Grammy Awards Introduce New Category Celebrating African Music Genres, Including Ghanaian High Life and Drill

Music is often described as the nourishment for the soul, an indispensable part of human existence. Each individual and country has its own unique style of music. One such style, known as "High Life" music, has been a foundational genre in Ghana and has greatly influenced other genres across Africa, including Afrobeat(s).

Despite Ghana's diverse music scene, which encompasses genres like Hip-Life, Drill, kpanlogo, Borboorbor, and others, it is High-Life and Drill that have finally gained recognition from the Grammy Academy.

The Recording Academy of the Grammy Awards has launched an innovative addition to its esteemed awards program, which has delighted music fans all around the world. This new category intends to highlight the various melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic traditions found throughout the African continent.

The eligible genres for consideration include Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro-Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz.

Harvey Mason Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy, expressed his pride in announcing these changes and emphasized the importance of recognizing a wider range of artists. By introducing these three new categories, the Academy aims to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of musical talent.

Additionally, the decision to relocate the Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year categories to the General Field ensures that all voters can participate in recognizing excellence in these fields. Mason further commented, "We are excited to honor and celebrate the creators and recordings in these categories while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide."