Celebrity model, Naomi Elaine Campbell, popularly known as Naomi Campbell has asserted that Burna Boy deserved the Grammy award which he lost to Angelique Kidjo.
She believes the academy knows little about the genre and the winner was not arrived at ‘fairly’ adding that “This misrepresentation diminishes an entire genre in which such a high standard of talent has emerged; a genre that has been a force of hope and positivity for many, and a vehicle for artistry on the continent of Africa”.
According to the model who is also an actress, Burna Boy is always a winner although he did not win the award he ‘truly deserved’.
She took to Instagram to write a long letter to the Grammys.
In the letter, she sent congratulatory messages to both Burna Boy and Angelique Kidjo and proceeded to talk about Afrobeats as a music genre.
She questioned if the world got the chance to vote for the album in the category it was nominated in, among other questions.
She then asked that they take another look at the category, update themselves on popular music and create subcategories for the Afrobeats genre.
She concluded by saying, “This is bigger than you, so open your eyes, ears and minds and treat us right and with the respect we deserve”
Congrats Best World Music Album winner – 'Celia' @angeliquekidjo
WATCH: https://t.co/iPjts7zMCt #GRAMMYPremiere #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/RaVI2IjaBm
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) January 26, 2020
Read the letter below:
“First, I want to say deepest congratulations to @angeliquekidjo for her award on Sunday, and thank you to you for spreading light and opening minds through your music… •
And to our AFRICAN GIANT, @burnaboygram… it is only due to lack of education that you have not been honored with the accolades you so truly deserve. You are always a winner in our hearts. ALWAYS. •
And to The @RecordingAcademy,
There is something that brings joy, strength and happiness to myself, and to so many people that hear it, and it is called Afrobeats. Afrobeats is a musical genre played on mainstream and primetime radio not only across the continent of Africa, but across the world… •
Recently, the genre was categorized into your ‘World Music’ category at the 2020 Grammys. This misrepresentation diminishes an entire genre in which such a high standard of talent has emerged; a genre that has been a force of hope and positivity for many, and a vehicle for artistry on the continent of Africa. •
Please take the next 363 days to reassess and reflect on your perspective of ‘World Music.’ Did the world get to vote for this award, or was it only the people in the United States a part of The Recording Academy? What will this neglectful categorization of music mean to individual cultures? Cultures who contribute their blood, sweat and tears, and every level of their creativity and work ethic into making music for YOU and for all of us. •
Please get up to speed on the state of all popular music today, and include Afrobeats Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and all the subcategories that this genre so deserves – just as any other respected and recognized musical genre. •
This is bigger than you, so open your eyes, ears and minds and treat us right and with the respect we deserve. ❤️💛💚❤️💛💚 #ForTheCulture #NAOMIAFRICA #grammys”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B735AWPncn2/
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By: Hajia Lamy Gates |ghanaweekend.com
