Naomi Campbell criticizes Grammy organizers over Burna Boy snub

English model, Naomi Campbell, has launched an attack on the Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammy Awards after Nigeria’s Burna Boy was denied a win at this year’s ceremony.

In an open letter to the organizers of the Grammy Awards, Campbell praised Angelique Kidjo for spreading the light through her music and putting the continent on the map.

But she stated that Burna Boy was denied an accolade he deserves because “of a lack of education”.

According to her, the Recording Academy failed to include afrobeats, a popular genre of music that has elements of West African styles, in the World Music Category.

“This misrepresentation diminishes an entire genre in which such a  high standard of talent has emerged: a genre that has been a force of hope and positivity for many, and a vehicle for artistry on the continent of Africa,” she wrote.

She further encouraged the Academy to create a new category strictly for the genre: “Please get up to speed on the state of all popular music today, and include Afrobeats Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and all the subcategories that this genre deserves.”

Despite having one of the most successful years to date, Nigeria’s Burna Boy missed out on his first Grammy Award after Beninese singer, Angélique Kidjo successfully claimed her fourth.

She beat stiff competition from Altin Gün, Bokanté & Metropole Orkest and Nathalie Joachim With Spektral Quartet, 

Kidjo celebrated a new generation of African artistes coming up to represent the continent while thanking luminaries, who came before her for their contributions to world music, including Celia Cruz.

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