The true African spirit was revived at the just ended 62nd Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Sunday’s award ceremony saw Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo took audience into a state where ‘Afrika’ rose to prominence with an electrifying performance that saw the people sing to the riddim of “Afirika”.
To the delight of all gathered at music’s biggest night in the United State of America, Kidjo who is not new to the Grammys bagged her fourth win making her the only African artist to win this much awards at the Grammys.
While Nigeria’s Burna Boy was tipped for breaking barriers for many Africans, he was also the people’s favourite for the 62nd Grammys as many wished to see emerged top on the list.
But for originality’s sake, Burna Boy couldn’t join the likes of Lizzo, Lil Nas X and Billie Eilish for the victory lap allowing 3-times-champion Kidjo to win easily.
READ: Angelique Kidjo’s 8th, Burna Boy nominated for 2020 Grammy Awards
Meanwhile, Angélique Kidjo dedicated her Grammy award to the Nigerian singer Burna Boy.
‘‘You know that all music comes from Africa right? We are all Africans right? I want to celebrate our shared humanity by singing with you and teaching you the song you are about to sing”. That was Angélique Kidjo’s opening to get all gathered on their feet to the tune of African music.
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WATCH NOW: @angeliquekidjo has our audience singing to "Afirika" https://t.co/iPjts7zMCt #GRAMMYPremiere #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/HAmOaWLD5U
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) January 26, 2020
Kidjo as one of the biggest winners of the night went home with the Best Music Album for her ‘‘Celia”.
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“Four years ago on this stage, I was telling you that the new generations of artists coming from Africa gonna take you by storm and the time has come,” Kidjo said. “Celia Cruz, for me she’s the goddess of salsa. She’s the queen of salsa. She is one of those artists that taught me at a young age that my gender cannot define who I am, that I can do everything I wanted to do”, she said while accepting the award.”
READ: Nigeria only loves me now because the world does” – Burna Boy
Angélique Kidjo beat fellow nominees Altin Gün (Gece), Bokanté & Metropole Orkest Conducted By Jules Buckley (What Heat), Burna Boy (African Giant) and Nathalie Joachim With Spektral Quartet (Fanm D’Ayiti).
Un Grammy de plus pour @angeliquekidjo "meilleur album de musique du monde" pour son album Celia. L'artiste dédie sa victoire au chanteur et compositeur nigérian @burnaboy et à "ces jeunes artistes venus d'Afrique qui changent la façon dont notre continent est perçu" 📷Getty pic.twitter.com/XIxWviX6YG
— BBC News Afrique (@bbcafrique) January 27, 2020
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