Nigeria: Tems Wins Best African Musical Performance Grammy

Tems (file photo).

Tems was the one African to shine at the Grammy Awards last night. She won Best African Music Performance for her hit track "Love Me JeJe." To do that, she had to beat Afrobeats heavyweights Davido, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, and Asake--all Nigerians, by the way.

The genre diversity of today's African music--let alone "Global" music, another Grammy category--make a category like Best African Music Performance inherently problematic. When it comes to international sounds, it's very hard for the Grammy Awards to get things right. Essentially, it's about money and markets. This category reflects the commercial success of Afrobeats, and to a degree, Amapiano. That said, it probably would have been more accurate to call the award Best Afrobeats Performance. Still problematic, but better.

In any case, kudos to Tems, the giant-slayer!

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.