Playlist: Africa’s 2022 Grammy Awards nominees

Two-time nominee Rocky Dawuni attributes this feat to the internet’s role in democratising music distribution and eliminating gatekeepers, adding that it testifies to the fact that African music has “always had that power.”

In the past few years, Beninese great Angélique Kidjo and Afrobeat ambassador Burna Boy have served as the continent’s main representatives. The 64th Grammys will be the edition with the most nominees from Africa, across a trusted old guard and brilliant new voices.

Angélique Kidjo (Benin)

No stranger to the awards, Kidjo is Africa’s most successful Grammy artist with four awards to her name. At next year’s ceremony, she will be up for three awards, largely off the strength of her Mother Nature album, which follows Kidjo’s 2019 Grammy Award-winning album Celia. Mother Nature scored a nomination in the Best Global Music Album category, while the Burna Boy-assisted ‘Do Yourself’ and her performance with US cellist Yo-Yo Ma have been shortlisted in the Global Music Performance category.

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Afro-fusion star Burna Boy currently holds the title of Best Global Music Album. Since 2019, the singer has maintained a continual presence at the awards – as a performer, nominee and winner. Burna Boy’s third straight Grammy’s nomination comes via his appearance on Angélique Kidjo’s ‘Do Yourself’. Six years ago, on the Grammy stage, Kidjo spoke of a new generation of African artists taking the world by storm. Burna Boy, among the names on Kidjo’s mind, has now grown into full bloom. This year, he is also credited on Album of the Year nominee Justin Bieber’s Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe) offering.

Wizkid (Nigeria)

Now an undeniable global force and Afrobeats poster child, Wizkid’s Grammy nomination comes as no surprise. His year has been propped by the widespread success of Afrobeats in general and ‘Essence’ in particular, which Rolling Stone recently adjudged as the best song of 2021. That song is taken from his landmark 2020 album Made in Lagos. Both song and album are up for Grammys: ‘Essence’ for Best Global Music Performance and Made in Lagos: Deluxe Edition for Best Global Music album. ‘Essence’ features another African superstar in the making, Tems, who recently made BBC Radio 1’s annual Sound of 2022 longlist.

Femi and Made Kuti (Nigeria)

Completing the Nigerian party at the 64th Grammys are Fela Kuti scions Femi and Made Kuti, who have scored a Best Global Music Album nomination for their Legacy+ double album. Femi’s ‘Pà Pá Pà’, which is off the same offering, is also up for Best Global Music Performance. While this is Made’s Grammy initiation, it merely marks a return for Femi, who will be heading to the awards for the fourth time since his first nomination in 2012.

Wouter Kellerman (South Africa)

Accomplished South African flautist and composer Wouter Kellerman returns to the Grammys for his efforts on Pangaea, a collaboration with American composer and music producer David Arkenstone. Pangaea is in the running for Best New Age Album. Kellerman, whose name also appears in the credits for Mythologies by Sangeeta Kaur and Hila Plitmannalready in the Best Classical Solo Vocal Album category, holds a Grammy Award for his 2014 album Winds of Samsara. In 2015, his Love Language offering was nominated in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album of the Year category.

Black Coffee (South Africa)

Internationally renowned South African electronic music act Black Coffee has secured a nomination in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category for his latest album Subconsciously. The veteran house DJ, songwriter and producer, whose career began in the early '90s, will look to fend off competition from fellow producers Illenium, Marshmello, Sylvan Esso, house outfit Ten City and EDM trio Major Lazer.

Rocky Dawuni (Ghana)

‘Afro-roots’ maestro Rocky Dawuni is Ghana’s sole nominee at the 64th Grammys. The artist, who secured his first Grammy nod in 2019, makes a return with his Voice of Bunbon Vol. 1 EP. Dawuni told Music In Africa that the eight-song collection was inspired by an undying vision to “present a globalised version of African culture.”

For the full list of nominees visit the Grammy Awards website.