By Victoria Ige
Nigerian Afrobeat giant Femi Kuti has lost his second opportunity to win a Grammy gong.
47-year old Femi, who had been tipped by many industry insiders as the man most likely to win the prize, lost the Grammy to Bela Fleck – a multiple Grammy winner with over 30 Grammy nominations.
Kuti did not attend the event, and it is not likely he will be mourning the loss – those close to him say he appreciates the nomination, but is most concerned right now, about performances and recordings with his ‘Positive Force band’.
Kuti’s first Grammy nomination was in 2003, for his work on the widely acknowledged ‘Fight To Win’ album. He lost that award to Ruben Blade from Mundo.
The winner for Kuti’s Category, Best Contemporary World Music was announced at a Pre-Telecast event streamed live on the Grammy website today. The full broadcast, on CBS, starts at 2am Nigerian time.
Popularly called America’s most celebrated ‘Banjoist’, Bela Fleck had three nominations this year, has won over 10 Grammys, and has over 30 Grammy nominations. He beat Femi Kuti, Omou Sangare, Omar Sosa and Amadou&Mariam to win the prize.
2 comments
mayne!!>.am so sad..i wish we got that grammy…:(
Nigeria will get a grammy soon, the people who get it dont have 2 heads they just have their acts together. a few people do Femi is one of them Asa and Lagbaja.