Grammy Awards 2025: Who should count as African?

The dedicated award for African music is proving contentious with the inclusion of Chris Brown.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersWho should count as African at the Grammy Awards?13 hours agoMarco OriuntoBBC NewsGetty ImagesUS musician Chris Brown, along with Nigerian artists, are up for Best African Music Performance this yearThe Grammy Awards has a dedicated space for African music, but just a year after the category's introduction it is already proving contentious.

The Best African Music Performance made its debut with South Africa's Tyla winning for her hit song Water, a blend of South African amapiano and Afropop.

It was a move welcomed across the industry, especially by African artists.

But the nominations for this year's award have raised eyebrows, especially with the inclusion of US R&B star Chris Brown.

The 35-year-old has been nominated for his chart-topping single Sensational, which incorporates Afrobeats elements and features guest vocals from Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gxe7xxjd0o

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