The American Music Awards have added a “Favorite Afrobeats Artist” category to their lineup this year, further highlighting the global influence of Afrobeats on the global music scene.
Burna Boy, Wizkid, CKay, Tems, and Fireboy DML are officially the pioneering artists to be nominated for the Favorite Afrobeats Artist category. Leading overall nomination is Tems, with four nominations in total—two nominations for her appearance on Future‘s “Wait For U” and one for her collaboration with Wizkid on the hit song “Essence. The 27-year-old singer also shares a nomination for “Favorite Afrobeats Artist” with Burna Boy, CKay, Fireboy DML, and Wizkid.
Chukwuka Ekweani, better known by his stage name CKay, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Warner Music South Africa, and Atlantic Records. He was formerly signed to Chocolate City, a member of Warner Music Group independent label services ADA.
CKay has advanced in his art, and knows better than to kindle the ephemereal flames of virality. Sad Romancewas thus a necessary forward step in the journey of CKay. Released as the second pre-album single, “You” featured CKay’s preferred airy atmosphere even though maintaining novelty with vibrant clashes of Amapiano-style drums. The record’s intentional groove was a masterful stroke, and there’s no surprise it turned out to be the album’s opening song. Elsewhere, CKay charts the tumultuous seas of a relationship.
See the full list of AMAs nominees below.
FAVORITE AFROBEATS ARTIST
Burna Boy
CKay
Fireboy DML
Tems
Wizkid
