November 24, 2020, Nigerian superstar, Burna Boy got his second Grammy nomination in the Best Global Music category. This award comes from his latest album, ‘Twice As Tall.’
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, rapper and dancer. He is one of the biggest and most successful African artists.
Recall also in 2020, Burna Boy‘s album African Giant lost the category to Anqelique Kidjo‘s reimagination of Celia Cruz‘s music on the eponymous, Celia. Some of those moments inspired Burna Boy’s Twice As Tall. Burna Boy sang about some of that on the opening track to ‘Twice As Tall.’
Burna Boy will compete against Antibalas for Fu Chronicles, Bebel Gilberto for Agora, Anousha Shankar for Love Letters and Tinariwen for Amadjar, in the category of formerly known as In the category formerly known as ‘Best World Music Album’ would become ‘Best Global Music Album.
Here is all you need to know about them;
Antibalas is an experimental Afrobeat collective from New York. They perform the raw brand of Fela-inspired Afrobeats, complete with the Jazz synchronization and the raw timber of Highlife.
Nominated For: Fu Chronicles
Length: 6 Tracks, 48 Minutes
Genre: Afrobeat
Previous Nomination: 0
Fu Chronicles’ ratings: 8.7/10
Is ‘Fu Chronicle’ worth a listen? Absolutely
Bebel Gilberto is the 55-year-old daughter of Bossa Nova legend, Joan Gilberto and she is Brazilian-American. Agora is her fourth Grammy nomination without a win and her first album in six years.
Nominated For: Agora
Length: 11 songs, 39 minutes
Genre: New-age Jazz, R&B
Previous Nomination: 3
‘Agora’ ratings: 8.0/10
Is ‘Agora’ worth a listen? Yes, but it’s not for everybody.
Anoushka Shankar is the daughter of Ravi Shankar and sister of Norah Jones, both Grammy winners looks like the favourite for this year.
Love Letters is Indian vocalist, Shilpa Rao, Cuban Twin sensation, Ibeyi, Alev Lenz and Ayanna.
Shankar is known for playing the Sitar.
Nominated For: Love Letters
Length: 6 Tracks
Genre: Alternative
Previous Nomination: 6
Love Letters’ ratings: 8.2/10
Is ‘Love Letters’ worth a listen? Absolutely
Tinariwen is a Tuareg group from Mali; they were formed in 1979. In 2011, they won in this category with their album, Tassili.
Nominated For: Amadjar
Length: 13 songs, 54 minutes
Genre: Alternative
Previous Nomination: 3, 1 win
Amadjar’ ratings: 9.0/10
Is ‘Amadjar’ worth a listen? Absolutely, but language might be a barrier.
Who is likely to win?
Nobody knows. However, Burna Boy’s chances of winning are without question higher than last year’s.
One thing that Burna Boy has in his favour is the weight of American capitalism, which seems focused on African music and African pop culture themes.
Considering the people he’s up against, his win would be hugely surprising.
