Burna Boy talks impact of Grammy win on African artists

Nigerian artiste, Burna Boy has spoken about the impact of his Grammy Award win on African artists.

His ‘Twice As Tall’ album won ‘Best Global Music Album’ at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Speaking with the BBC, he stated that his triumph at music’s biggest awards scheme will motivate African artists to know that “anything is possible.”

“It just shows….like you know, anything is possible and whatever situation you may be in, and whatever environment you find yourself does not really determine your future and what you are going to do,” remarked the ‘Way Too Big’ act.

“It doesn’t stop you from not just considering your dreams, you know. ‘Cause at the end of the day, we are in an environment that is very discouraging; you understand, an environment that doesn’t even believe in itself before they even think of believing in you.”

Burna Boy beat Antibalas, Bebel Gilberto, Anoushka Shankar, and Tinariwen to win the award. It is presented to a recording artist for influential music from around the globe.

The category was changed from its previous name ‘Best World Music Album’ to the current one as a step toward “a more relevant, modern, and inclusive term,” per a statement by organisers.

“The change symbolizes a departure from the connotations of colonialism, folk, and ‘non-American’ that the former term embodied while adapting to current listening trends and cultural evolution among the diverse communities it may represent.”

Congrats Best Global Music Album winner - 'TWICE AS TALL' @burnaboy ✨ #GRAMMYs

WATCH NOW ⬇️––#GRAMMYPremiere https://t.co/RxyLdKiyPX pic.twitter.com/gcaxipXkgK

— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) March 14, 2021