The Rhyme Suite

All about the landmark return of the “African Grammys.” (Photo: KORA All Music Awards)

It is more than clear that Black artistry shaped American music, but when we dig just a little deeper, we find that the rhythms of the African diaspora can be found all across the world. 

In 1996, a Benin-born businessman named Ernest Adjovid founded the KORA All Africa Music Awards to not only recognize these contributions, but to amplify them. From Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men, to Shaggy and Davido, Black artists and groups from across the diaspora have been celebrated on the KORA stage for their musical excellence. While the award show – often called the “African Grammys” – was on a hiatus for 12 years, it is slated to make its return on December 1, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

As the first-ever award show to recognize the achievements of African, Afro-descendant, and African-American artists, the KORA All Music Awards is coming back with hopes to elevate. For the first time in the event’s nearly 30 year history, dancers and dance groups of African descent will be recognized alongside musical artists. 

The comeback of this award show is monumental for a number of reasons. To Angel Kaba, an international choreographer, creative director, and KORA Awards USA Focal Point, the KORA Award Show provides a necessary space for representation and reclamation of Black art forms.

“People have been taking from our culture for hundreds and hundreds of years, and I think it’s time for us to reclaim the space and the power,” Kaba told The Rhyme Suite. “This award ceremony will definitely bring more clarity about how diverse we are and the nuances on music and cultural connection … and that’s beautiful.”

This year, the award show will have 20 categories with 40 nominees from across the diaspora. Nominees for North America include the likes of Beyoncé, The Weeknd, SZA, and Offset. 

Kaba believes that the award show will provide viewers with the ability to celebrate the musical contributions of numerous artists, while also providing more accurate information on the African genres that have made their way into the mainstream.

“Not everything is Afrobeats,” she said. “Music from Nigeria is completely different from music from South Africa or music from Eritrea, or music from Ethiopia, or music from Congo, Cameroon, [the] African coast– all those [types of] music and those artists are different.”

In general, there are hopes that the award show will help people across the diaspora understand each other’s cultures more.

“There was always a disconnect when we talk about each other,” she said. “I would like for [viewers] to see each other eye to eye and appreciate each other for who they truly are instead of letting the media or other people tell our stories.”

With an understanding that music and dance and intrinsically intertwined, she is also excited that this year’s award show will highlight the achievements of dancers and choreographers, as the impact of their moves often go unrecognized on global stages. 

“When it comes to Black culture – African, Caribbean, Black and brown – it’s very hard to dissociate music and dance,” she said. “If more production artists would give more light and consideration to dancers, then it won’t be that hard for them to have a space … Everybody’s  chasing the success and the money, and they’re forgetting about the real people who are making [their] brand so big.”

KORA, as a beacon for unity across the diaspora, seeks to celebrate the people, tell their stories, and prove that a win for one can be a win for all.

As the award show prepares to kick-off in just a few short months, prospective fans can keep up with event updates and learn how to cast votes for their favorite artists by visiting the website and following them on Instagram (@kora_awards).

The landmark return of the KORA All Africa Music Awards represents the manner in which music serves as a universal language that unites all of us, and it is something that you won’t want to miss.