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10 Africans Who’ve Been Nominated For Grammy Awards

10 Africans Who’ve Been Nominated For Grammy Awards

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The Grammy Awards board tends to love music with an international flair. African musicians have been nominated several times. Here are 10 Africans who’ve been nominated for Grammy awards — accolades by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the U.S. to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry.

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

 

Yousou N’Dour (2005)

Senegalese singer-songwriter and — according to Rolling Stone magazine — one of the most famous singers in Senegal, N’Dour won a Grammy in 2005 for Best Contemporary World Music Album for his album, “Egypt.”

Source: Worldmusic.about.com

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

Angélique Kidjo (2008, 2011)

Kidjo is a Beninoise singer-songwriter with popular music videos. Kidjo was named “Africa’s premier diva” by Time Magazine and in 2008 she won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music album. Three years after her Grammy win, Kidjo was once again nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music album, but she did not win.

Source: Kidjo.com 

wikimedia.org
wikimedia.org

Akon (2007, 2008)

Senegalese hip hop artist Akon was nominated for his first Grammy in 2007 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Smack That” with Eminem. Akon was nominated for four Grammys in 2008: one for best R&B vocal performance by a duo or group for “Bartender” with T-Pain, one for best pop collaboration with vocals for “The Sweet Escape” with Gwen Stefani, one for best contemporary R&B album for “Konvicted” and one for best rap/sung collaboration for “I Wanna F*ck You” with Snoop Dogg.

Source: Republicrecords.com

flickr.com
flickr.com

Salif Keita (2007)

This Malian singer is considered the creator of Afropop and was nominated for best contemporary world music album in 2007 for his album, “M’Bemba.”

Source: Wrasserecords.com

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

Oumou Sangaré (2011)

Sangaré is a Malian singer known as “The Songbird of Wassoulou” because her music is resonant of that from the historic area Wassoulou beneath the Niger River. In 2011 the singer won the Grammy for best pop collaboration with vocals for “Imagine” with Herbie Hancock.

Source: Le-bema.com

flickr.com
flickr.com

Femi Kuti (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014)

Nigerian Afrobeat singer Kuti has been nominated four times for a Grammy — in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. He’s remained positive in spite of not winning a Grammy yet.

Source: Thenet.ng

wikimedia.org
wikimedia.org

Toumani Diabaté (2006)

Diabaté is a Malian kora player (a 21-string lute-bridge-harp) who is known in the jazz and blues genres. In 2006 his album “New Ancient Strings” won the Grammy for best traditional world music album.

Source: Toumani-Diabate.com

wikimedia.org
wikimedia.org

 

Dobet Gnahoré (2010)

Gnahoré is an Ivorian singer who can sing in eight different languages. In 2010 she won a Grammy for best urban/alternative performance.

Source: Dakotacooks.com 

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

Baaba Maal (1996)

Senegalese a capella singer Maal was nominated for a Grammy in the “World Music” category in 1996 but lost to the group Deep Forest.

Source: Rfimusique.com

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

Hugh Masekela (1968)

Masekela is a South African jazz musician known for his incredible trumpet playing. Masekela was nominated in 1968 for a Grammy for best contemporary pop performance, instrumental, for his song “Grazin’ in the Grass.”

Source: Grammy.com