, when the World Award was split into the Best Traditional World Music Album and Best Contemporary World Music Album categories, the Soweto Gospel Choir won a Grammy in the former for Blessed, and again a year later for African Spirit.

"Congratulations to the Soweto Gospel Choir for being awarded the Best World Music album for ‘Freedom’ at the #GRAMMYs," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote on Twitter. "This is the choir’s third Grammy award and we thank them for telling our story to the world and flying the flag high."

Freedom was recorded in June 2018 as part of the 100 Years of Nelson Mandela celebrations. It features a selection of South African struggle songs including a version of Johnny Clegg's 'Asimbonanga'

This year's Grammys also saw Kacey Musgraves triumph in the Album of the Year category, while Childish Gambino took home the Record of the Year Award. English singer Dua Lipa won the Best New Artist accolade. Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy took the Best Rap Album Award. Other winners include Drake, Kacey Musgraves, Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, Ariana Grande and Willie Nelson.

Below is a partial list of the 2019 Grammy winners:

Best World Music Album

• Soweto Gospel Choir – Freedom 
• Bombino – Deran
• Fatoumata Diawara – Fenfo
• Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 – Black Times
• Yiddish Glory – The Lost Songs of World War II

Album of the year

• Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour 
• H.E.R. – H.E.R.
• Brandie Carlile – By the Way, I Forgive You
• Drake – Scorpion
• Various Artists – Black Panther: The Album
• Post Malone – Beerbongs & Bentleys
• Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
• Janelle Monáe – Dirty Computer 

Record of the Year

• Childish Gambino – ‘This Is America’ 
• Cardi B – ‘I Like It’
• Brandi Carlile – ‘The Joke’
• Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – ‘Shallow’
• Drake – ‘God's Plan’
• Kendrick Lamar & SZA – ‘All the Stars’
• Post Malone & 21 Savage – ‘Rockstar’
• Zedd & Maren Morris – ‘The Middle’

Song of the Year

• Childish Gambino – ‘This Is America’ 
• Kendrick Lamar & SZA – ‘All the Stars’
• Ella Mai – ‘Boo'd Up’
• Drake – ‘God's Plan’
• Shawn Mendes – ‘In My Blood’
• Brandy Carlile – ‘The Joke’
• Zedd & Maren Morris – ‘The Middle’
• Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – ‘Shallow’

Best R&B Album

• H.E.R. – H.E.R. 
• Toni Braxton – Sex and Cigarettes |
• Leon Bridges – Good Thing
• Lalah Hathaway – Honestly
• PJ Morton – Gumbo

Best New Artist

• Dua Lipa 
• Chloe x Halle
• Luke Combs
• Greta Van Fleet 
• H.E.R.
• Margo Price
• Bebe Rexha
• Jorja Smith

Best Pop Solo Performance

• Lady Gaga – ‘Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)’ 
• Beck – ‘Colors’
• Camila Cabello – ‘Havana (Live)’
• Ariana Grande – ‘God Is a Woman’
• Post Malone – ‘Better Now’

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

• Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – ‘Shallow’ 
• Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato – ‘Fall In Line’
• Backstreet Boys – ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’
• Maroon 5 and Cardi B – ‘Girls Like You’
• Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton – ‘Say Something’
• Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey – ‘The Middle’ 

Best Pop Vocal Album

• Ariana Grande – Sweetener 
• Camila Cabello – Camila
• Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life
• Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes
• Pink – Beautiful Trauma
• Taylor Swift – Reputation

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

• Willie Nelson – My Way 
• Tony Bennett & Diana Krall – Love Is Here to Stay
• Gregory Porter – Nat "King" Cole & Me
• Seal – Standards (Deluxe)
• Barbra Streisand – The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic!

Best Rap Performance

• Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, & James Blake – ‘King’s Dead’ 
• Cardi B – ‘Be Careful’
• Drake – ‘Nice for What’
• Anderson .Paak – ‘Bubblin’
• Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk, & Swae Lee – ‘Sicko Mode’ 

Best Rap Song 

• Drake – ‘God’s Plan’ 
• Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, & James Blake – ‘King’s Dead’
• Eminem – ‘Lucky You’
• Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk, & Swae Lee – ‘Sicko Mode’
• Jay Rock ft. Kendrick Lamar – ‘Win’ 

Best Rap Album

• Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy 
• Mac Miller – Swimming
• Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
• Pusha-T – Daytona
• Travis Scott – Astroworld

Best Reggae Album 

• Sting & Shaggy – 44/876
• Black Uhuru – As the World Turns 
• Etana – Reggae Forever
• Ziggy Marley – Rebellion Rises
• Protoje – A Matter of Time