Nigerian Afro-fusion singer, Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, has lost the Best World Music Album trophy to Beninese ace singer, Angélique Kidjo, at the 62nd Grammy Award.
The ceremony held on Sunday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, U.S.
Burna Boy was nominated for the category for his ‘African Giant’ album alongside Altin Gun (Gece), Bokante and Metropole Orkest Conducted by Jules Buckley (What Heat), Nathalie Joachim With Spektral Quartet (Fanm D’ayiti) and Angelique Kidjo (Celia).
Kidjo, now with her fourth Grammy win overall in the category, is a 59-year-old singer-songwriter, actress and activist noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos.
She is known for her hit songs “Agolo”, “We We”, “Adouma”, “Wombo Lombo”, “Afirika”, “Batonga” and “Celia”, which clinched the fourth Grammy for her and was named “Africa’s premier diva” by Time magazine in 2007.
During her acceptance speech, Kidjo dedicated the award to Burna Boy and celebrated a new generation of African artists coming up to represent the continent.
“This is for Burna Boy,” she said, lifting up her award to cheers, and declaring the “African Giant” as part of the new generation of African musicians that are changing global perception of Africa and its music.
“Four years ago on this stage, I was telling you that the new generations of artists coming from Africa gonna take you by storm and the time has come,” Kidjo said.
A win for Burna Boy would have made it the second time a Nigerian would be returning home with the Grammy plaque, as Sikiru Adepoju is the only Nigerian to have won a Grammy.
Adepoju won it in 2009 with the “Global Drum Project” a collaborative album with Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain and Giovanni Hidalgo.
Burna Boy won Best International Act at the 2019 BET Awards, and was also the Apple Music’s Up Next artist.
Billie Eilish 18-year-old American singer and songwriter, swept the top awards of the 2020 Grammy, winning Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. (NAN)
