Cameroonian artists fail to make it to 2024 final Grammy nomination list

Stanley Enow, Ko C and Libianca do not make it to Grammy Awards nominations 2024, MMI

The 2024 Grammy Awards have not nominated any Cameroonian artists. This Friday, when the final list of nominations was made public, four of them who had been pre-nominated for the global prestigious music award did not make it.

The 66th edition of the American Grammy Award pre-nominated Cameroon’s prolific rapper, Ko-c, also known as Njang Mengu Collins, in the categories of “Best New Act,” “Best Global Album” with GENESIS, and “Best African Music Performance.”

The awards to be held on February 4, 2024, in Los Angeles, also pre-shortlisted Cameroonian rap artist Stanley Enow for the “Best African Performance” category.

Enow received a pre-nomination due to the success of his latest and most popular track, “Take Ova,” which has accumulated nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube in two months and serves as the subject of millions of challenges on TikTok.

Both artists celebrated their nominations on social media and expressed hope of being on the final list.

Nigeria ‘takes’ the lead in Africa

Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Asake, and Olamide, Nigerian artists, have all received nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards.

Burna Boy, a Grammy-winning star, secured a total of four nominations, while Davido, in his debut, received three nominations. Asake, Arya Starr, and Olamide received one nomination each.

The inaugural Best African Music Performance category nominated the Nigerian quintet, who share the spotlight with South Africa’s Tyla.

Asake and Olamide’s ‘Amapiano’, Burna Boy’s ‘City Boys’, Ayra Starr’s ‘Rush’, Davido and Musa Keys’ ‘Unavailable’, and Tyla’s ‘Water’ are the nominees in the newly established category.

Burna Boy received additional nominations for Best Melodic Rap for his song ‘Sitting On Top of the World’ featuring 21 Savage, Best Global Music Album for ‘I Told Them’, and Best Global Music Performance for ‘Alone’.

Davido has also been nominated for Best Global Music Album with ‘Timeless’ and for Best Global Music Performance with ‘Feel’. These Nigerian talents are recognised for their exceptional contributions to the global music landscape.

Did the Grammys snub Libianca’s ‘People’?

People, Libianca’s chart-topping hit, has sparked discussion due to its noticeable absence from the nomination list.

Libianca, who is just 22 years old, has established herself in the music industry with a repertoire that includes noteworthy tracks like ‘Special Loving,’ ‘My Place,’ and ‘Thank You.’

However, ‘People’ truly catapulted her into the limelight, securing a prominent place on the Billboard charts and claiming a spot on Spotify’s top chart. The song became a global sensation, accumulating nearly 500 million streams worldwide.

Criteria?

You should consider the highly competitive nature of the music industry. Each year, the Grammy Awards receive an overwhelming number of submissions, and the selection process is rigorous. A diverse group of industry professionals evaluates artistic excellence, technical proficiency, and overall impact. Even standout tracks like ‘People’ may face stiff competition with countless artists vying for recognition.

Ponder another aspect: consider the timing of the song’s release and its eligibility period for consideration. The Grammy Awards specify eligibility criteria, including the release date of the material. If the film ‘People’ was released outside the eligibility window or did not meet other requirements, it could explain why it is absent from the nominations.

Additionally, genre dynamics and category placements may have played a role. The Grammys feature numerous categories, each with its own criteria. The committee may have chosen to place ‘People’ in a category where it faced formidable contenders, making it challenging to secure a nomination.

The Grammys have also received criticism and scrutiny in the past for potential oversights and biases in the nomination process. The omission of some artists or tracks has sparked discussions about the awards’ transparency and fairness. Sometimes, surprising outcomes can occur due to the subjective nature of artistic judgement, despite the Grammys’ efforts to recognise excellence.

It remains to be seen whether the exclusion of ‘People’ will spark broader conversations about the Grammy selection process, but for now, the spotlight remains on Libianca’s remarkable musical journey.

Find some of the nominations below:

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily – Shadow Forces
Burna Boy – Alone
Davido – Feel
Silvana Estrada – Milagro Y Disastre
Falu & Gaurav Shah (ft. PM Narendra Modi) – Abundance In Millets
Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain ft. Rakesh Chaurasia – Pashto
Ibrahim Maalouf ft. Cimafunk & Tank and the Bangas – Todo Colores

Best Global Music Album

Susana Baca- Epifanías
Bokanté – History
Burna Boy – I Told Them…
Davido – Timeless
Shakti – This Moment

Record of the Year

“Worship,” Jon Batiste
“Not Strong Enough,” boy genius
“Flowers,” Miley Cyrus
“What Was I Made For?,” Billie Eilish
“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
“Vampire,” Olivia Rodrigo
“Anti-Hero,” Taylor Swift
“Kill Bill,” SZA

Album Of The Year
World Music Radio, Jon Batiste
the record, boy genius
Endless Summer Vacation, Miley Cyrus
Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, Lana Del Rey
The Age Of Pleasure, Janelle Monáe
GUTS, Olivia Rodrigo
Midnights, Taylor Swift
SOS, SZA

Best New Artist

Coco Jones
Gracie Abrams
Fred Again..
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Noah Kahan
Victoria Monét
The War and Treaty

Best Global Music Performance

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily – Shadow Forces
Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Pashto
Burna Boy – Alone
Davido – Feel
Falu & Gaurav Shah (Featuring PM Narendra Modi) – Abundance in Millets
Ibrahim Maalouf Featuring Cimafunk & Tank and the Bangas – Todo Colores
Silvana Estrada – Milagro y Disastre