- Grammy Africa Awards likely to launch in 2029 or 2030, says Dentaa Amoateng
- Project requires time to build membership and structure
- Ghana not shortlisted due to high financial commitments
The much-anticipated Grammy Africa Awards could officially debut around 2029 or 2030, according to Lady Dentaa Amoateng MBE, CEO of GUBA Enterprise and consultant to Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy.
Speaking on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz with Kwame Dadzie and Doreen Avio, Dentaa explained that while the African Grammy initiative was first announced in 2024, the launch will require several years of groundwork to establish critical infrastructure and membership systems.
“It’s a long-term process. Building the membership base and operational framework takes time. We’re looking at maybe 2029 or 2030. Africa is vast, with a wide range of musical genres,” she said.
Currently, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Rwanda have been identified as potential host countries for the awards once the project is ready to roll out.
When asked about Ghana’s absence from the shortlist, Dentaa cited financial constraints:
“There’s a significant financial commitment involved, and that has made it difficult for some governments, including Ghana’s, to participate fully at this stage.”
The Recording Academy—organizers of the Grammy Awards—unveiled plans in 2024 to develop an African edition of the globally recognized awards, mirroring the success of the Latin Grammys, which were launched in 1997.
As part of this initiative, the Academy has entered into partnerships with Ministries of Culture and key cultural institutions across Africa and the Middle East. These include:
- Kenya’s Ministry of Culture
- Nigeria’s Ministry of Culture
- Rwanda Development Board
- South Africa’s Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture
- Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
- Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture
Additionally, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to support future collaboration.
Speaking on the initiative, Harvey Mason Jr. said:
“Music is one of humanity’s greatest natural resources. It’s essential to ensure that music creators everywhere have access to resources and opportunities.”
The Academy’s leadership spent over two years touring Africa and the Middle East, holding stakeholder meetings, and listening sessions to understand the diverse needs of the music ecosystem.
In 2023, the Recording Academy introduced a new category—Best African Music Performance—to spotlight genres like highlife and Ghanaian drill, alongside Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording.
This followed discussions around the possible introduction of an Afrobeats category, which Harvey Mason Jr. addressed during his 2022 visit to Ghana, affirming the Academy’s commitment to representing African music authentically on the global stage.
