Nigerian singer and Grammy nominee Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy has appreciated legendary musician and songwriter Angelique Kidjo for dedicating her fourth Grammy win to him.
Burna Boy lost the Best World Music Album to Angelique Kidjo, whose Celia was adjudged the winner over African Giant and three others.
It was Burna Boy’s first Grammy nomination and his multiple award-winning African Giant was widely expected to clinch it for him.
In his reaction, the ‘Ye’ crooner took to his Social media page to share a video of the Beninese singer dedicating the Grammy award to him at prestigious awards held at Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.
Burna expressed his love for the singer and also appreciated everyone that rooted for him. He also promised to wow the world as he has a new project coming
Sharing the video, he wrote; “I love you forever @angeliquekidjo and every single person that rooted for me, I don’t take any of it lightly! The world get ready cause we’re all coming! #FOOTONNECK2020”
Angelique Kidjo defeated Burna Boy, Altin Gün, Bokanté & Metropole Orkest Conducted By Jules Buckley, Nathalie Joachim & Spektral Quartet to win the award on Sunday.
Kidjo won, for the fourth time, leaving Burna Boy still waiting to win his first.
However, Kidjo saluted Burna Boy and said that he is changing Africa.
The Best World Music Album category recognizes performers outside the United States who showcase non-European, indigenous influences in their body of work. The award was first handed out in 1992 to Mickey Hart.
African Giant is the fourth studio album by Burna Boy, which was released on July 26, 2019, by Spaceship Entertainment, Bad Habit, Atlantic Records and Warner Music. The album is a mixture of Afro-fusion, Afrobeat, dancehall, pop, and hip hop.
Angelique Kidjo’s Celia was released on April 19, 2019. The album is a tribute by Angelique to Cuban singer Celia Cruz. It was produced by David Donatien and featured Tony Allen, Meshell Ndegeocello and the Gangbe Brass Band.
The album includes songs spanning all of Celia’s Cruz career reinvented with an Afrobeat feel. Of the song Quimbara, New York Times critic Jon Pareles says:”Backed by Michelle Ndegeocello on bass, the Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen on drums, Dominic James on guitars and the Gangbe Brass Band, Kidjo reconnects the salsa original to West Africa, layering the song with a tumbling six-beat rhythm, a brass-band undertow and a tangle of scurrying guitar lines while she belts with enough grit to rival Cruz herself.”
Celia was the fourth work of Angélique Kidjo to win a Grammy Award.
She first won a Grammy in 2008 for Best Contemporary World Music Album. In 2011, she was nominated for another award, but she lost it. She picked her second Grammy in 2015 for “Eve,” a tribute to Africa’s women. She also won in 2016, her third for her 2015 album, Sings.
Altogether, the singer called the ‘undisputed queen of African music’ has had many Grammy nominations including the Best Music Video of 1995 and Best World Music Album for works completed in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2014 2015 and 2019.
