Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday 3 April 2022, the 64th annual Grammy Awards were announced in two part ceremonies, televised and untelevised. South African comedian Trevor Noah was the host of this year’s ceremony. With only nine awards given out over the duration of the three and a half hour television broadcast, Noah advised, “Don’t even think of it as an awards show, this is a concert where they’re giving out awards.”
Two Africans took home a Gramophone each, with Benin’s Angélique Kidjo picking up the Best Global Music Album Award, while the South African veteran, DJ Black Coffee (real name Nkosinathi Maphumulo), won Best Dance/Electronic Music Album, for his album Subconsciously, staving off competition from the likes of Major Lazer and Marshmello for the coveted award.
The Beninois music icon Angélique Kidjo’s album Mother Nature won Best Global Music Album against heavy competition from fellow Africans such as Nigerian Wizkid’s Made In Lagos (Deluxe), Nigeria’s Femi & Made Kuti’s Legacy + and Ghananian Rocky Dawuni’s Voice Of Bunbon, Vol. 1. The other nominee in the category was Hawaiian musician Daniel Ho for his album East West Players Presents: Daniel Ho & Friends Live in Concert.
It’s worth noting that this year’s Grammys were the Grammys where Africa went in with a historic nine direct nominations, its most group of nominees since the inception of the awards held on May 4, 1959. Another category where Africans were nominated in was the Best Global Music Performance – where Angelique Kidjo and Burna Boy (“Do Yourself”), Wizkid and Tems (“Essence”) and Femi Kuti (“Pà Pá Pà”) were nominated—eventually went to Pakistani musician Arooj Aftab. Along with the aforementioned African nominees, accomplished South African flautist and composer Wouter Kellerman was nominated in the Best New Age Album for his album Pangaea.
Despite these victories, there are some people who feel that Nigerian Wizkid was snubbed, as his critically acclaimed Made in Lagos album didn’t win the one award it was nominated for, as well as his chart-topping single “Essence” alongside Nigerian singer Tems, also didn’t win the one award it was nominated for.
View the complete list of winners for the 64th annual Grammy Awards here.
