Grammy Awards - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Tyla releases debut album after Grammy win

SOUTH African singer-songwriter Tyla releases her self-titled debut album, fresh off her win at the Grammy Awards last month. The 22-year-old found success last year, reaching the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart and top 5 in Britain with amapiano hit "Water", a genre fusing house, jazz and log drums that emerged in South Africa. She describes the 15-track "TYLA", which features collaborations with the likes of U.S. rapper Travis Scott and Nigerian singer Tems, as "a melting pot of all the influences" she had growing up. "Pop, R&B and then obviously amapiano and Afrobeats because that's…

Feb

2024

By The African Mirror

Rapper Killer Mike taken away from Grammy Awards in handcuffs

WORLD

RAPPER Killer Mike was taken away from Sunday night's Grammy Awards in handcuffs by police after sweeping up three of the music industry's biggest prizes for rap music, witnesses said. Los Angeles police offered no statement on the matter and two separate press officers on duty said they had no information. Video posted on social media showed police escorting Killer Mike, his hands cuffed behind his back, through the concourse of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter, citing an arena security official, reported that Killer Mike was detained for an unspecified misdemeanour charge unrelated to the Grammy Awards.…

Feb

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s Tyla makes history as youngest female artist to win a Grammy

NEWS, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

South African artists, including Black Coffee, Sho Madjozi, and Nasty C, celebrated Tyla's victory, highlighting the collaborative and supportive spirit within the African music community. IN a groundbreaking moment for South African music, Tyla, at the tender age of 22, has etched her name in history as the youngest female artist in 55 years to clinch a Grammy Award in the category of "Best African Music Performance." Her winning track, "Water," catapulted her to the forefront of global recognition, surpassing established icons such as Nigerian sensation Burna Boy. Tyla, whose meteoric rise has captivated music enthusiasts worldwide, has become a…

Feb

2024

By LISA RICHWINE

Music from Africa rising on global charts, with help from TikTok

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

WHEN the biggest names in music gather for the industry's top honours at the Grammy Awards, they will hand out a new trophy for best African music performance. The prize reflects the growing popularity of Afrobeats, and other music from the continent, which is gaining a global audience with help from social media platforms such as short-form video app TikTok. Afrobeats originated in West Africa, primarily Ghana and Nigeria, though the term is often used as a catch-all for various music styles coming from Africa. It features percussion rhythms mixed with various genres from rap to jazz, R&B and others.…

Feb

2024

By The African Mirror

Grammy Awards: Africa finally has its own category – but at what cost?

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

FOR the first time in its 65-year history, the Grammy Awards in the US has introduced an African category, Best African Music Performance, which recognises the song of the year. The Grammys is the most prestigious award in the largest music industry in the world. Its focus has always been US music styles in categories like pop, R&B, rap, country, jazz and classical. ERIC CHARRY, Professor of Music, Wesleyan University As musical styles from abroad (or in Spanish) have moved into the US commercial market, the Grammy Foundation has tried to recognise them – beyond the generic “folk music” category…

Oct

2022

By The African Mirror

Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson to be honoured as MusiCares persons of the year

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

DANIELLE BROADWAY MOTOWN icons Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson will be honoured by the music industry in Los Angeles ahead of the annual Grammy Awards as MusiCares 2023 persons of the year, the organization announced. MusiCares, which is dedicated to supporting the music community, said the music world will celebrate the legacy of both songwriters during its 32nd annual persons of the year benefit gala. Berry Gordy, 92, and Smokey Robinson, 82, built the Motown record label in the 1960s and for several decades was the highest-earning Black American record label, nicknamed Hitsville USA for its dozens of chart-toppers. Gordy,…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

From Nigeria to the world: Afrobeats is having a global moment

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ANOTHER Grammy Awards season and there is a growing list of African nominees. For African music enthusiasts, it is heartwarming that recognition is being accorded to practitioners in the Afrobeats space. Afrobeat and Afrobeats, although related, are quite distinct. Afrobeats is the genre that emerged when West African pop music became cool. Its origins coincide with the media liberalisation that accompanied the “final” wave of democratisation in Africa from 1999. More than this, it is a convenient term for Europe to refer to music coming out of Africa, distinct from Euro-American pop. Author GARHE OSIEBE, Research Fellow, Rhodes University Afrobeat,…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

‘It means everything’: Mary J. Blige inducted into NYC’s Apollo Walk of Fame

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MARY J. Blige has nine Grammy Awards, eight multi-platinum albums, two Academy Award nominations, and now, the singer-songwriter has a plaque on the Apollo Theater's Walk of Fame. Blige, also known as the queen of hip-hop soul with millions of fans across the globe, was inducted into the Walk of Fame on Friday just outside the legendary theater in Harlem. Wearing a sparkling green and black jumpsuit, Blige personally thanked her fans and announced a release date of June 25 for a new documentary that celebrates the 25th anniversary of her second album "My Life." This was a return home…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Why Grammy win marks ‘big moment’ for African music

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ALEXIS AKWAGYIRAM and ANGELA UKOMADU MODERN African music is altering perceptions of the continent as part of a global cultural shift that marks a "big moment", Nigerian music artist Burna Boy told Reuters after hailing his first Grammy award. Burna Boy was awarded a Grammy for the Best Global Music Album this month for 'Twice As Tall' which was released last year. He is part of a generation of Nigerian music artists, which include Wizkid and Davido, that has enjoyed global success in recent years as proponents of the Afrobeats sound. The African genre is now almost as likely to…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Burna Boy and Wizkid scoop Grammy Awards

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NIGERIAN superstar Burna has won his first career Grammay Award at a ceremony marked by historic feet by women and the Blue Ivy, the youngest winner at 9. Burna Boy won the Grammy Award for the Best Global Music Album for his album Twice as Tall. In an acceptance speech given in English and Yoruba, Burna Boy described the achievement as a big win for his generation of Africans all over the world. “Africa is in the house. This is a big win for my generation of Africans all over the world. And this should be a lesson to every…