Does African music have an impact on the global stage? Hell yes!
The Grammy Awards have long been seen as the most prestigious award in music. Pictures of outstanding artists holding the coveted gilded gramophone only serve to make it look more glamorous, especially to an African audience that has been brought up watching and listening to American movies and music. Africans have won Grammies, but most times in the ambiguous sounding World Music category. There have been attempts to create music awards that cater to Africans such as the now defunct KORA wards and All African Music Awards which was recently dogged with controversy. MTV Africa awards on the other hand, always felt like a marketing tool to garner more footing in Africa.
So here is why African artists deserve a well established, well organised and respected music award ceremony.
International awards will always cater to their own
The Grammy Awards, Billboard Awards, BET awards are all American awards that due to their platforms offer some form of recognition to African artists but do they really? The Grammies are peer reviewed by members of the Grammy Academy, how many of these peers are actually African? Or completely well versed in the dynamic African music scene. The South African Music Awards, for instance though only catering to South Africa, awards the diverse music styles found in SA such as gqom, amapiano, rock, afro house, hip hop and so on. And this is true of every African country, you cannot define us by one sound.
African music is so much bigger than one category
The past African winners have always won in the World Music category. You have artists like the iconic Angelique Kidjo winning multiple times but no mention of other artists whose music has been dominating popular music across the continent. African music is vast and varied and one category cannot even begin to showcase its originality. World music has been defined as: “traditional music from the developing world, sometimes incorporating elements of Western popular music.” A definition that does not even begin to encompass African music and of course has to point out Western influence as if that is a defining feature.
Always borrowed from but never rewarded
From Michael Jackson’s sampling of Hugh Masekela’s Makossa to the use of Afrobeat to create Beyonce’s Lion King album, Africa has always been the place that artists the world over come for inspiration. Furthermore, Africans are now listening to more of their own music than ever before and streaming services have taken notice. It is time, Africans themselves recognised and awarded artists whose music is having a major influence not only at home but also on the global stage.
Africans deserve well planned award shows
The All African Music Awards are a step in the right direction but alleged mishandling of artists has resulted in a blow to their credibility. African artists deserve the same respect and treatment we give to visiting international artists. Blaming artists for raising complaints on the way their treated is not a good look, the AAMA should have used the feedback as a teachable moment and worked to do better. Perhaps, african countries should all work to create their version of the SAMAs and the winners then get submitted to a continental award show awarding the best of the best.
Pan Africanism through music
Apart from food and football, music is one of the main things that Africans bond over. And thanks to the internet, more Africans are exposed to music from other African countries more than ever. African music is a connecting force, and a pan African Award ceremony is just icing on the top.