Renowned Nigerian music maestro, Daniel Wilson, took to Facebook to express his bemusement over the recent Grammy win of South African artist Tyla in the Best African Music Performance category, surpassing acclaimed Nigerian musicians like Davido and Burna Boy.
In a candid post, Wilson shared his initial amusement at the announcement, followed by a determined effort to discern the distinctly African elements in Tyla’s winning song “Water.” Despite turning up the volume in his studio, Wilson found himself unable to identify significant African roots or chord progressions in the track, leading to his perplexity over its categorization.
Wilson, a veteran in the Nigerian music scene, acknowledged the song’s popularity, even highlighting his ten-year-old daughter’s frequent play of “Water.” However, he questioned the choice over other artists like Davido and Burna Boy, expressing his disbelief that Burna Boy, a global sensation, was not awarded.
The music maestro’s skepticism extends beyond this particular Grammy decision, as he shared his longstanding disinterest in music awards. Drawing from his experience with the 1991 PMAN Music Award, where judges openly confessed confusion in categorizing his song “Mister Ragamuffin,” Wilson emphasized the disconnect between award judges and the intricate elements of music.
Wilson’s post reflects a broader sentiment about international awards judging, pointing out the lack of understanding regarding the origins, influences, projections, and inspiration of music by those in judgment. He suggests that awards should be bestowed based on direct public participation in concerts and listenership, emphasizing the importance of enthusiasts as the true judges.
In a passionate conclusion, Wilson advocates for Africans to take charge of telling their own stories and awarding their achievements on an international stage. Until then, he firmly stands by the belief that true music enthusiasts, the people, should be the ultimate judges. Chikena!
