Genge to the world. Now it's a Grammy award

 Genge music has now found its place among the prestigious accolades of the music industry’s most celebrated event, the Grammy Awards.

Nonini: the Godfather

The 66th annual Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 2025.

The 2024 Grammy Awards will include not one, but three new categories, demonstrating the Recording Academy’s dedication to recognizing diverse musical styles.

Alongside Genge music, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording categories will also debut.

"A track and singles category that recognizes recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent. Highlighting regional melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical traditions, the category includes but is not limited to the 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 genres, " the statement read.

Jua Cali: Baba Yao

This expansion reflects the Academy’s commitment to acknowledging the artistic contributions of African music and embracing its rich cultural heritage.

With the addition of these new categories, the 2024 Grammy Awards will feature 102 categories, a significant increase from the previous year.

In 2023, the ceremony boasted a staggering 91 categories, excluding the special awards categories such as the Grammy Global Impact Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award, Technical Grammy Award, Grammy Legend Award, Grammy Hall of Fame Award, The MusiCares Person of the Year Award, and Best Song for Social Change.

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, expressed his enthusiasm for the changes in a statement, emphasizing the Academy’s commitment to staying attuned to the music community’s feedback and evolving with the ever-changing musical landscape.

Mejja: Okwonkwo

Mason said, “The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes. These changes reflect our commitment to actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community, accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape.

By introducing these three new categories, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists.”

The inclusion of Genge music in the Grammy Awards marks a significant milestone for the genre and its artists, providing them with a global platform to showcase their talent and contributions.

Genge king Mejja wrote, "Respect to my Godfathers - Juacali na Clemmo na mbogi ya Calif. Mliona vision tukasonga nayo, wengi wakatukanwa tukazidi Mungu halali. Tumekufa nayo na tutazikwa nayo!"

US-based Genge luminary Nonini too celebrated the news and also revealed that having Genge music included into the Grammys was no easy feat. 

"I think it's only right that i update all by bio's online! Kwani Kesho? Also just spoken to an insider from the Grammys all they have told me is that it was a battle to get Genge the Genre listed," he wrote.

Jua Cali wrote, "Ngeli bado ni ya Genge! Mama We Made It!"