The first Grammy Awards, honoring musical excellence, took place in 1959. Seven years later, Africa had its first winner, when South African Miriam Makeba (right) won Best Folk Record for her collaboration with Harry Belafonte (left).
The first Grammy Awards, honoring musical excellence, took place in 1959. Seven years later, Africa had its first winner, when South African Miriam Makeba (right) won Best Folk Record for her collaboration with Harry Belafonte (left).
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It would be another 20 years before the continent could celebrate again. Sade, a Nigerian British singer (pictured here during a performance at the 1989 American Music Awards), took home the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1986.
It would be another 20 years before the continent could celebrate again. Sade, a Nigerian British singer (pictured here during a performance at the 1989 American Music Awards), took home the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1986.
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Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a male choir from South Africa, won Best Traditional Folk Recording in 1988. The group would go on to win another four Grammys, with 17 total nominations. Pictured: a performance in Rotterdam, Netherlands, July 1987.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a male choir from South Africa, won Best Traditional Folk Recording in 1988. The group would go on to win another four Grammys, with 17 total nominations. Pictured: a performance in Rotterdam, Netherlands, July 1987.
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Mali's Ali Farka Touré, pictured here during a 1994 performance in Amsterdam, won Best World Music Album at the 37th Grammy Awards in 1994. He would take home two more golden gramophones over the years, with five total nominations.
Mali's Ali Farka Touré, pictured here during a 1994 performance in Amsterdam, won Best World Music Album at the 37th Grammy Awards in 1994. He would take home two more golden gramophones over the years, with five total nominations.
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A decade after Touré's win, Cesária évora from the island nation of Cape Verde (pictured here on the beaches of S?o Vicente) took home the award for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2004.
A decade after Touré's win, Cesária évora from the island nation of Cape Verde (pictured here on the beaches of S?o Vicente) took home the award for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2004.
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Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour would take home the same award a year later at the 47th Grammy Awards in 2005. Pictured: N'Dour during an interview in July 2010.
Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour would take home the same award a year later at the 47th Grammy Awards in 2005. Pictured: N'Dour during an interview in July 2010.
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Moroccan-born RedOne is the producer behind some of Lady Gaga's biggest hits, including "Poker Face" -- which earned him the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2010.
Moroccan-born RedOne is the producer behind some of Lady Gaga's biggest hits, including "Poker Face" -- which earned him the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2010.
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In 2012, at the 54th Grammys, the band known as Tinariwen won the award for World Music Album. Pictured here posing for a photo before a 2014 concert in Berlin, Germany, the group of <a target="_blank" target="_blank">Tuareg</a> (a traditionally nomadic people in the Sahara) musicians is comprised of members hailing from Mali, Algeria and Libya.
In 2012, at the 54th Grammys, the band known as Tinariwen won the award for World Music Album. Pictured here posing for a photo before a 2014 concert in Berlin, Germany, the group of Tuareg (a traditionally nomadic people in the Sahara) musicians is comprised of members hailing from Mali, Algeria and Libya.
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South African flautist Wouter Kellerman is a two-time Grammy winner, with his first award coming in 2015 for Best New Age Album (pictured). He picked up his second last year in the Best Global Music Performance category.
South African flautist Wouter Kellerman is a two-time Grammy winner, with his first award coming in 2015 for Best New Age Album (pictured). He picked up his second last year in the Best Global Music Performance category.
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Born in Benin, the legendary Angélique Kidjo has five Grammy wins (the first coming in 2008) and 14 nominations to her name. In 2023, she was also awarded the prestigious <a href="https://www.electriciancje.com/2023/03/28/africa/angelique-kidjo-polar-music-prize-spc-intl/index.html" target="_blank">Polar Music Prize</a>, becoming only the third African artist to win that honor. Pictured: Kidjo posing with her Grammy for Best World Music Album at the 2015 awards in Los Angeles.
Born in Benin, the legendary Angélique Kidjo has five Grammy wins (the first coming in 2008) and 14 nominations to her name. In 2023, she was also awarded the prestigious Polar Music Prize, becoming only the third African artist to win that honor. Pictured: Kidjo posing with her Grammy for Best World Music Album at the 2015 awards in Los Angeles.
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Nigerian Afrobeats star <a href="https://www.electriciancje.com/2023/09/06/africa/burna-boy-i-told-them-uk-album-chart-number-one-history-spc/index.html" target="_blank">Burna Boy</a>, pictured here during a performance at Wembley in London, November 2019, has one win and 10 nominations so far -- including four nominations for 2024 alone.
Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy, pictured here during a performance at Wembley in London, November 2019, has one win and 10 nominations so far -- including four nominations for 2024 alone.
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Fellow Nigerian Afrobeats star WizKid has a Grammy win in the Best Music Video category, for his collaboration on the track "Brown Skin Girl" with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy at the 63rd Grammys in 2021. Pictured: WizKid performs during a show at The Wiltern in LA, September 2021.
Fellow Nigerian Afrobeats star WizKid has a Grammy win in the Best Music Video category, for his collaboration on the track "Brown Skin Girl" with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy at the 63rd Grammys in 2021. Pictured: WizKid performs during a show at The Wiltern in LA, September 2021.
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The South African DJ and producer known as Black Coffee took home the Best Dance/Electronic Album award in 2022.
The South African DJ and producer known as Black Coffee took home the Best Dance/Electronic Album award in 2022.
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Nigeria's Tems has one win and five nominations -- including a 2024 nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media, for her work on the song "Lift Me Up," from the film "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." That same track earned her an Oscar nomination (pictured here on the red carpet at the 2023 awards).
Nigeria's Tems has one win and five nominations -- including a 2024 nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media, for her work on the song "Lift Me Up," from the film "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." That same track earned her an Oscar nomination (pictured here on the red carpet at the 2023 awards).
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