Many Nigerians believed the country had a golden opportunity in Burma boy at this year’s Grammy but the hope has been dashed.
He has lost to Angelique Kidjo in the World Best Music Album category.
Burna Boy had a robustly successful season in 2019, winning major crests at local an international awards that include AFRIMA and BET.
His music has also continue to spread across the world.
This brightened the hope of all and sundry, thinking he would win where Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti and King Sunny Ade, who had earlier been nominated for Grammy could not.
The Grammy Award for Best World Music Album is an honour presented to recording artists for quality albums in the world music genre.
Angelique Kidjo beat Burna Boy, Altin Gün, Bokanté & Metropole Orkest Conducted By Jules Buckley, Nathalie Joachim & Spektral Quartet to win the award.
This is her fourth Grammy win in nine nominations, first of those nominations came in 1995. Her first win came in 2007 in the Best Contemporary World Music category.
She also picked a Grammy each in the Best World Music Album category in 2014 and 2015 for the albums Wins and Sings respectively.
Apart from winning, Kidjo also performed during the pre-telecast segment of the ceremony on Sunday evening.
Kidjo is noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. She is fluent in five languages: Fon, French, Yorùbá, Gen (Mina), and English.
African Giant is Burna Boy’s fourth studio album. It was released on July 26, 2019, features Kidjo on the song “Different”.
The album also has guest appearances from Zlatan, Jorja Smith, Jeremih, Serani, M.anifest, Damian Marley, Future and YG.
African Giant was ranked at number 63 on Vice’s list of the 100 Best Albums of the 2010s.
