Nigerian music stars Burna Boy and Wizkid have walked off with Grammys after the annual awards show took on a hybrid setting hosted by South Africa’s Trevor Noah from Los Angeles last night, as each won their first-ever Grammy Awards.
Burna Boy’s “Twice as Tall” album bagged the much-coveted Grammy award in the ‘Best Global Album’ category for his ‘TWICE AS TALL’ album while his Afro pop compatriot Wizkid won the Best Music Video for his collaboration with Beyoncé on the song Brown Skin Girl, from Lion King: The Gift album.
He was nominated alongside Tuareg Desert Rock group Tinariwen, NYC afrobeat outfit Antibalas, Brazilian-American Bebel Gilberto, and British-Indian sitar player Anoushka Shankar.
This was the second nomination for the 29-year-old Burna Boy, nominated in the same category last year but falling short to Angelique Kidjo who dedicated her win to him.
His previous album, ‘African Giant’ was nominated at the 62nd Grammy Awards for ‘Best World Music Album’, the award went to Beninoise singer, Angélique Kidjo, who dedicated the award to Burna Boy and said he was leading the pack of young Africans who will shake up the global music space.
Burna Boy performed a medley of his songs starting with the chorus of “20:10: 20” to “Level Up’ to ‘Onyeka’ and ‘Ye’, complemented by his band ‘The Outsiders.’ His performance was one of the high points of the Grammy Premiere Ceremony.
‘‘This a big win for my generation of Africans all over the world and this should be a lesson to every African out there, no matter where you are, no matter what you plan to do, you can achieve it because you are king,’’ Burna Boy, 29, said in his acceptance speech.
Burna Boy’s Grammy award-winning album was executive produced by his mum cum manager, Bosede Ogulu, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. It also featured guest appearances from Naughty by Nature, the Kenyan band Sauti Sol, Senegal’s musical titan, Youssou N’Dour, and Chris Martin of Coldplay.
The Grammy nomination inscription described his “Twice as Tall” album as “a masterclass in the vibe and hustle that have made Burna Boy an international musical force”.
Wizkid, on the other hand, won a Grammy for the Best Music Video’ for his role in ‘Brown Skin Girl’, Beyonce’s 2019 hit song. The Best Music Video award is given to the artist, video director, and video producer.
Wizkid’s Best Music Video win was described as “a feast for the fashion-forward and a celebration of Black and brown female beauty everywhere”.
This year’s edition of the Grammys was earlier scheduled for January but postponed amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles.
American rapper Nas finally won his first Grammy award as well as Meghan Thee Stallion, who won the Best New Artist award.
See the full list of winners below:
BEST GLOBAL MUSIC ALBUM: Twice As Tall — Burna Boy – WINNER
BEST MUSIC VIDEO: “Brown Skin Girl,” Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Wizkid — Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & Jenn Nkiru, Video Directors; Lauren Baker, Astrid Edwards, Nathan Scherrer & Erinn Williams, Video Producers – WINNER
BEST NEW ARTIST: Megan Thee Stallion – WINNER
BEST PROGRESSIVE R&B ALBUM: It Is What It Is — Thundercat – WINNER
BEST R&B ALBUM: Bigger Love — John Legend – WINNER
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE: “Rain On Me” — Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – WINNER
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM: American Standard — James Taylor – WINNER
BEST RAP/SUNG PERFORMANCE: “Savage” — Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé – WINNER
BEST R&B SONG: “Better Than I Imagine” — Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson, Songwriters (Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello) – WINNER
BEST DANCE RECORDING: 10%: Kaytranada Featuring Kali Uchis — Kaytranada, producer; Neal H. Pogue, mixer – WINNER
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM: Bubba — Kaytranada – WINNER
BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM: Live At The Royal Albert Hall — Snarky Puppy – WINNER
BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION: Sputnik — Maria Schneider, Composer (Maria Schneider) – WINNER
BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTAL OR A CAPPELLA: Donna Lee — John Beasley, Arranger (John Beasley) – WINNER
BEST MUSIC FILM: “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice” — Linda Ronstadt – WINNER
BEST NEW AGE ALBUM: More Guitar Stories — Jim “Kimo” West – WINNER
BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG: “Movin’ On” — Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music; Darryl L. Howell, Jonathan Caleb Mcreynolds, Kortney Jamaal Pollard & Terrell Demetrius Wilson, Songwriters – WINNER
GOSPEL ALBUM: Gospel According To Pj — Pj Morton – WINNER
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM: Jesus Is King — Kanye West – WINNER
BEST ROOTS GOSPEL ALBUM: Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album) — Fisk Jubilee Singers – WINNER
BEST RECORDING PACKAGING: Vols. 11 & 12 — Doug Cunningham & Jason Noto, Art Directors (Desert Sessions) – WINNER
BEST BOXED OR SPECIAL LIMITED-EDITION PACKAGE: Ode To Joy — Lawrence Azerrad & Jeff Tweedy, Art Directors (Wilco) – WINNER
BEST ALBUM NOTES: Dead Man’s Pop — Bob Mehr, Album Notes Writer (The Replacements) – WINNER
BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM: It’s Such A Good Feeling: The Best Of Mister Rogers — Lee Lodyga & Cheryl Pawelski, Compilation Producers; Michael Graves, Mastering Engineer (Mister Rogers) – WINNER
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL: Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer (Beck) – WINNER
BEST REMIXED RECORDING: Roses (IMANBEK Remix) — Imanbek Zeikenov, Remixer (SAINt Jhn) – WINNER
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL: Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13, ‘Babi Yar’ – WINNER
BEST PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL: David Frost
BEST LATIN ROCK OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM: La Conquista Del Espacio — Fito Paez – WINNER
BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC ALBUM: Un Canto Por México, Vol. 1 — Natalia Lafourcade – WINNER
BEST TROPICAL LATIN ALBUM: 40 — Grupo Niche – WINNER
BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE: Ives: Complete Symphonies — Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic) – WINNER
BEST OPERA RECORDING: Gershwin: Porgy And Bess — David Robertson, Conductor; Angel Blue & Eric Owens; David Frost, Producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus) – WINNER
BEST CHORAL PERFORMANCE: Danielpour: The Passion Of Yeshua — Joann Falletta, Conductor; James K. Bass & Adam Luebke, Chorus Masters (James K. Bass, J’nai Bridges, Timothy Fallon, Kenneth Overton, Hila Plitmann & Matthew Worth; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus & Ucla Chamber Singers) – WINNER
BEST CHAMBER MUSIC/SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: Contemporary Voices — Pacifica Quartet – WINNER
BEST CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL SOLO: Theofanidis: Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra — Richard O’neill; David Alan Miller, Conductor (Albany Symphony) – WINNER
BEST CLASSICAL COMPENDIUM: Thomas, M.T.: From The Diary Of Anne Frank & Meditations On Rilke — Isabel Leonard; Michael Tilson Thomas, Conductor; Jack Vad, Producer – WINNER
BEST CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSITION: Rouse: Symphony No. 5 — Christopher Rouse, Composer (Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony) – WINNER
BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR A VISUAL MEDIA: “Jojo Rabbit” (Various Artists) – WINNER
BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK FOR A VISUAL MEDIA: “Joker” — Hildur Guðnadóttir, Composer – WINNER
BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA: “No Time To Die” [From “No Time To Die”] — Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas Baird O’Connell, Songwriters (Billie Eilish) – WINNER
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM: Bubba — Kaytranada – WINNER
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE: “Round Again” — John Prine – WINNER
BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC ALBUM: Un Canto Por México, Vol. 1 — Natalia Lafourcade – WINNER
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG: I Remember Everything — Pat Mclaughlin & John Prine, Songwriters (John Prine) – WINNER
BEST AMERICANA ALBUM: World On The Ground — Sarah Jarosz – WINNER
BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM: Home — Billy Strings – WINNER
BEST LATIN ROCK OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM: La Conquista Del Espacio — Fito Paez – WINNER
BEST TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM: Rawer Than Raw — Bobby Rush – WINNER
BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? — Fantastic Negrito – WINNER
BEST FOLK ALBUM: All the Good Times — Gillian Welch & David Rawling – WINNER
BEST REGIONAL ROOTS MUSIC ALBUM: Atmosphere New Orleans — Nightcrawlers – WINNER
BEST REGGAE ALBUM: Got To Be Tough — Toots & The Maytals – WINNER
BEST CHILDREN’S MUSIC ALBUM: All The Ladies — Joanie Leeds – WINNER
BEST SPOKEN WORD ALBUM: Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, And The Richest, Most Destructive Industry On Earth — Rachel Maddow – WINNER
BEST COMEDY ALBUM: Black Mitzvah — Tiffany Haddish – WINNER
BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM: Jagged Little Pill — Kathryn Gallagher, Celia Rose Gooding, Lauren Patten & Elizabeth Stanley, Principal Soloists; Neal Avron, Pete Ganbarg, Tom Kitt, Michael Parker, Craig Rosen & Vivek J. Tiwary, Producers (Glen Ballard & Alanis Morissette, Lyricists) (Original Broadway Cast) – WINNER
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM: Fetch The Bolt Cutters — Fiona Apple – WINNER
BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO: All Blues — Chick Corea, Soloist Track From: Trilogy 2 (Chick Corea, Christian Mcbride & Brian Blade) – WINNER
VOCAL ALBUM: Secrets Are The Best Stories — Kurt Elling Featuring Danilo Pérez – WINNER
BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM: Trilogy 2 — Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade – WINNER
BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM: Data Lords — Maria Schneider Orchestra – WINNER
BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM: Four Questions — Arturo O’farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra – WINNER
TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE: “Anything For You” — Ledisi – WINNER
