This year’s Grammy Awards, the 54th edition of the show, is set to showcase several of the world’s most recognizable stars, and reward those who have made their mark in music across the world, from the U.S, Asia & Europe, through to Africa.
However, when the show goes down on Sunday February 12, one nominee who will not be gracing the hugely anticipated event is Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti.
Kuti’s sister Yeni tells us via SMS that Femi, who’s nominated in the Best World Music Category, is not shunning the awards as is being reported, but that the afrobeat giant would not be attending the awards because ‘he would be too disappointed if he goes and he doesn’t win’.
Femi’s nomination is for his album ‘Africa for Africa’, released under the Knitting Factory Records imprint.
Despite Femi’s opinion, though, Yeni, who was a dancer in Femi’s positive Force band, before stepping down to manage the New Afrikan Shrine on a day-to-day, says she hopes he wins. She told our reporter, this evening, that the duo of Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye of Kennis Music, who will be attending the event, have kindly agreed to accept the award on his behalf, should the Afrobeat singer win.
Femi Kuti, son of late Afro Beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, received his first Grammy nomination in 2003 under the best world music album category, with his ‘Fight to Win’ album. He lost out to Panamanian Ruben Blades. He also recorded another nomination in 2010 but US banjo player Bela Fleck eventually walked away with the award.
His recent nomination sees him up against Latin/Roots music band AfroCubism, South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Malian band Tinariwen.
This year, the total number of categories for the Grammys was cut from 109 to 78 after a major overhaul last year.
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