International Afro-Pop Stars, Wizkid & Burna Boy have both won awards at the 2021 Grammys.
Burna Boy won the Best Global Music Album category while Wizkid won the Best Music Video for his song with Beyoncé; Brown Skin Girl, from Lion King: The Gift album.
Ayodeji Balogun wins the award alongside Beyonce. The song also featured artists, Saint Jhn and Blue Ivy. The award will also go to Jenn Nkiru who directed the video.
The Best Music Video award is given to the artist, video director and video producer.
Burna Boy, real name Damini Ogulu, a nominee for a second consecutive year, won with his “Twice As Tall Album.”
A powerful #GRAMMYs acceptance speech from @burnaboy, who just won a GRAMMY for Best Global Music Album.
Full winners list: https://t.co/JGlsnHnruB pic.twitter.com/PGfZxlIVfq
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) March 14, 2021
The 63rd Grammy Awards is being held in Los Angeles. Traditionally billed as “music’s biggest night“, this year’s ceremony is different because of the coronavirus pandemic.
There is no audience, and performers have been separated onto five stages, arranged in a circle inside the Los Angeles Convention Center to maintain social distancing.
Burna Boy beat strong contenders like; Antibalas, Bebel Gilberto, Anoushka Shankar, and Tianariwen to the top spot.
The Grammys nomination described “Twice As Tall” as:
“a masterclass in the vibe and hustle that have made Burna Boy an international musical force“.
“[He] continues to torch limitations, seamlessly blending styles and genres and fearlessly fuelling the fire heating the melting pot of pop, Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae and more,”
it said.
The album features a wide range of international artists such as Stormzy, Youssou Ndour, Naughty By Nature, and Chris Martin of Coldplay, and had Sean Combs as executive producer.
“Twice As Tall” was produced by Telz, P2J, Timbaland, Leriq, Rexxie, Skread, Andre Harris, Jae5, Mike Dean, and many more.
Wizkid, on the other hand, won a Grammy for the Best Music Video’ for his role in ‘Brown Skin Girl’, Beyonce’s 2019 hit song.
The video which saw Wizkid win was described as:
“a feast for the fashion-forward and a celebration of Black and brown female beauty everywhere“.
Congrats Best Music Video winner – ‘BROWN SKIN GIRL’ @Beyonce #BlueIvy @wizkidayo ✨ #GRAMMYs
WATCH NOW ⬇️––#GRAMMYPremiere https://t.co/b1dROc2jH3
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) March 14, 2021
As of the time of this win, the video has over 31 million views on YouTube.
Relive It Again Below!
Congratulations to both artistes 🤩 – Burna Boy & Wizkid as this new height will further push afrobeat across the World!