Diverse Africa strikes chord with 2018 Grammys

Although the four-time Grammy winning band is up for Best Children’s Album and Best World Music Album, music from the continent is represented in other ways and by other artists, as a diverse set of countries from east, west and southern Africa receive recognition from the Recording Academy. 

From setting up Malian band Tinariwen against Ladysmith in the world music category to nominating a compilation of songs from old Burkinabe artists to selecting a Mariam Makeba homage, the Recording Academy has honoured the contribution of African acts to global music in a variety of ways. 

1. Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Before the release of their album for children, the South African group expressed a wish that the Grammys consider their unreleased work, Songs of Peace & Love for Kids & Parents Around the World, even if it appeared to go in a different direction from its past albums. “Our last album was very well received and was nominated for a Grammy,” said Sibongiseni, son of founder Joseph Shabalala, to TimesLive. “This album will still keep our unique sound but be more personal so we hope that it will do the same as our previous albums and be nominated for a Grammy.”

That wish has been granted as the group, which has never received a nomination outside of the world or folk music categories, are now in the running for a Best Children’s Album award. A reissue of their 1987 album, which won Ladysmith its first Grammy decades ago, is also up for a Best World Music award.

• Buy Songs of Peace and Love here; buy Shaka Zulu Revisited here.

2. Tinariwen

A thorn in the flesh of the powers in their country, this band of Malian misfit musicians was named winner of the 2012 Grammy Best World Music Album for Tassili, with the New Yorker commenting that the band’s “songs didn’t just lionize the uprising, they fuelled it”.

After the success of Tassili, the band released the album Emmaar in 2014. Formed in 1979 and with a mostly changeable line-up, Tinariwen has now returned to the Grammys by earning a nomination in the Best World Music Album category. The nominated project, Elwan, was released in February this year.

• Buy Elwan here.

3. Burkina Faso

The album Bobo Yeye: Belle Epoque In Upper Volta is up for two awards. Comprising music from various sources, all of which have roots in present day Burkina Faso, the album presents sounds of the country from the 1970s to around 1984, when restrictions imposed by the late leader Thomas Sankara ended the post-colonial musical moment.

Appropriately, the album is up for Best Historical Album at the Grammys. A three-disc record sold with a book of 144 pages showing black and white photos of the bands and fans, it has also been nominated for a Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package. The producers are Jon Kirby, Florent Mazzoleni, Rob Sevier and Ken Shipley.

• Buy Bobo Yeye: Belle Epoque In Upper Volta here.

4. Lost Somali Tapes

Like Bobo Yeye from Burkina Faso, Sweet As Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes From The Horn Of Africa is also a snapshot of the 1970s and 1980s in a particular country, this time Somalia.

Released August this year, the compilation covers the Somali music scene during the military regime of Siyaad Barre. Along with taking care of the country’s police, the government supported music. Some of that music is contained in the album as are songs made outside of that provision. It is produced by Nicolas Sheikholeslami & Vik Sohonie.

• Stream Sweet As Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes From The Horn Of Africa here.

5. Makeba

The video for ‘Makeba’ by Jain is nominated in the Best Music Video category. Named for the great South African musician Mariam Makeba, ‘Makeba’ was recorded and released by Jain, a young French act with part Malagasy ancestry. “It's in the Congo that I discovered how to make songs, so it's a really important place for me; it's where I was musically born and where I found myself,” Jain told Fader about her connection to the continent.

Speaking about the late Mama Africa, Jain said, “I really admire her, because she was a strong woman and she was an incredible performer… When I watch videos of her shows, she had this thing—this aura—around her, full of determination and joy. And she had this groove.”

• Watch the video for “Makeba’ from the album Zanaka below:

Bonus: Cynthia Erivo

The American with Nigerian descent Cynthia Erivo contributes to the list of songs produced by Blake Mills who is nominated for a Best Producer (Non Classical) award. Erivo herself won a Grammy last year. This time, her work with John Legend might help fetch Mills an award.

• Listen to 'God Only Knows' here.