The Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammy Awards, has announced plans to establish an African version of the prestigious award scheme.
This initiative aims to support music creators on a global scale and collaborate with stakeholders in music regions experiencing rapid growth, similar to what was done for the Latin Grammys in 1997.
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, expressed enthusiasm for this development, emphasizing the importance of providing support, resources, and opportunities to music creators worldwide.
Over the past two years, the Academy’s leaders have engaged with governments, ministries of culture, and music creators in Africa and the Middle East to gather insights and understand the needs of these emerging music markets.
The Academy has formed partnerships with Ministries of Culture in Kenya, Nigeria, and other countries in Africa and the Middle East, as well as signing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
Through these collaborations, the Academy aims to champion music creators, provide educational programs tailored to their needs, produce content that celebrates African and Middle Eastern musical heritage, and advocate for strong intellectual property legislation.
These efforts are part of the Academy’s mission to support music creators globally.
Panos A. Panay, President of the Recording Academy, highlighted the organization’s commitment to fostering a truly global music community where creators from all corners of the world have the resources to thrive.
This expansion into Africa and the Middle East follows the Academy’s 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards and previous initiatives to promote peace through music.
In response to this news, Dentaa Amoateng, a Ghanaian creative entrepreneur based in the UK, expressed excitement about the establishment of Grammy Africa.
She commended the efforts of the Recording Academy in recognizing and incorporating African music into its operations.
Additionally, the Academy will introduce a new category for African music at the 2024 Grammy Awards, highlighting genres such as Ghanaian drill and highlife.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in the global expansion of the Recording Academy and demonstrates its ongoing commitment to supporting music creators worldwide.
Through partnerships, educational programs, and advocacy efforts, the Academy aims to strengthen the creative economy in Africa and the Middle East and provide creators with the support they need to succeed.
