Hails forerunners Sunny Ade, Femi Kuti
By Deji Elumoye and Olawale Ajimotokan
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigerian music stars, Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, whose entry won the “Best Global Music Album” category in the 2021 Grammy awards, and WizKid, who shared an award, Best Music Video, with American singer, Beyoncé, saying both have brought glory to Nigeria.
The president said they have made notable contributions in the field of music that the world has come to recognise.
The federal government, in a separate statement, also congratulated the music stars over their Grammy Award victories.
The president, in a congratulatory message yesterday by his media assistant, Malam Garba Shehu, hailed Burna Boy on being conferred with the 2021 Grammy, the world’s most prestigious musical awards.
According to him, the music star has made notable contributions in the field of music, which have brought glory to Nigerians at home and abroad.
“We are proud of his path-breaking achievements,” Buhari said.
He also congratulated WizKid who emerged as a joint winner of the Grammy Awards in a different category.
Buhari acknowledged the efforts of forerunners like King Sunny Ade and Femi Kuti whose creative exertions that earned them Grammy nominations, paved the way and brought Nigerian music to global reckoning.
The president expressed the belief that the musical achievements are recognition of the Nigerian creative talents and the awards will open doors to other aspiring citizens.
In his reaction to the feats by the musicians, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement, described the awards as fitting rewards for the persistent hard work of the duo.
He said the awards also represented a global endorsement for the Afrobeats genre of music that has propelled Nigeria’s increasing dominance of the music world.
Mohammed expressed the hope that the clinching of the awards by the two musicians would not only spur them to greater heights, but serve as a source of inspiration for others.
THISDAY had reported yesterday it was a big day for Afrobeats on Sunday night as history was made at the 63rd Grammy Awards with Burna Boy, the self-proclaimed African Giant, taking home the award for the Best Global Music Album.
Also on the spotlight was Wizkid, whose duet with American singer and songwriter, Beyoncé, and her daughter Blue Ivy, ‘Brown Skin Girl,’ took home the award for Best Music Video.
It was the second consecutive time the afro-fusion artiste is nominated in the category that celebrates influential music from around the globe.
The category was formerly known as Best World Music Album and has been mostly dominated by Brazilians. African singers who have won in this category include Beninese Angelique Kidjo, South African Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Soweto Gospel Choir.
