Nigeria’s massive musical talent, Burna Boy, whose Grammy nomination in the World Best Music Album category buzzed the nation, was pipped to this category’s award by Beninese singer-songwriter, Angelique Kidjo at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony held at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles.
Kidjo beat Burna Boy, Altin Gün, Bokanté & Metropole Orkest Conducted By Jules Buckley, Nathalie Joachim & Spektral Quartet to win the award.
While several high profile Nigerian artistes like Wizkid, D’banj, Davido among others were in high expectations and sent their best wishes via their social media handles, to Burna, all week, it appears the mercurial artist will have to give it another try with creative energy.
Burna Boy’s “African Giant” album, his fourth studio album which won him the nomination, was released on July 26, 2019, and incidentally features Kidjo on the song “Different”.
The album also has guest appearances from Zlatan, Jorja Smith, Jeremih, Serani, M.anifest, Damian Marley, Future and YG. African Giant was ranked at number 63 on Vice’s list of the 100 Best Albums of the 2010s.
This is Kidjo’s fourth Grammy win in nine nominations, the first of those nominations coming in 1995. Her first win however came in 2007 in the Best Contemporary World Music category. She also picked a Grammy each in the Best World Music Album category in 2014 and 2015 for the albums Eve and Sings respectively.
The Grammy Award for Best World Music Album is always presented to recording artists for quality albums in the world music genre.
